A shake-up has been announced for ITV's The Larkins as the comedy-drama announces it's return for series two but with a new actress set to replace Bridgerton star Sabrina Bartlett, who played the iconic role of Mariette in series one. The second instalment will air on TV screens later this year - but who will stepping into the shoes of Pop and Ma Larkin's eldest daughter?
Joelle Rae, who has previously featured in BBC and Netflix's Get Even and ITV soap Emmerdale, will take on the role of Mariette Charlton for the new series of the TV adaption of H.E. Bates’s series of novels by screenwriter Simon Nye. Catherine Zeta-Jones' career was launched when she played the same role in the original Darling Buds of May series in the 90s.
Tok Stephen will be returning as Mariette's husband Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton. ITV has confirmed filming has started on the six new episodes and the cast and crew will once again be back in the Kent countryside to shoot throughout the summer.
There will also be some fresh faces arriving in the village, Maxim Ays (Sanditon) joins the cast as Reverend Candy and a new family, the Jerebohms, move to the area and are soon "at war with the Larkins" according to ITV. The mother, Pinkie, will be played by Morgana Robinson with Hector Bateman Harden playing her son Gilbert and Lucy Allix playing her daughter Blanche. The casting of the husband and father, Cuthbert, is to be announced in due course
But fear not, The Chase presenter and former Doctor Who star Bradley Walsh will be returning alongside BAFTA award-winning actress Joanna Scanlan to reprise their roles as Pop and Ma Larkin - once played by David Jason and Pam Ferris. Completling the on-screen family will be Liam Middleton (Montgomery Larkin), Lola Shepelev (Victoria Larkin), Summer Miller (Zinnia Larkin) and Sienna Miller (Petunia Larkin).
Also returning for the new series are Peter Davison (the Vicar), Kriss Dosanjh (Brigadier), Amelia Bullmore (Miss Edith Pilchester), Seeta Indrani (Miss Chand), Robert Bathurst (Johnny Delamere), Francesca Wilson Waterworth (Libby Fothergill), Barney Walsh (PC Harness), Tony Gardner (Alec Norman) and Selina Griffiths (Norma Norman).
In February, it was rumoured that actress Sabrina Bartlett had quit The Darling Buds of May reboot, with The Daily Mail reporting it followed an on-set disagreement. But her publicist told The Daily Mail it was due to ''scheduling clashes'. The first series of The Larkins, including the Christmas special, is available to watch on ITV Hub.
