The Durrell family returns to their favorite island, Corfu, for the filming of a tv series.
This island is an ideal setting for shooting movies, let alone for a film based on Durrells' life in Corfu.

"The Durrells", a new six-part drama which tells the story of a woman whose life is in meltdown, prompting her to move her family to Corfu to start afresh, has been commissioned by ITV and will be shown on STV.

The TV series is based upon Gerald Durrell’s classic trilogy of Corfu memoirs including the much loved My Family and Other Animals, and has been written by acclaimed screenwriter Simon Nye and produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd.

The story focuses on Louisa Durrell, whose life is crumbling around her. Following her husband’s death years ago, she has all but run out of money, and her unruly ‘children’ Larry, Leslie, Margo and Gerry are going off the rails.

Gerry, 11, is about to be thrown out of school, Larry is a would-be novelist but the worst estate agent in Bournemouth, and the middle two are hitting adulthood like a car-crash.

As it’s the 1930s, a woman’s options are limited. That’s when Louisa realises that she can continue to struggle; marry someone wealthy but who will no doubt cause her to have an oppressive life; or do something radical.

And she chooses radical – telling her family she’s upping sticks and moving them to Corfu. They’re not happy, especially when they find out there’s no electricity, but it’s a cheap and untamed paradise, and Louisa is determined to make the move.

And when the charms of Corfu unfold – and friendships emerge when the Durrells least expected them – things start to look up.

Of course, there will still be plenty of challenges ahead, as the family bring most of their crises with them and add a few more along the way, not least Louisa’s temper and habit for drinking too much.

Set in 1935, each of the episodes will be written by Simon Nye (Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This, Just William, Men Behaving Badly).

The Durrells will be produced by Sid Gentle Films Limited and executive produced by the company’s founder, BAFTA award winning filmmaker Sally Woodward Gentle. Sid’s Managing Director Lee Morris will also executive produce together with Simon Nye. Christopher Hall will produce the series.

“Gerald Durrell’s novels are some of the warmest, wittiest, books of the last century. It is no wonder they are so well loved,” said Sally.

“It is a real treat to be working on them with the brilliant Simon Nye. I hope that his obvious love of the characters and the material will be hugely infectious.”

Steve added: “The Durrells is a rollercoaster, adventure drama.

“The characters are struggling with the eternal dilemmas of family life when Louisa sets her heart on moving to Corfu. It’s a unique and engaging drama and we’re delighted to be working with Simon Nye and Sally Woodward Gentle once again.”

Filming will take place in Corfu from September 2015. Details of casting will be announced closer to commencement of filming.