ITV has revealed further casting for The Larkins, including Sabrina Bartlett as Mariette Larkin and Tok Stephen as Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton

We previously covered the casting of Bradley Walsh in the Darling Buds of May remake The Larkins when it was (finally) announced he would play Pa Larkin opposite Joanna Scanlan. Bartlett will be familiar to Bridgerton fans for the role of opera singer Siena Rosso. She also played Abigail Turner in Victoria. Stephen has recent credits for roles in Holby City and Grantchester. The Darling Buds of May was a hugely popular show 30 years ago, and became a staple of Sunday evening television. The part of Mariette was played by Catherine Zeta Jones and was very much a breakthrough role.

The ITV announcement as a lot of detail on the background to The Larkins including:

The Larkins is a new television adaptation of H.E. Bates’ novel The Darling Buds of May, written by acclaimed screenwriter Simon Nye (Finding Alice, The Durrells, Men Behaving Badly) with the aim of capturing the warmth, optimism and escapism of The Larkin family for a modern generation. Set in the late 1950s, The Larkins is the story of a working-class family led by the golden-hearted wheeler dealer Pop Larkin and his wife Ma, together with their six children, including the beautiful Mariette.

Alongside their weekly battles with authority and snobbish villagers, The Larkins will follow the love story between Mariette and village newcomer Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton. Charley arrives in the village as an unworldly and officious accountant from the city, there to investigate the Larkins’ tax affairs…

Speaking of the part, Bartlett said:

“I am really REALLY excited to be taking on the role of Mariette Larkin in this new adaption of H.E. Bates novels. I can’t wait to bring these heart-warming stories to life alongside such a wonderful team. It’s just the perfect dose of escapism we all need right now”

You can read the full announcement for quotes from other cast members and more on the show’s Kent setting.