‘The Larkins’ recap: What happened in Episode 2?

ITV’s new version of The Darling Buds of May continued in the UK tonight!

Based on the novels by H.E. Bates, the six-part comedy-drama comes from the creator of The Durrells.

The original Darling Buds of May series ran for three seasons in the early 1990s.

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

Bradley Walsh (Doctor Who, Law & Order: UK) and Joanna Scanlan (Notes on a Scandal) lead the cast as Pop and Ma.

They’re joined by Bridgerton actress Sabrina Bartlett as Mariette Larkin, the part originally played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, alongside Tok Stephen (Grantchester) as Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton.

Also appearing are Peter Davison (All Creatures Great and Small) as the Vicar, Robert Bathurst (Downton Abbey) as Johnny Delamere, Tony Gardner (Last Tango in Halifax) as Alec Norman, and Amelia Bullmore (Gentleman Jack) as Miss Edith Pilchester.

Here’s a plot recap for the second episode, ‘In which the Larkins woo Charley the Tax Man’, which aired on ITV at 8pm on Sunday 17th October 2021:

Mariette has agreed to stay for the summer and with the arrival of Charley and Tom Fisher her heart is being pulled in many directions.

But love must take a back seat as the Larkins convince Charley that they don’t need to sell the farm to pay their back tax.

While Pop makes an offer to the Bluff-Gores for their country pile Mariette takes Charley for a walk in the countryside.

Alec Norman intervenes and it looks like the Larkins are in deep trouble, with Charley furious that Mariette has tried to fool him with her charms.

Meanwhile, Montgomery is fixing up his pram to compete in the notorious Village Pram Race, but who will be his baby?

The complete original The Darling Buds of May series is available on DVD on Amazon.