The Darling Buds of May: Inspiration for the ITV drama The Larkins starring Bradley Walsh

Description

”Home looks nice. Allus does though, don”t it? Perfick”

And so the Larkins – Pop, Ma, Mariette, Zinnia, Petunia, Primrose, Victoria and Montgomery – return from an outing for fish and chips and ice cream one May evening. There, amid the rustic charms of home, they discover a visitor: one Cedric Charlton, Her Majesty”s inspector of taxes.

Mr Charlton is visiting to find out why junk-dealer Pop hasn”t paid his tax – but nothing”s that simple at the Larkins. Mariette takes a shine to ”Charley” – as Pop calls him – and before long the family have introduced the uncomplaining inspector to the delights of country living: the lusty scents of wild flowers, the pleasures of a bottle of Dragon”s Blood, cold cream dribbled over a bowl of strawberries and hot, hot summer nights.

In fact, soon Charley can”t see any reason to return to the office at all . . .