Bradley Walsh responds to claims his show was cancelled due to bad ratings

"We're trying at this moment to get something together."

By Sam Warner

10 Jan 2023

bradley walsh as pop larkin, the larkins

Sam TaylorITV

Bradley Walsh has responded to rumours that his ITV series The Larkins has been axed amid a ratings slump.

The Darling Buds of May adaptation – which sees The Chase presenter play Pop Larkin – first debuted back in 2021, with its second series wrapping up late last year.

However, it was recently claimed that the show is in line for cancellation amid a drop in viewing figures for the second series, though during an appearance on This Morning today (January 10), Walsh insisted that all was well.

"I've had quite a few calls about that in that it might well be the last, because of some problem with the viewing figures," he said.

"The viewing figures were absolutely fine, there was nothing wrong with the viewing figures. They're fantastic. In comparison to the first series, all went well."

The star went on to admit that his busy schedule means that it won't be returning anytime soon, however. Walsh said: "It’s a 14-week shoot, and I haven’t got time to do that this year. I actually don't have 14 weeks, so it's down to me, not anything else.

bradley walsh as pop larkin, joanna scanlan as ma larkin, the larkins

Sam TaylorITV

"We're trying at this moment to get something together where we can do a special and I know [writer] Simon Nye's working on that right now. So that’s what it's all about.

"The Larkins is a fantastic show," he added. "[My son Barney] has worked on that with me as well. I loved it, it was brilliant, heartwarming, and it was purely down to the fact that I have not got time to make another series at present."

The Larkins also stars BAFTA-winner Joanna Scanlan as Ma Larkin, and marked another return to acting for Walsh following his stint on Doctor Who.

The Larkins airs on ITV.