ITV The Larkins: plot, how many episodes, full cast…

ITV The Larkins: plot, how many episodes, full cast list, start date and time

ITV's The Larkins, a new television adaptation of H.E Bates’ novel The Darling Buds of May, airs tonight.

The book and its sequels were last adapted 30 years ago as The Darling Buds of May and became one of ITV’s all time highest rated television comedy dramas winning critical acclaim and audience approval.

But this new adaptation sees The Chase's Bradley Walsh, No Offence's Joanna Scanlan and Bridgerton's Sabrina Bartlett take leading roles.

Set in the late 1950’s, The Larkins follows the golden-hearted wheeler dealer Pop Larkin (Bradley Walsh) and his wife Ma (Joanna Scanlan), together with their six children, including the beautiful Mariette (Sabrina Bartlett), as they bask in their idyllic and beautiful patch of paradise in Kent.

Fiercely loyal to each other and their community, there’s an overwhelming sense of plenty in their lives and a lot of joy and raucous laughter.

With an endless supply of delicious, hearty meals alongside the odd cocktail or two, the Larkins are always happy to share what they have with others, despite the fact that what they have is sometimes obtained by unusual means.

Sadly their good-heartedness is not always shared by certain members of the local community and village gossip about Pop and his family is often rife.

From government officials and snobbish second homeowners to aggressive urban developers, the Larkins never take threats to their idyllic way of life lying down but when Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton (Tok Stephen) arrives to inspect their taxes things are looking bleak for The Larkins.

Soon distracted by the beautiful Mariette, Charley quickly discovers that he has a romantic rival in the form of the handsome and mysterious Tom Fisher (Stephen Hagan).

Mariette, on the other hand, may have plans of her own, which don’t involve men.