Embark on a Sunny Escape With The Durrells

Season three of The Durrells returned to our screens last night on ITV at 8pm. The series had a triumphant return as the first episode of eight managed to whisk away an average audience of 5.6 million viewers to Corfu. The drama, which is based on The Corfu Trilogy - written by youngest son Gerald Durrell, follows the life of widowed Mother Louisa Durrell and her four children as they venture from a life in England to live in the dazzling Greek island of Corfu in 1935. The series is inspired by the real-life events of the Durrell family and their somewhat exotic but challenging life abroad.

As we return to Corfu in season three, the year is 1937 and son Leslie played by Callum Woodhouse, has three girlfriends on the go, daughter Margo (Daisy Waterstone), has taken up the unusual hobby of soap-sculpting, Gerry (Milo Parker) is investigating whether flamingos can change colour regarding their diets and eldest son Larry (Josh O'Connor) is nursing what he believes to be a broken leg. In the meantime, Matriarch Louisa - played by the fabulous Keeley Hawes, is fluttering between all her children whilst encouraging Leslie to choose between one of his girlfriends.

A lot happens during the first episode of many, illuminating the busy and familiar scraps of family life that we are all accustomed to. Louisa is strained by trying to keep all four of her children on the right paths, whilst her children indulge in scrapes and mischief - each with their own colourful and bold personalities - which makes the family so loved.

The Durrells is an entertaining and warm drama, that is sprinkled with humour and the memorable joys of family life that we all treasure. What makes the drama even more special is the glistening sun and beautiful shots of the exotic Greek landscape - which really lightens up Sunday viewing for those of us who fail to embrace the dreary weather of England.
The joy of this escapism snatches us away from gloomy England and drops us in the middle of paradise; it makes us wish that we could dive through the television and into the dazzling and lush waters of Corfu.

I simply adore this light-hearted drama because of the hour of escapism that it offers and I find myself begging for some summer heat.
Family and animals are two of the things that we should treasure most and it is a delight to see both children and animals working together to create a radiant progamme that all viewers of different ages can enjoy. It is warm, funny, buoyant, cheerful and carefree; a unique and precious drama that would be a shame to miss out on.

Actress Keeley Hawes once described the drama as '...like the Victoria sponge of TV, in the loveliest way. Because it is comforting, and you can forget about all those other things for a little while.'
I love Victoria sponge and The Durrells truly is a treat, like a big slice of heavenly paradise that I will gladly indulge in.



*You can find The Durrell family in Corfu every Sunday on ITV at 8pm.
They are also available on the ITV Hub.*