Huge ITV drama facing the axe after just two series as it loses 2million viewers
THE Larkins is facing the axe amid a ratings slump following the departure of star Sabrina Bartlett.
The Darling Buds of May reboot, also starring Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan, has lost two million viewers for its second series.
The season’s opener was watched by 2.9million people — compared with 4.8million for the first episode of the first series in 2021.
Insiders say Sabrina’s decision to quit following a disagreement with on-screen love interest Tok Stephen was a factor.
A source said: “The Larkins is going to be dropped in the new year — the writing is on the wall.
“The ratings for series two were disappointingly low and cast disagreements on set have been an ongoing problem for the production team.
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“Sabrina’s issue with Tok and her decision to leave, was a massive problem for the bosses. But there have also been other disagreements.”
The original Darling Buds of May, based on HE Bates’ novels, aired from 1991 to 1993 on ITV and launched the career of Catherine Zeta Jones.
The channel’s much-anticipated reboot drew a peak of 5.1million viewers during its first episode last year.
Sabrina, who played Mariette, then left, blaming scheduling clashes.
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But sources said Tok made her feel uncomfortable by using a selfie of her as his WhatsApp profile picture.
Newcomer Joelle Rae replaced Bridgerton star Sabrina, 31, when the series returned in October.
However, it drew an average audience of 3.5million — barely above the 3.3million average for the 8pm time slot.
A second source last night confirmed there were currently no plans for a third series to be filmed.
ITV and production companies Genial and Objective Fiction are still in talks but these potentially centre on how the project can be wrapped up.