‘We can learn a lot from the Larkins’
Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan on The Darling Buds Of May reboot that everyone’s talking about…
Tell us about the show. BRADLEY, 61: It’s adapted from the wonderful books by HE Bates and we’re sticking as close to the original story as possible – that of a family who move from London to a beautiful farm in Kent just after the war. This is a big family-values show; it’s about caring for, worrying about, and loving your nearest and dearest.
You play Pop and Ma Larkin? BRADLEY: Pop is the kind of man you’d like to spend a day, evening or weekend with in the pub. He’s a bit of a wheeler dealer and a huge family man. He loves and adores his wife
Ma – they’ve known each other since they were kids and even though he can be a womaniser, their relationship is so solid that she doesn’t mind the fact that he loves the female species. JOANNA, 59: Ma looks glamorous every day. In the books there’s talk of how much she loves plastic jewellery and nylon nighties – she wants to be up with the times and to look attractive.
Does Ma have an accent? JOANNA: It’s essentially an East End accent with rural tones, which I did a bit of research on – and somebody very kindly found a recording for me of a woman who was the same age as me, talking in 1958. It’s pretty much what I’ve tried to copy.
Did you enjoy filming the show? BRADLEY: I’ve never played someone like Pop before – this guy who’s laughing all the time and having fun. It was just wonderful, and I love his style of dress from that period, and the fact that we could drive all those wonderful old vehicles. JOANNA: I loved it and the script was a joy. When we were filming you got this warm glow, surrounded by beautiful countryside. The message is, we could all live life a lot simpler! It was gorgeous to have all the animals around us – the cats, the geese, the pigs and the horses… It’s set in the 1950s?
BRADLEY: It takes you back to the days when no rushing around existed. There were no mobile phones or internet – and when you needed something you had to go and talk to people, face to face. We can learn an awful lot from looking at a family like the Larkins.
JOANNA: The simplicity of their life is the real attraction. They’ve got a happy family and they love and respect each other. The Larkins will have a cocktail party – they like a drink and they’re very involved in village life. Then at the end of the day Ma and Pop tumble into bed and they’ve got time for a little bit of, erm, “How’s your father?”
Have you read the books? JOANNA: I read them when I was 14, when I was poorly and had to stay in bed for a couple of weeks. I absolutely fell in love with the characters.
Are you excited about audiences seeing The Larkins?
BRADLEY: This is such a warm show that’s beautifully shot. I think the appeal will be national, international and universal.
The Americans loved Downton Abbey and now I do believe they’ll want to visit Kent… JOANNA: We live in a society that makes it very hard to feel OK about enjoying the best things in life – whether it’s love, food, holidays, or a drink. I think we should take a note from the Larkins; a little of what you fancy does you more than good.