Viewers fell in love with The Larkins – ITV’s latest adaptation of The Darling Buds of May – when it premiered last October so when news broke that Sabrina Bartlett would be leaving the role of Mariette, many fans were left wondering what would happen in season 2.
Thankfully, The Larkins star Joanna Scanlan has revealed that replacing Bartlett in the role has “gone very well”, with filming on the new episodes currently underway and former Emmerdale actress Joelle Rae taking on the character.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards, Scanlan – who plays Ma Larkin on the show – teased the upcoming second season, including the addition of comedian Morgana Robinson to the cast.
“You can expect Morgana Robinson which is exciting. Yeah, it’s been an idyllic period of weather and so you can see a glorious summer in England to the max,” she said. “Really, really good. Bradley [Walsh] is in good form, everything is looking good.”
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When asked how the show is set to handle Mariette being played by a different actress, Scanlan said: “It’s all gone very well.
“I think it’ll be pretty seamless actually,” she added.
In May, ITV confirmed that The Larkins would be returning for a second season with Rae taking over from Bartlett, while the likes of Morgana Robinson and Hector Bateman Harden have joined the cast to play Pinkie and her son Gilbert respectively.
The show, which is based on HE Bates’ novels, follows the Larkin family in the rural 1950s Kent countryside as they raise their six children.
The South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2022 air on Wednesday 13th July at 10pm on Sky Arts. You can buy The Darling Buds of May book on Amazon. While you’re waiting to watch The Larkins, take a look at our other Drama coverage, or check out our TV guide to find out what’s on TV tonight.
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