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The Durrells proves a rollicking delight for ITV The Durrells proves a rollicking delight for ITV
(about 1 hour later)
The old adage of never working with children and animals is being tested by ITV with its main Sunday night drama. But The Durrells, a fun mix of gorgeous locations, four badly behaved kidults and an odd menagerie of animals, is proving a success for the broadcaster which has been searching for a Sunday night hit since Downton Abbey came to an end in December.The old adage of never working with children and animals is being tested by ITV with its main Sunday night drama. But The Durrells, a fun mix of gorgeous locations, four badly behaved kidults and an odd menagerie of animals, is proving a success for the broadcaster which has been searching for a Sunday night hit since Downton Abbey came to an end in December.
Based on Gerald Durrell’s Corfu trilogy, the drama starring Keeley Hawes as the whimsical widow fleeing a prewar Britain for the sunny Mediterranean is attracting an average audience of 5.9 million viewers on a Sunday night, nearly 2 million more than the channel’s average.Based on Gerald Durrell’s Corfu trilogy, the drama starring Keeley Hawes as the whimsical widow fleeing a prewar Britain for the sunny Mediterranean is attracting an average audience of 5.9 million viewers on a Sunday night, nearly 2 million more than the channel’s average.
Related: If you haven’t read My Family and Other Animals, do so – preferably with a childRelated: If you haven’t read My Family and Other Animals, do so – preferably with a child
The series has also been a boon for sales of the the naturalist’s books. Waterstones said sales of My Family and Other Animals, the first of the Corfu trilogy, had more than tripled, while sales of the tome incorporating all three books had increased eight-fold. The series has also been a boon for sales of the the naturalist’s books. Waterstones said sales of My Family and Other Animals, the first of the Corfu trilogy, had more than tripled, while sales of the trilogy had increased eight-fold.
Publisher Penguin Random House said it had seen an “incredible uplift” across all three editions of My Family and Other Animals.Publisher Penguin Random House said it had seen an “incredible uplift” across all three editions of My Family and Other Animals.
“In our experience successful book adaptations for TV and cinema often lead to a renewed interest in the original book,” said Richard Humphreys, Waterstones non-fiction buyer. “It is an amazing result and a testament to the brilliance and longevity of Durrell’s writing.” “In our experience, successful book adaptations for TV and cinema often lead to a renewed interest in the original book,” said Richard Humphreys, Waterstones’ non-fiction buyer. “It is an amazing result and a testament to the brilliance and longevity of Durrell’s writing.”
Shown in a pre-watershed slot of 8pm, an hour before Downton, the show’s combination of romance and rollicking children is proving a hit with entire families. The Durrells is the highest rated new drama series on ITV since Cilla in 2014. The broadcaster commissioned a second series after just two episodes. Shown in a pre-watershed slot of 8pm, the combination of romance and rollicking children has won over entire families. The Durrells is the highest rated new drama series on ITV since Cilla in 2014 and was recommissioned after just two episodes.
Sally Woodward Gentle, executive producer of the show, said the idea of turning Durrell’s three books into a long-running series came about because of the commercial broadcaster’s demand for a family-friendly hit on the biggest night of the week. Sally Woodward Gentle, the executive producer, said the idea of turning Durrell’s three books into a long-running series came about because of the commercial broadcaster’s demand for a family-friendly hit on the biggest night of the week.
“We wanted sunshine and escapism, and not anything too slight or sweet or patronising,” she told the Guardian. “We wanted sunshine and escapism, and not anything too slight or sweet or patronising,” she said. “We don’t want to be too sickly sweet about it. Anything that feels a bit cute we will try to undercut it. At the same time, it has to be something that’s incredibly pleasurable and a joy to watch.”
The appeal is ageless, she continued, because the show contains “quite naughty children who are allowed to run wild and lots of animals. For the adults, the wit and characters are amazing.” The appeal was ageless, she said, because the show contained “quite naughty children who are allowed to run wild and lots of animals. For the adults, the wit and characters are amazing”.
Conceived as a long-running series, minor characters such as Sven and the part-time prisoner Costi are made much larger while the central character is giving a possibly more modern spin. “She’s a single parent, feisty and bolshie, and does this extremely brave thing by taking the children off to Corfu,” said Woodward Gentle. Conceived as a long-running series, minor characters such as Sven and the part-time prisoner Costi are made much larger while the central character of Louise is given a possibly more modern spin. “She’s a single parent, feisty and bolshie, and does this extremely brave thing by taking the children off to Corfu,” said Woodward Gentle.
There have been comparisons with the the Larkin family in the early 1990s hit Darling Buds of May, which Woodward Gentle welcomes. “I loved it,” she said, with a laugh. “It was slightly naughty and all about how lush nature is.” There have been comparisons to the the Larkin family in the early 1990s hit Darling Buds of May, which Woodward Gentle welcomes. “I loved it,” she said. “It was slightly naughty and all about how lush nature is.”
While the stunning locations and beautiful people of The Durrells may be having the same effect on viewers. Critics, often less enamoured of ITV drama than they are of BBC adaptations, were also generally positive, although there was also criticism of a plot twist dubbed the “gay switch scandal”. Critics, often less enamoured of ITV drama than they are of BBC adaptations, have been generally positive, although there was also criticism of a plot twist dubbed the “gay switch scandal”.
Sven, who is gay in the book, becomes the lead character Louisa’s main love interest on ITV, prompting charges of straightwashing. Sven, who is gay in the book, becomes Louisa’s main love interest on ITV, prompting charges of “straightwashing”.
ITV would not be drawn on the plot’s resolution, with the penultimate of six episodes to be broadcast this Sunday, and remained tight lipped about how the storyline between the two plays out. ITV would not be drawn on how the storyline between the two plays out, with the penultimate of six episodes to be broadcast this Sunday.
Woodward Gentle would only say that the show was very “loosely based” on the original books, even though Durrell’s widow, Lee, had been “very supportive”. Other adaptations have tended to run for 3.5 hours at most and to focus exclusively on the most famous book My Family and Other Animals. Woodward Gentle said the show was very loosely based on the original books, and Durrell’s widow, Lee, had been very supportive.
Besides, she said, neither the original memoirs nor the writings of Durrell’s older brother about the family’s time on Corfu was entirely accurate. “Gerald and Lawrence Durrell didn’t tell the truth either … They didn’t let truth stand in the way of a good story.” Neither the original memoirs nor the writings of Durrell’s older brother about the family’s time on Corfu was entirely accurate, Woodward Gentle said.. “Gerald and Lawrence Durrell didn’t tell the truth either … They didn’t let truth stand in the way of a good story.”
Written by Simon Nye, responsible for Men Behaving Badly among other things, the series hopes to stay true to the humour of the books. Written by Simon Nye, whose credits include Men Behaving Badly, the series hopes to stay true to the humour of the books.
They covered a four-year period before the onset of the second world war made the real-life Durrells return to the UK. With filming of the next series set to start this summer for the next series, Woodward Gentle said she would “love it to go on and on”.They covered a four-year period before the onset of the second world war made the real-life Durrells return to the UK. With filming of the next series set to start this summer for the next series, Woodward Gentle said she would “love it to go on and on”.
Tight-lipped about the rest of the series, the one thing she confirms is that the Durrells will not be “doing an Archers”, she said. “We don’t want to be too sickly sweet about it. Anything that feels a bit cute we will try to undercut it. At the same time it has to be something that’s incredibly pleasurable and a joy to watch.”
Ratings warRatings war
The Durrells has helped to loosen the BBC’s grip on early Sunday evening viewing, which is traditionally dominated by Countryfile at 7pm, followed an hour later by Antiques Roadshow, both on BBC1.The Durrells has helped to loosen the BBC’s grip on early Sunday evening viewing, which is traditionally dominated by Countryfile at 7pm, followed an hour later by Antiques Roadshow, both on BBC1.
Last Sunday The Durrells had 5.5 million viewers from 8pm, just ahead of Antiques Roadshow with 5.3 million. Last Sunday, The Durrells had 5.5 million viewers from 8pm, just ahead of Antiques Roadshow with 5.3 million.
ITV’s previous attempts to find a hit pre-watershed drama on Sunday sank without trace. Jekyll and Hyde last year and Beowulf earlier this year were both dropped after ratings fell to 2 million viewers.ITV’s previous attempts to find a hit pre-watershed drama on Sunday sank without trace. Jekyll and Hyde last year and Beowulf earlier this year were both dropped after ratings fell to 2 million viewers.
Among the other big Sunday night dramas, BBC1’s Undercover, with an overnight audience of 4 million viewers at 9pm, has not managed to repeat the success of The Night Manager, which gripped more than 6 million people in the same slot. But neither were in the league of the biggest Sunday night drama hit, BBC1’s Call The Midwife, which at its peak was watched by 10 million viewers.Among the other big Sunday night dramas, BBC1’s Undercover, with an overnight audience of 4 million viewers at 9pm, has not managed to repeat the success of The Night Manager, which gripped more than 6 million people in the same slot. But neither were in the league of the biggest Sunday night drama hit, BBC1’s Call The Midwife, which at its peak was watched by 10 million viewers.
Channel 4’s Indian Summers has been a casualty of the fierce Sunday night ratings war, with the drama about the birth of modern India axed after two series after its audience fell as low as 1 million.Channel 4’s Indian Summers has been a casualty of the fierce Sunday night ratings war, with the drama about the birth of modern India axed after two series after its audience fell as low as 1 million.