The Darling Buds of May

Made in the 1990s, The Darling Buds of May was unique in more ways than one. Devoid of car chases, gunplay, explicit content, or bad language, it stood out as pure family viewing, an unashamedly heart-warming antidote to the grittier television dramas of the time. It also proved to be a colossal ratings success, famously toppling previously unbeatable titans like Coronation Street and EastEnders. In doing so, it made British TV history: all six episodes of its first series reached number one in the weekly ratings charts, an extraordinary achievement that reflected just how instantly the nation had taken the series to its heart.

The programme was based on the popular novels by H.E. (Herbert Ernest) Bates (1905–1974), a Northamptonshire-born author who published his first novel in 1926. The Darling Buds of May, first published in 1958, was the first of five novels centred around the life-loving, carefree Larkin family. At the head of the family were the ever-jovial Pop (Sidney Charles Larkin) and his common-law wife, Ma. The fact that they were unmarried, yet had six children, shocked many contemporary critics. These children included Mariette (a blend of Marie and Antoinette), Primrose (born in the spring), twins Zinnia and Petunia (named after Ma’s favourite flowers), Victoria (born during the plum season), and Montgomery (named after the famous wartime general). However, the charm of Bates’ writing soon silenced the critics, and public demand led to a Hollywood adaptation just a year later, albeit a far more sanitised version, entitled The Mating Game, starring Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall.

Several other attempts had been made to adapt the books prior to the 1990s revival, including a London stage production starring Peter Jones and a BBC radio series. At one point, the rights had been sold to an American television company, but when that version failed to materialise, they were returned and ultimately acquired by Yorkshire Television. Richard Bates, the author’s son, took on the role of executive producer. The first episode was written by the acclaimed duo of John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, whose writing credits include The Good Life, Ever Decreasing Circles, Brush Strokes, Get Some In! and Please Sir! The remaining eleven episodes were penned by Eddie Maguire.

The casting proved to be inspired. David Jason, already beloved by audiences for his comic and dramatic range, brought to life the effervescent Pop Larkin; a man of “independent means” who ran a 22-acre smallholding and never lost his temper or his good humour. Jason’s portrayal was, in a word, “Perfick”—Pop’s most frequently used expression. Given Jason’s other iconic roles, Granville in Open All Hours, Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses, and DI Jack Frost in A Touch of Frost, his ability to fully embody such a contrasting character is testament to his versatility and remarkable skill.

Equally memorable was Pam Ferris as Ma; roly-poly, joyously loud, endlessly loving, and almost permanently stationed in the kitchen preparing monumental feasts for the family, all of which Pop would enthusiastically smother in tomato ketchup. At her side were the six Larkin children, including the eldest, Mariette, played by a then-unknown Catherine Zeta-Jones. Her beauty, charm, and natural charisma caught the attention of casting agents and audiences alike, paving the way for her successful Hollywood career.

The opening episode introduced Cedric Charlton, a young and awkward Inland Revenue official (played by Philip Franks), who arrives to investigate Pop’s tax situation. But after being drawn into the warmth of Larkin hospitality, staying for an impromptu lunch and quickly falling in love with Mariette, Charlie ends up never leaving. Just as Charlie was captivated, so too were the viewers.

Filmed lovingly in the Kentish village of Pluckley, often referred to as “Britain’s most haunted village”, the show boosted local tourism considerably. Kent’s picturesque countryside, known affectionately  as “The Garden of England,” provided the perfect sun-dappled backdrop for the series’ idyllic, almost timeless setting. The Larkin farm, the local pub, and the surrounding meadows evoked a nostalgic, pre-industrial England—a simpler, slower life untouched by modern anxieties.

Much of the show’s appeal came from this very nostalgia. At a time when British television was increasingly dominated by gritty realism and post-modern cynicism, The Darling Buds of May stood as a golden oasis, a cheerful celebration of family, food, nature, and the small joys of daily life. It offered escapism not through fantasy, but by imagining an England that perhaps once was, or at the very least, one we wish had been.

The series ran for three seasons between 1991 and 1993, comprising twenty episodes in total. Despite its short run, its cultural impact was significant. The phrase “Perfick” became a widely recognised catchphrase, and the show remains fondly remembered as a standout example of gentle, high-quality British drama.

By turns funny, moving, warm, and exuberant, The Darling Buds of May was more than just a successful adaptation—it was a perfect (or “perfick”) reminder of the joy that can come from simple pleasures, good company, and the enduring warmth of family life.