The Larkins

I noted that a certain TV station were running 'The Darling Buds of May' concurrently with 'The Larkins' and I was excited to see a remake. However, the acting is certainly very wooden and the timeline is inaccurate in keeping with the basic facts of H. E Bates' written works. Although good to see a multi-cultural cast, I am not sure if this truly reflective of 1950's Kent. Another distasteful addition is the use of modern slang so I don't know what the writers were hoping to achieve but it. Somewhat tarnishes the innocence and floaty feeling in the aforementioned TV series. The only character that resembles Pam Ferris is the new Ma Larkin (given that Pam Ferris was very well chosen going by the books), but all other characters are really quite forgettable. A big disappointment.

I so wanted to enjoy it as I am a big fan of Bradley Walsh but no effort was made to freshen the storyline or even the plot. The script was weak and acting felt like they were going through the motions. The mains leads were look-a-likes and didn't need to be. There is a difference between paying homage and being mimics. It had a Disney family movie feel about it. Will trying again next week to see if it grows on me but I am sceptical.

Sadly another remake of a great series that has fallen foul of the equality brigade.

As someone who grew up in rural south-east England in the 50s I can assure you that it was unlikely you would never have seen one black person - let alone so many as apparently the producers of this series seem to think there were.

Why does everyone seem to be trying to rewrite history?

I know it seems racist to say this and I don't want to be that way but as others have said this would not have been a multi-cultural society at that time. For some of us and what we know about the Darling buds of May etc adding characters of non-Caucasian ethnicity is just more tokenism and sometimes we could live without it. Not that it doesn't have its place it's just lets make it appropriate. Anything else is patronising.

When this arrived on our little screen in Sydney, it came as a joyful revelation. Both my wife and I are fond of the English 'Chase' So seeing Bradley Walsh in the main role was a real treat as we find him very entertaining and so witty. I also was a young dairy farmer in a small village in France so enjoyed the environment.

We did enjoyed The Larkins a lot, not that it is terrific but it's funny and for us already belonging to the 'third age' it brought back many happy memories.

"Ma and Pa" are good fun, at time a little over the top or rather corny just like the whole show but all in all them and their supporting team are good value.

As we taped the episodes we share them with some of our friends and one of them (from England) told us it was just like the 'Darling Buds of May" ... The what? I asked him ... Google put me up to speed on this subject and I ended buying a set of DVD of it for a birthday present. I later borrowed the set to watch it and compare.

For my Oz dollars I do prefer Bradley W than David J in 'Pop's role.

With the DBoM it's no more "Black and White" No more Bradley but we get Inspector Jack Frost whom we are very devoted to this character. Then who could not love Catherine Zeta Jones!

The Larkins introduced a coloured character as the dazzled Tax man. I must admit that I was surprised as my memories of the 50/60s in rural France could not recall such eventuality. But we warmed up to this character quickly. Else 'Ma' and Mariette are just as good in the Larkins I read quite a few negative reviews of 'The Larkins' here. And I am somehow saddened to see people who don't seem to be able to enjoy two versions of a lovely and funny story with both having worthy entertaining content.

Well for me as I used to be French I do remember a valuable motto. "Vive la difference"!