She’s perfick! Bridgerton’s Sabrina Bartlett recreates Catherine Zeta-Jones’s Mariette Larkin in ITV’s The Darling Buds Of May reboot
- Sabrina, 29, played Siena Rosso in Netflix smash Bridgerton
- Catherine, 51, played the original Darling Buds role of Mariette from 1991 to 1993
- Bradley Walsh is set to play Pop Larkin, originally played by David Jason, and Joanna Scanlan will portray his wife Ma, first played by Pam Ferris
- Welsh star Catherine went on to have a glittering Hollywood career and won an Academy Award for the musical Chicago (2002), for best supporting actress
Bridgerton star Sabrina Bartlett has been cast in ITV’s reboot of The Darling Buds Of May, it was revealed on Thursday.
The actress, 29, is set to portray the character Mariette Larkin, a role made famous by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the 1990s comedy, opposite Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan.
Sharing her excitement at taking the part, Sabrina, who stars as opera singer Siena Rosso in the racy period drama, said in a statement: ‘I am really, really excited to be taking on the role of Mariette Larkin in this new adaption of the H.E. Bates novels.
New role: Bridgerton’s Sabrina Bartlett, (left), has been cast as Mariette Larkin in ITV’s The Darling Buds Of May reboot alongside Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan, it was revealed on Thursday
‘I can’t wait to bring these heart-warming stories to life alongside such a wonderful team. It’s just the perfect dose of escapism we all need right now.’
It was revealed back in December that Walsh would play Pop Larkin, originally played by David Jason, and Joanna was set to portray his wife Ma, first played by Pam Ferris.
Doctor Who star Bradley said of the drama: ‘I’m thrilled to be asked to be part of this much loved and iconic series of stories.
‘The warmth and affection that HE Bates has generated through his books is so uplifting and I cannot wait to be part of the Larkin family. It’ll be a hoot!’
Exciting: The actress is set to portray Mariette Larkin, a role made famous by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the 1990s comedy (pictured, with David Jason, Philip Franks, and Pam Ferris)
Delighted: Sabrina, who stars as opera singer Siena Rosso in Bridgerton (pictured in character), said in a statement: ‘I am really, really excited to be taking on the role’
It was also announced on Thursday that Tok Stephen had joined the cast in the role of Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton, Mariette’s husband.
Discussing being a part of the cast, Tok said: ‘I am thrilled to be cast as Charley in such a beloved and wonderful show.
‘I can’t wait to work alongside Joanna, Bradley and Sabrina. I’m incredibly excited. I hope we can impress fans of the original novels with our version.’
Family: It was revealed back in December that Walsh (pictured) would play Pop Larkin, and Joanna was set to portray his wife Ma
Casting: It was also announced on Thursday that Tok Stephen (pictured) had joined the cast in the role of Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton, Mariette’s husband
It was reported in November 2019 that the show – set in the 1950s – was to be ‘revamped’ to replace The Durrells, the classic programme followed the lives of the Larkin family in rural Kent.
An insider told The Sun at the time: ‘A revamped version of The Darling Buds Of May is just the kind of show ITV needs to keep its reputation for making family-friendly dramas.
‘It brought people together around the TV almost three decades ago, and they’re hoping it will provide the same shared experience once again.’
Welsh star Zeta Jones went on to have a glittering Hollywood career and won an Academy Award for the musical Chicago (2002), for best supporting actress.
She is now married to Michael Douglas and they are parents to Dylan 20 and Carys, 17.
Classic: The classic programme followed the lives of the Larkin family in rural Kent in the 1950s (pictured, the original)