The Durrells

The Durrells
Series titles over painting of house and trees
Genre Drama
Based on The Corfu Trilogy by Gerald Durrell
Written by Simon Nye
Theme music composer Ruth Barrett
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 6
Production
Executive producer(s) Lee Morris
Sally Woodward Gentle
Simon Nye
Producer(s) Christopher Hall
Cinematography Julian Court, James Aspinall
Running time 46-47 minutes
Production company(s) Sid Gentle Films
Masterpiece
co-production
Release
Original network ITV
Picture format 16:9 1080i
Audio format Stereo
Original release 3 April 2016 (2016-04-03) – present
External links
Website

The Durrells in Corfu is a drama miniseries ITV based on Gerald Durrell's three autobiographical books about his family's four years on Corfu 1935-1939,[1] which began airing on 3 April 2016.[2] The series is written by Simon Nye, directed by Steve Barron and Roger Goldby, and produced by Christopher Hall. The executive producers are Lee Morris and Sally Woodward Gentle.[3]

Story

The series begins in 1935, when Louisa Durrell suddenly announces that she and her four children will move from Bournemouth to the Greek island of Corfu. Her husband has died some years earlier and the family is experiencing financial problems. A Homeric battle ensues as the family adapts to life on the island which, despite a lack of electricity, is cheap and an earthly paradise.

Main characters

Main

Recurring

Episodes

Series 1 (2016)

(1935)

No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Steve BarronSimon Nye3 April 2016 (2016-04-03)8.81[nb 1]
The island of Corfu's distinct contrast with England is what enthrals Bournemouth mother Louisa Durrell to uproot her disenchanted family from a life of no prospects and venture into one with a lessened need for conformity. However, the appeal becomes ever distant to see upon their arrival. An austere life involves her attempting to withstand her three sons' and daughter's lack of regard for anything other than their own interests, with Gerry befriending an animal lover and forming an exponentially growing menagerie; Leslie's penchant for using firearms, until an incident compels him to give it up and search for love; Margo discovering the local community's less-than-favourable attitudes toward women; and Larry's attempts to quell his mother proving this beyond a doubt; all begins with a welcoming local man, Spiros, whose unintentional gift of a housemaid is somewhat fleetingly relieving for Louisa, until her children inevitably get in the way.
2"Episode 2"Steve BarronSimon Nye10 April 2016 (2016-04-10)7.69[nb 2]
The family's concerns over Sven's true intentions are brought to light when Louisa realises that Sven's romantic feelings for her are merely a ruse to hide his homosexuality. Larry finds himself stuck when Nancy insists they must move to England together, while he is hesitant to leave his family behind. Leslie suffers an injury perusing Gerry's makeshift zoo, leading Gerry to question his future caging animals. Margo attempts to relieve the Countess of her agoraphobia by inviting her to the wedding party.

Series 2 (2017)

(1936)

A second series was confirmed to air in 2017 by ITV on April 15, 2016 with filming to commence in late August; both in Corfu and London. The series will last an additional six episodes and plot-lines include: Larry balancing his flourishing writing career against a new romance, Leslie embarking upon entrepreneurship, Margo falling for an unsuitable boy, Gerry finding an otter residing close to his home, and Louisa being sought after by an Englishman, Hugh Jarvis (Daniel Lapaine).

Further plot points centers on the family struggling economically, with a new landlady, Vasiliki (Errika Bigio), obsessing over on-time rent payments and seemingly bearing a grudge towards Louisa expanding beyond that. A solution to the former turns up, as the family open a market stall with Theo teaching Leslie bee-keeping skills, and Margo, Gerry and Spiros on as farmhands.[5]

Returning roles include Leslie Caron as Countess Mavrodaki, Ulric Von Der Esch as Sven, Anna Savva as Lugaretzia, Lucy Black as Florence Petrides and Alexis Conran as Dr Petrides. Steve Barron and Ed Hall are to direct the second series.

Reception

Reception to the first episode was positive, with Gerard O'Donovan (The Telegraph) calling it "a series that's not only sun-drenched and liberating, but also catches its source material's high good humour without labouring it and weaves an authentic sense of the innocent exoticism of the original," before awarding it four stars.[6] The Daily Mail's Christoper Stevens bestowed even more praise, giving it five stars and focusing on the cast's performance, naming Keeley Hawes "magnificent as the indomitable, gin-sozzled widow Louisa Durrell" and Milo Parker's performance as Gerry "excellent", before commenting on the show's "cascade of Carry On humour."[7]

The opening episode averaged just under 6.4 million people and was watched by 29% of the audience over the hour, including those watching on ITV's +1 channel, and was the biggest drama launch of any channel so far in 2016[8] and the most-watched show of the day (including +1).[9] Following a seven-day catch-up period, the figure aggregated to just under 8.2 million people.[10] Citing the show being "ITV's best rating new drama of the year and its highest rating new show since September 2014", ITV recommissioned the show for a second series on April 15, 2016.[11] Over the course of the first series, ratings averaged out at 6.9 million viewers.[5]

The show and its episodes attained high ratings on IMDb, around 8/10.[12]

Broadcast

Internationally, the series was acquired in Australia by the Seven Network[13] and premiered on 24 August 2016.[14] In the United States, PBS began airing the show, retitled as The Durrells in Corfu, on October 16, 2016 at 8pm.[15] The Durrells started screening in New Zealand on 26 October 2016 on Prime TV.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Early life of Gerald Durrell comes to TV screens soon". Jersey Evening Post.com. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "ITV commissions new six-part drama The Durrells". ITV Press Centre. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "The Durrells (TV Series 2016–)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "BARB - Weekly Top 10 Programmes". BARB - Weekly Top 10 Programmes. Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 "ITV Press Centre - "More Sun, Sea and Animals as the cast of The Durrells return to Corfu to film the second series of the ITV drama"". ITV Press Centre. ITV. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  6. ↑ O'Donovan, Gerard. "The Telegraph - Keeley Hawes is a ray of sunshine in The Durrells - review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. ↑ Stevens, Christopher. "The Daily Mail - "A gin-soaked mum and mischief in the sun - it's perfect Sunday telly: Christopher Stevens reviews last weekend's TV"". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Twitter - ITV Media". Twitter. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Digital Spy - Forums - The Ratings Thread (Part 67)". Digital Spy Forums. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "BARB - Weekly Top 10 Programmes (w/e 3rd April 2016)". BARB - Weekly Top 10 Programmes. Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "ITV Media - Press Releases - "ITV recommissions hit drama The Durrells"". ITV Media. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "IMDb - The Durrells". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  13. ↑ Knox, David (30 June 2016). "Seven picks up UK drama The Durrells". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  14. ↑ Dunk, Tiffany (24 August 2016). "Seven takes punt that The Durrells can recreate Downton Abbey's huge success". news.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "Screener - TV Listings - "The Durrells in Corfu on Masterpiece"". 8 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  1. ↑ 28 day data: 7,247,000 on ITV, 1,218,000 on ITV HD and 343,000 on ITV +1[4]
  2. ↑ 28 day data: 6,076,000 on ITV, 1,241,000 on ITV HD and 372,000 on ITV +1[4]</ref> As Louisa deals with a despondent Margo, suffering from unrequited love and the middling advice from her siblings, Gerry's continuing disregard for education and his animal collection gaining more than first hoped and Spiros' attempts to take her mind off her money troubles (involving disappointing results from foraging, both for food and saleable items) and disintegrating house, Larry ends up requiring some rudimentary medical care from an unexpected source. 3"Episode 3"Steve BarronSimon Nye17 April 20167.58[nb 3]
  3. ↑ 28 day data: 5,954,000 on ITV, 1,304,000 on ITV HD and 330,000 on ITV +1[4]</ref> Louisa, alongside trying to avoid Sven following an argument, begins to worry over Gerry's burgeoning relationship with a convict and, attempting to investigate the cause of his imprisonment, finds the two stealing from the Countess's goldfish pond. After finding she is not cut out for working at the surgery, Margo strikes up a friendship with the Countess. Leslie laments over finding his girlfriend with her ex-boyfriend and later rues his actions after spotting the two on an alcohol-fuelled night out with Larry. 4"Episode 4"Roger GoldbySimon Nye24 April 20167.14[nb 4] A visit from some priggish relatives seems to deem the family's immigration to Corfu more temporary than first thought, and Louisa's aunt's insistence that they must return to England is made even more demanding by the revelation of her relationship with Sven. Larry, despondent at the rejection of his novel by publishers, subdues himself into a life of labour—soon discovering his ineptness. Margo tries to balance her devotion to the Countess and her growing adoration for her gardener, and Gerry's plans to embark into the world of conservation are thrown into disarray by his attempts to feed his adopted baby owls. 6"Episode 6"Roger GoldbySimon Nye8 May 20166.58<ref group='nb'>28 day data: 5,141,000 on ITV and 1,223,000 on ITV HD;[4] 7 day data: 213,000 on ITV +1<ref>"Digital Spy - Forums - The Ratings Thread (Part 67)". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  4. ↑ 28 day data: 5,438,000 on ITV, 1,370,000 on ITV HD and 326,000 on ITV +1[4]</ref> Louisa finds herself torn between two men when throwing Leslie out leads him into a life of crime after being taken in by two local thugs, and using a supposedly rejuvenated Captain Creech to make Sven jealous. Leslie soon ends up in court following a string of accusations from a local turkey farmer, culminating in the addition of an armed-robbery charge. Being caught trying on one of the Countess's dresses to impress the gardener leads Margo to worry for her job, until the Countess surprises her by gifting her the dress. Meanwhile, Gerry mourns the death of one of his bats and is encouraged to set up a centre for scientific learning with the rest of his animals. 5"Episode 5"Roger GoldbySimon Nye1 May 20166.93[nb 5] 1,261,000 on ITV HD and 364,000 on ITV +1[4]
  5. ↑ 28 day data: 5,300,000 on ITV,<ref name='BARB30'>"BARB - Weekly Top 30 Programmes". BARB - Weekly Top 30 Programmes. Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 9 May 2016.


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