The Darling Buds of May (TV series) and 2.1, respectively. Although a male character, John Blenheim was played by Daisy-May Bates, granddaughter of the author of the books. Various other actors appeared in more than one storyline, i.e. in more than one double episode. Having been sold to MGM films in 1959, it wasn't until 1989 that Richard Bates, son of the author of the original books H. E. Bates, was able to purchase the rights to the novels. At the same time, Yorkshire Television were looking for a new project for David Jason, having starred for them in "A Bit of a Do". Richard Bates went
Scott Darling (screenwriter) away from Christie Films with the promise of an opportunity to direct in addition to writing screenplays. While adaptations from other works was Darling's forte, between 1922 and 1928 at Universal he directed 27 silent films and wrote 40 screenplays. With the advent of sound film, he easily adapted to creating dialogue and wrote scripts for early "talkies" such as Fox's "Trent's Last Case" (1929) based on the E. C. Bentley novel and directed by Howard Hawks. Six years after directing his last silent film, Darling tried his hand at directing a sound film in the United Kingdom but was