Americans say ‘cheerio’ to British shows

For all dedicated PBS viewers, the beloved characters of ‘The Durrells in Corfu’ and ‘Poldark’ have graced the screen for the past four and five years, respectively. At the heart of these television shows is a quirky British family of five living on Corfu and a Cornish Captain adjusting to life after fighting in the American Revolution. While both shows concluded this spring in the UK, they traditionally air later in the United States. ‘The Durrells’ finale is set to air on November 3rd and ‘Poldark’ is set to air November 17th. ‘The Durrells’ will conclude with a total of four seasons of six episodes each with two extra episodes airing in the third season. ‘Poldark’ five seasons vary from eight to ten episodes every season, with eight episodes completing its farewell season.

Viewers became acquainted with the Durrells as a family of three sons, one daughter and their widowed mother, Louisa. The family makes a drastic change when they move from rainy Britain to the picturesque Grecian island of Corfu in 1935. The show, based on the true story found in the books written by the youngest Durrell sibling, Gerry, depicts the various adventures the family experiences while living on the island. The children of Louisa—outspoken and zany Larry, gun-crazy and moody Leslie, clueless and romantic Margo, and animal-loving Gerry—portray the theme of eccentric characters, which is a trademark of the show.

Fans were introduced to Poldark when Captain Ross Poldark left the Revolutionary War in America and arrived at his home in Cornwall. Upon his arrival, he immediately discovers that his father has passed, his whole family has assumed he died in the war, and the girl he thought he’d marry now plans to marry his cousin, Francis. Poldark, played by Aidan Turner of The Hobbit, must pick up the pieces of his childhood home, Nampara, and deal with the villainous George Warleggan. Poldark is based on the books of the same name by Winston Graham and chronicles the drama surrounding the entire Poldark family with Ross and his wife, Demelza, at the head.

Be sure to catch The Durrells in Corfu and the treasured Poldark on Sundays starting at 7 on PBS!