‘The Larkins’ finale recap: What happened in Episode 6?

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 sixth episode, ‘In which the Larkins are determined to convince Mariette to stay’, which aired on ITV at 8pm on Sunday 14th November 2021:

The Larkins dash to the railway station and manage to stall Mariette’s departure to France.

They convince her to stay for a Donkey Derby/Gymkhana and Cocktail Party in a few days.

The pressure is on for the Larkins – this has to be a magical social event which will change Mariette’s mind!

Meanwhile Pop meets the glorious Angela Snow in the village, which sets tongues wagging, adding extra fuel to the Normans’ gossip that Pop and Ma are philandering and Mariette has had a baby on the quiet.

The village is agog to know what the Larkins are up to so throng to the events.

The Donkey Derby is a hilarious affair which sees Miss Pilchester bucked from her donkey and Pauline finally a winner.

The Gymkhana is disrupted when the disgraced Tom returns to make a point and Charley mounts a pony determined to lose his tag as one of life’s lovable losers.

The cocktail party is full of surprises especially when the Larkins announce that Mariette is indeed leaving but that baby Oscar will be joining the family.

In the final scenes we see Mariette on the train to France, but is she alone…?

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