A beautiful period drama series beloved by fans is leaving Netflix soon. The Durrells is a British comedy-drama television series loosely based on Gerald Durrell’s three autobiographical books about his family’s four years on the Greek island of Corfu.
It aired on ITV from 2016 to 2019. The series is written by Simon Nye, directed by Steve Barron and Roger Goldby, and produced by Christopher Hall. Lee Durrell, Gerald Durrell’s widow and director of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, acted as consultant. It stars Keeley Hawes, Josh O’Connor, Milo Parker, Daisy Waterstone, and Callum Woodhouse as the Durrell family. The series was partly filmed on location in Corfu and at Ealing Studios and Twickenham Studios in London. The series begins in 1935, when Louisa Durrell suddenly announces that she and her four children will move from Bournemouth to Corfu. Her husband died some years earlier, and the family is experiencing financial problems. A struggle ensues as the family adapts to life on the island and a shortage of money. Despite a lack of electricity and modern sewage systems, Corfu proves to be a cheap and earthly paradise.
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 ».
The Guardian said: “It is sweet, and charming, and pretty, and funny; not too funny, or dangerously so, or challengingly so, but just gently funny. The Durrells is that rather nice, rather old-fashioned thing: Sunday night family drama entertainment.”
Viewers have called The Durrells a “masterpiece” period drama, describing it as “like a warm hug” with low stakes and beautiful scenery. The Durrells was nominated for four BAFTAs over its three seasons, for Best Drama Series, Best Costume Design, Best Titles, and Best Writer.
When it first aired, the show was the biggest drama launch of any channel in 2016 and the most-watched show of the day. Citing the show as its « best rating new drama of the year and its highest rating new show since 2014 », ITV recommissioned the show for a second series.
The series is not the first time Gerald Durrell’s books have been adapted. There was a BBC series in 1987 starring Brian Blessed, and a 2005 film starring Imelda Staunton and Matthew Goode.
Gerald Malcolm Durrell was a British naturalist, writer, zookeeper, conservationist, and television presenter. He founded Jersey Zoo and the Durrell Conservation Academy.
Two of his siblings, Lawrence and Margaret, also wrote books about their time in Corfu and later lives. Lawrence is most famous for The Alexandria Quartet.
