The Larkins season 2: release date, trailer, cast with Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan - who is Joelle Rae?

Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan return in new episodes of The Larkins this October, with Joelle Rae taking over the role of Mariette from Sabrina Bartlett
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The Larkins, a new adaptation of The Darling Buds of May, is returning for its second series on Sunday 16 October.

The ITV drama, which stars Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan, follows the life of a big family in rural Kent in the 1950s.

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Here’s everything you need to know about The Larkins Series 2.

What is it about?

It’s Summer 1959, and Pop, Ma and their many children are preparing for another riotous school holidays. While Primrose is starting a new job and looking for love - which she might find with the new Reverend - Pop has managed to make an enemy of the new rich couple in town, who regret buying a crumbling down mansion from him.

The official ITV synopsis promises a number of tumultuous gatherings amongst the villagers both new and familiar, including “a barbecue, wheelbarrow race, funfair, and a mass christening in a swimming pool - all held on the Larkins’ sunkissed Kent farm.”

Who stars in The Larkins?

Joanna Scanlan as Ma Larkin and Bradley Walsh as Pop Larkin, holding hands and smiling (Credit: ITV/Objective Fiction/Genial Productions)Joanna Scanlan as Ma Larkin and Bradley Walsh as Pop Larkin, holding hands and smiling (Credit: ITV/Objective Fiction/Genial Productions)
Joanna Scanlan as Ma Larkin and Bradley Walsh as Pop Larkin, holding hands and smiling (Credit: ITV/Objective Fiction/Genial Productions)

Bradley Walsh plays Pop Larkin, the wheeling-dealing Larkin father. Walsh is best known as a presenter and host, and you’ll recognise him from shows like The Chase and Blankety Blank, but he’s also an established actor - he’s appeared in dramas like Doctor Who, Law & Order: UK, and Torn over the past few decades.

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Joanna Scanlan plays Ma Larkin, the head of the household. Scanlan is probably best known for her role in The Thick of It, where she played civil servant Terri, but you might also recognise her from No Offence and After Love.

For series 2, eldest daughter Mariette will be played by Joelle Rae (Sabrina Bartlett, who played Mariette in Series 1, has left due to scheduling conflicts). Rae has previously appeared in Get Even, Starstruck, and Emmerdale.

They’re joined by Morgana Robinson (Stuck) and Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing) as the Jerebohms, a new rich couple in Kent, as well as Amelia Bulmore (Twenty Twelve) as Miss Pilchester, Peter Davison (Doctor Who) as the Vicar, and Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet) as local VIP Johnny Delamere.

Who writes and directs The Larkins?

The lead writer on The Larkins is Simon Nye, who’s best known for Men Behaving Badly and The Durrells.

Is there a trailer?

Yes, there is! You can watch it right here.

When and how can I watch The Larkins?

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The Larkins Series 2 begins on ITV on Sunday 16 October at 8pm, with new episodes available weekly. You’ll also be able to watch the series on the ITV Hub.

How many episodes is The Larkins Series 2?

There are six episodes in the second series of The Larkins, each around 50 minutes.

Is The Larkins based on a book?

Yes, it is! It’s the latest of several adaptations of the HE Bates novel The Darling Buds of May (which was itself the first in a series of five books about the Larkin family). You might remember the 1991 TV version, which starred David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Will there be a third series of The Larkins, or another Christmas special?

As of yet, we don’t quite know, but as ever do watch this space, because we’ll update this piece with the relevant information as soon as it’s available.

Why should I watch The Larkins?

It’s one to check out if you’re fond of this kind of rural, nostalgic family drama.

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