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Bradley Walsh shares the real reason The Larkins might not return

Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan star in The Larkins. (ITV)
Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan star in The Larkins. (ITV)

Rumours have been swirling that The Larkins has been axed after two series – but now its star Bradley Walsh has shed some light on what it really going on.

Walsh stars as Pop Larkin in the ITV1 reboot of The Darling Buds of May, based on the books by H.E. Bates and has so far made two series, but a third is not currently in the pipeline.

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It was thought that ITV may have scrapped the cosy drama, which also features Joanna Scanlan as Ma Larkin, over disappointing viewing figures, but The Chase host Walsh has insisted that any problem lies with him.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 13: Bradley Walsh in the winners' room at the National Television Awards 2022 at OVO Arena Wembley on October 13, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Bradley Walsh says his busy schedule is the only problem with The Larkins. (Getty Images)

The actor, who can be seen in a new series of adventure show Breaking Dad with his son Barney Walsh, told This Morning on Tuesday that the lack of any more Larkins was simply down to his own busy schedule.

Host Holly Willoughby said: "There was something you wanted to clear up and clarify and this is of course The Larkins.

"There were reports last year that series two might be the last, but you want to clear that up."

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Walsh replied: "The viewing figures were absolutely fine, there was nothing wrong with the viewing figures, they were fantastic, in comparison to the first series it all went well."

Joanna Scanlan and Bradley Walsh play Ma and Pop Larkin. (ITV)
There is currently no series three of The Larkins on the way. (ITV)

However, he said that the drama needed a 14-week shoot – and with his Chase and Breaking Dad commitments, it hadn't been possible to find the time.

Walsh said: "It’s down to me. I don’t have time to do that. It’s not anything else. We’re trying to get a special.

"So that’s what it’s all about, The Larkins is a fantastic show. Barns (Barney) worked on that with me as well.

"I just loved it, it was brilliant. They were heartwarming and it was just fantastic."

Joelle Rae (left) replaces Sabrina Bartlett as Mariette. (Michael Shelford/Getty)
Joelle Rae (left) replaced Sabrina Bartlett as Mariette. (Michael Shelford/Getty)

He confirmed: "It's purely down to the fact that I have not got the time to make another series at the moment."

The original TV adaptation of The Darling Buds of May which aired in the 90s starred Catherine Zeta-Jones as Mariette Larkin.

Her role was taken on by Sabrina Bartlett in the first series of The Larkins, but she left before series two and was replaced by Joelle Rae.