It was surreal to see the Larkins.. I wanted to know why I wasn’t in it
Sir David on remake of comedy classic
DARLING Buds of May star Sir David Jason found watching the reboot “surreal”, adding that it was not “quite as good” as the original comedy classic.
The acting legend, 81, who famously played Pop Larkin, said ITV show The Larkins was “fine”.
He said: “It was surreal to see the show come back. A strange feeling.”
He then joked: “I wanted to know why I was not there doing it!”
As for what he thought of the new cast, which includes Bradley Walsh as Pop Larkin, he said: “I did watch the series and it was quite good.
“Not quite as good as the original but yeah it was fine. I did not give Bradley any advice. No, he did not ask for it. He did not need it.”
The 1991 series also set Catherine Zeta-Jones on the path to film stardom as Pop’s daughter, Mariette.
Speaking about taking on the role of Pop Larkin last year, Bradley said: “I’m thrilled to be part of this much loved and iconic series of stories.
“The warmth and affection that HE Bates has generated through his books is so uplifting and I cannot wait to be part of the Larkin family.”
Ma Larkin is played by Joanna Scanlan and Mariette by Sabrina Bartlett.
Sir David, speaking at the new Cirque du Soleil show Luzia at the Royal Albert Hall, also talked of how he missed his Only Fools co-star Nicholas Lyndhurst, whose only son Archie, 19, died in 2020 of a brain haemorrhage.
He said: “That was very, very, very tragic.
“I have been in touch but he keeps a very low profile. He is a very, very quiet man so I don’t disturb him. But when it happened I reached out. He was grateful.” Sir David spoke of how the ending of their comedy partnership had left a gap in his life: “I miss working with him. He sent me a very nice note when we finished the series of Only Fools and Horses, which read ‘Don’t worry, I will always be your wing man’, which was very nice.” And the star said of lockdown: “I have been busy creating documentaries and we are trying to get Channel 5 or Channel 4 interested. “If I tell you what it is or what they are somebody out there will go ‘That is a good idea – we will do it first’ and then I am stuffed.”
I didn’t give Bradley any advice. He did not ask for it. He did not need it SIR DAVID JASON ON NEW DARLING BUDS