Few TV shows from the early 1990s have lingered in British cultural memory quite like The Darling Buds of May. A sun-drenched, gentle comedy-drama set in a perpetually golden Kent, it became a hit for ITV and launched the career of a future Hollywood star. This guide covers the show’s origins, its unforgettable cast, the real locations that brought the Larkin family’s world to life, and what came after.

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Years aired: 1991–1993 ·
Number of seasons: 3 ·
Starring: David Jason, Pam Ferris, Catherine Zeta-Jones ·
Based on: H.E. Bates’ Larkin novels ·
Filmed in: Kent, England

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Based on H.E. Bates’ 1958 novel (Wikipedia)
  • Three series, 20 episodes total (Wikipedia)
  • Filmed in Pluckley, Kent (Wikipedia)
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones left after series 2 (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact episode count per season (sources vary as 6-7-7 or 7-7-6) (Wikipedia)
  • Whether filming began in 1990 or 1991 – production reports suggest a start in autumn 1990 (Anglotopia)
  • Whether Yorkshire locations beyond the Hotel Metropole were used (Wikipedia)
  • Whether Zeta-Jones’ departure was entirely her choice or mutual (Biography.com)
3Timeline signal
  • Novel published 1958 (Wikipedia)
  • TV series premiered 7 April 1991 (Wikipedia)
  • Remake The Larkins aired 2021–2022 (ITV)
4What’s next
  • Streaming availability on ITVX and BritBox (ITV)
  • The Larkins adaptation completed in 2022, no further series planned (ITV)

Eight key facts about the series at a glance.

Label Value
Full title The Darling Buds of May
Author of novels H.E. Bates
First aired 7 April 1991
Last aired 1993
Number of seasons 3
Starring David Jason, Pam Ferris, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Based on The Larkin novels by H.E. Bates
Filming location Kent, England

What is meant by The Darling Buds of May?

Origins of the phrase

  • The line comes from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18: “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May.” It evokes early summer and fragile beauty.
  • H.E. Bates borrowed the phrase as the title for his 1958 novel The Darling Buds of May (Wikipedia (literary article)).

The novel and its title

  • The novel introduces the Larkin family: Pop, Ma, and their many children, living a carefree rural life in Kent. The title signals the season when the story begins.
  • The TV series adapts the first of five Larkin novels – The Darling Buds of May, A Breath of French Air, When the Green Woods Laugh, Oh! To be in England, and A Little of What You Fancy (Wikipedia (H.E. Bates biography)).
Bottom line: The title is Shakespearean poetry repurposed as the label for a post-war English idyll. For David Jason and the cast, it became a signal of the gentle, warm tone that made the series a household name.

The implication: the phrase itself carries a literary weight that matched the show’s nostalgic charm.

Who wrote The Darling Buds of May?

H.E. Bates biography

  • Herbert Ernest Bates was born 16 May 1905 in Rushden, Northamptonshire, and died 29 January 1974 (Wikipedia (H.E. Bates biography)).
  • He wrote over 30 novels and short story collections, many set in the English countryside, earning a reputation as a master of rural fiction.

His life and works

  • Bates worked as a journalist and wrote wartime stories under the pseudonym ‘Flying Officer X’. He is best known for the Larkin novels and Love for Lydia (Encyclopaedia Britannica (biographical entry)).
  • The character of Pop Larkin – a tax-avoiding, pleasure-loving junk dealer – became a beloved figure in postwar British literature.
The upshot

Bates was a prolific observer of rural life. The Larkin novels were his commercial peak, and the TV adaptation posthumously cemented his legacy.

Bottom line: For Pam Ferris and David Jason, the novels provided a rich foundation. Bates’ writing gave the cast a world of warmth and mischief to inhabit, and the series introduced his work to a new generation.

What this means: the author’s careful depiction of rural England became the blueprint for the show’s beloved tone.

Where was the original Darling Buds of May filmed?

Kent filming locations

  • The fictional village of Little Chalford was brought to life chiefly in and around the real Kent village of Pluckley (Wikipedia (TV series article)).
  • Home Farm, the Larkin residence, was Buss Farm, a private working farm south of Pluckley owned by the Holmes family (Wikipedia).
  • The Black Horse in Pluckley stood in for the local pub, renamed The Hare and Hounds in the series (Cassie Fairy (UK travel blogger)).
  • Cricket scenes were filmed at Little Chart Cricket Club, reached via Ram Lane (Cassie Fairy).
  • Beach holiday episodes used Folkestone, including the iconic Leas Lift (Cassie Fairy).
  • Charing train station was used for the London wedding dress shopping trip (Cassie Fairy).
  • Hop picking scenes were shot at Halden Place in Cranbrook (Cassie Fairy).

The Garden of England Trail

The catch

Buss Farm is private property and not open to the public. Some locations have changed in the 30 years since filming; visitors should check access before travelling.

Bottom line: For David Jason and the crew, the Kent locations were as important as the script. The series’ visual identity is almost entirely a product of the Kentish Weald. For location hunters, the county offers a well-documented trail, but the real magic was Buss Farm – and you can’t step inside it.

The pattern: the show’s authenticity came directly from its surroundings, grounding the Larkins’ idyllic life in real, accessible places.

Who starred in The Darling Buds of May?

Main cast

  • David Jason as Pop Larkin – born 2 February 1940 in London. He was 51 when the series began filming in 1990 (Wikipedia (David Jason biography)).
  • Pam Ferris as Ma Larkin – born 11 May 1948 in Hanover, Germany (Wikipedia (Pam Ferris biography)).
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones as Mariette – born 25 September 1969 in Swansea, Wales. She was 21 at the start of production (Wikipedia (Catherine Zeta-Jones biography)).
  • Other regulars included Philip Franks as Charley and Stephanie Cole as Auntie Flo (IMDb (TV series cast list)).

Catherine Zeta-Jones’ breakthrough

  • Zeta-Jones had previously appeared in the West End and the 1990 film 1001 Nights, but Mariette made her a household name. She won a role in Hollywood’s The Mask of Zorro partly on the strength of her television exposure (Biography.com (actor profile)).

When did Catherine Zeta-Jones leave and why?

  • She left after series 2 (1992) to pursue a film career in the United States. Her character Mariette was written out – the series ran one more season without her (Wikipedia).

Catherine Zeta-Jones’ health

  • Zeta-Jones publicly disclosed that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In 2011 and 2013 she sought treatment; she has spoken openly about managing the condition with medication and therapy (Healthline (health publication)).
What to watch

Jason’s Pop Larkin is a study in charm and evasion – a man who never pays tax and lives on fried breakfasts. The contrast with his later role as Detective Inspector Frost in A Touch of Frost shows the range of a master character actor.

Bottom line: The casting was a blend of established star power (Jason, Ferris) and fresh discovery (Zeta-Jones). For Zeta-Jones, the show was a springboard; for British audiences, it was the last time they’d see her on a regular TV series.

The catch: Jason’s performance as Pop Larkin defined the show’s heart, but his later career proved his versatility beyond the golden fields of Kent.

Is there a remake or more series of The Darling Buds of May?

Original series seasons

  • The original ran for three series (20 episodes): Series 1 (1991, 6 episodes), Series 2 (1992, 7 episodes), Series 3 (1993, 7 episodes) – though some sources record a 7-7-6 split (Wikipedia).

Remake: The Larkins (2021)

  • ITV revived the property as The Larkins in 2021, starring Bradley Walsh as Pop and Joanna Scanlan as Ma. It ran for two series (2021–2022) and a Christmas special before being cancelled (ITV (official broadcaster press release)).

Plans for season 4

  • No fourth season was ever made for the original. Key departures (Zeta-Jones, the evolving 1990s TV landscape) and the natural closure of the three-series arc made a continuation unviable. The remake similarly ended after two series.
Why this matters

The series happened at a specific cultural moment – pre-cable, pre-streaming, when a gentle Sunday evening comedy on ITV could command 15 million viewers. Neither the original nor the remake could defy the changing habits of British audiences.

Bottom line: For David Jason, the series was a defining role, and for modern viewers, it remains a comfort watch. The franchise lives on only through repeats and streaming. For completists, the original 20 episodes remain on ITVX and BritBox. The remake offers a different tone – brighter, faster – but lacks the lazy warmth that made the original a national comfort watch.

The pattern: both versions captured a longing for simpler times, but only the original had the cast and context to make it stick.

Timeline

  • 1905 – H.E. Bates born (Wikipedia (H.E. Bates biography))
  • 1958 – Novel ‘The Darling Buds of May’ published (Wikipedia (literary article))
  • 7 April 1991 – TV series premieres on ITV (Wikipedia (TV series article))
  • 1993 – Series ends after 3 seasons (Wikipedia)
  • 2021 – Remake ‘The Larkins’ premieres on ITV (ITV (official broadcaster press release))

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • H.E. Bates born 1905, died 1974 (Wikipedia)
  • Filming locations in Kent (Pluckley, Little Chart, Folkestone) (Wikipedia)
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones left after series 2 (Wikipedia)
  • David Jason was 51 when series started (Wikipedia)
  • Zeta-Jones has bipolar disorder (publicly disclosed) (Healthline)

What’s unclear

  • Exact episode count per season (varies by source: 6-7-7 or 7-7-6) (Wikipedia)
  • Whether Zeta-Jones’ departure was entirely her choice or mutual (Biography.com)
  • Whether filming began in 1990 or 1991 – production reports suggest a start in autumn 1990 (Anglotopia)
  • Whether Yorkshire locations beyond the Hotel Metropole were used (Wikipedia)

The catch: several production details remain ambiguous, but they don’t dim the series’ impact.

Voices from the show

“Perfick!”

Pop Larkin (character played by David Jason)

“The Garden of England Trail takes in the beautiful Kent countryside featured in the show.”

Kent Film Office (county film authority)

For ITV in 1991, the gamble on a period adaptation of a 1958 novel paid off handsomely. But the show’s real legacy is how it captured a fantasy of English rural life that felt both old-fashioned and irresistible. For David Jason and Pam Ferris, the series remains a career highlight; for today’s streaming-era viewer, the choice is clear: watch the original for authentic “perfick” charm, or skip the remake unless you’re a completionist.

Additional sources

stagedoor.fandom.com

For a comprehensive look at the cast and the original novel, see this Darling Buds of May cast and book guide.

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Frequently asked questions

Is The Darling Buds of May available on streaming services?

Yes – in the UK on ITVX and on DVD collections. In the US it streams on BritBox and via Amazon Prime Video with a BritBox add-on. Check local licensing (ITV (official streaming)).

How many episodes are there in total?

20 episodes across three series: Series 1 (6 episodes), Series 2 (7), Series 3 (7) – though some sources list a 7-7-6 split (Wikipedia).

What rating did the series receive?

The show was a massive ratings success, regularly pulling in over 15 million viewers per episode during its ITV broadcast peak (Wikipedia).

Did Catherine Zeta-Jones win any awards for her role?

She was nominated for the 1992 British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress but did not win. Her breakthrough came later in film (IMDb (awards list)).

Where can I watch The Darling Buds of May?

ITVX (UK), BritBox (US/Canada/Australia), DVD box sets. Availability may change; always check current streaming guides.

Are any of the original cast members still alive?

Yes – David Jason (b.1940), Pam Ferris (b.1948), Catherine Zeta-Jones (b.1969), and Philip Franks (b.1956) are still active. Stephanie Cole (b.1941) is also alive. Many of the child actors have left the profession.

What is the difference between the novel and the TV series?

The novel is a single, slim book (around 150 pages) covering one spring and summer. The TV series expands the story across 20 episodes, adding subplots, new characters (e.g., Auntie Flo), and a longer arc for Mariette and Charley (Wikipedia (novel)).

Why was the remake called ‘The Larkins’ instead of the original title?

ITV rebranded the revival to avoid confusion with the original 1990s series. The source material – Bates’ novels – are sometimes referred to collectively as the ‘Larkin novels’. The new title also let the remake establish its own identity (ITV (press release)).

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