The Darling Buds of May (TV series) The Darling Buds of May (TV series) The Darling Buds of May is an English comedy drama television series, produced by Yorkshire Television for the ITV network, first broadcast between 7 April 1991 and 4 April 1993. It is an adaptation of the 1958 novel of the same name, and its sequels, by H. E. Bates. Set in rural 1950s Kent, it follows the life of the Larkin family. It starred David Jason as "Pop" Larkin alongside Pam Ferris as "Ma" Larkin, with Catherine Zeta-Jones playing their eldest daughter Mariette, who marries tax inspector Cedric "Charlie" Charlton, played by Philip
The Darling Buds of May (TV series) Originally a short story, he expanded it into a novel, followed by a further four books, the titles of the first four of which were used as episode titles for the TV series: The first novel in the series was originally adapted to the screen in 1959 as "The Mating Game", starring Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall as Mariette and Charley. The fifth novel, "A Little of What You Fancy?", was never adapted for television, but it was adapted into a six-part series by Eric Pringle for BBC Radio, with Jason and Ferris reprising their roles, first airing in February