ITV have commissioned the series which is set in 1935 and based upon Mr Durrell’s famous trilogy of Corfu memoirs and the family’s life on the Greek island.
It has been written by Simon Nye who has penned series including Men Behaving Badly, Tommy Cooper and Just William.
The story focuses on Mr Durrell’s mother Louisa who is struggling with life in Britain after her husband died.
Her four children Larry, Leslie, Margo and ‘Gerry’ are finding it difficult too so she makes the bold decision to move the family to Corfu – a plan that is not met too warmly by the family.
The Durrells will be produced by Sid Gentle Films Limited.
The company’s founder, BAFTA award winning filmmaker Sally Woodward Gentle, who worked on the hit series Whitechapel, will be the executive producer.
She said: ‘Gerald Durrell’s novels are some of the warmest, wittiest, books of the last century. It is no wonder they are so well loved.
‘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.’
ITV’s director of drama Steve November said viewers will be in for a ‘rollercoaster’ series.
‘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,’ he added.
Filming will take place in Corfu from September 2015. Details of casting will be announced closer to commencement of filming.
Mr Durrell, who was made world famous after the release of his novels including My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods, died on 30 January 1995.
