The Darling Buds of May - Characters

Characters

"Pop" Larkin is the eccentric and loving father. He has no regular employment but several projects and a succession of jobs provide income for the family. He invents things. His money-making schemes are often a side plot in each episode. Despite Pop's irregular income, the family does not lack money. They afford holidays abroad, a swimming pool and boarding school for the twins. He is proud of his large family and involved in his children's lives. While Pop adores Ma, he is also close to other women, although he never goes beyond flirting and kissing. Ma is aware of this and doesn't appear to mind.

"Ma" Larkin is the mother of the family. She occasionally becomes involved in Pop's schemes, or creates a scheme of her own. However she is usually cooking food, tending the garden or caring for the children.

Mariette Larkin is the eldest child. Her name was created by combining 'Marie' and 'Antoinette'. In the first episode she is shown to be the family beauty and slightly wild. However, she quickly marries Charley and settles down with him for the rest of the series. She has father's business sense and manages a brewery with Charley in later episodes. Her wedding ceremony reveals her middle name as Jane.

Montgomery Larkin (played by Ian Tucker) is the eldest son. He appears for only part of the series before joining the merchant navy and attending college.

Primrose Larkin is the second daughter. She reads romantic poetry and dreams of love. She tries to seduce both Charley and the village minister but fails. She has other romances, one of which leads to her staying in France after a family vacation, to remain with her love. Her full name is Primrose Violet Anemone Iris Magnolia Narcissa Larkin.

Zinnia and Petunia Larkin are the twins. They are identical and use this to pull pranks. In early episodes, the twins are often with Victoria. As they age, they see Victoria as an annoyance and avoid her. The twins' mischief leads to expulsion from the village school. They attend a boarding school, which they love. They share the middle names June Florence Nightingale.

Victoria Larkin is the youngest daughter. She often plays with the twins but feels left out. She enjoys teasing and embarrassing her siblings, especially Primrose.

Oscar Larkin is the youngest child. He grows from an infant to a toddler throughout the series. His full name is Oscar Columbus Septimus Dupont Larkin.

Cedric "Charley" Charlton is Mariette's husband. He was a tax collector but gave up his job after falling in love with Mariette and the Larkins' life. He holds on to some city ideas, though, and never fully develops the Larkin sense of business. He and Mariette eventually own a brewery .

John Blenheim Charlton is Mariette and Charley's son. He was born approximately one year after Oscar and both often play together and are cared for together. His full name is John Marlborough Churchill Blenheim Charlton. His character is played by Daisy-May Bates, granddaughter of the author of the books.