The Durrells is loosely based on Gerald Durrell's trilogy of memoirs about his family's four years (1935–1939) living on the Greek island of Corfu.

Lee Durrell, Gerald Durrell's widow and director of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, acted as a consultant on the series to help ensure authenticity.

The series was partly filmed on location in Corfu, as well as at Ealing Studios and Twickenham Studios in London.

Writer Simon Nye announced the third series would feature 'some exotic new animals' and revealed filming was set to begin three weeks after his announcement, once actress Keeley Hawes arrived in Corfu.

The opening episode averaged just under 6.4 million viewers and 29% of the audience share, making it the biggest drama launch on any UK channel so far in 2016.

After a seven-day catch-up period, the premiere episode's audience grew to just under 8.2 million viewers, prompting ITV to recommission the show for a second series just twelve days after the first episode aired.

In North America the series was retitled The Durrells in Corfu, and it aired in various countries under different translated titles, including La Folle Aventure des Durrell in France and Die Durrells auf Korfu in Germany.

Keeley Hawes presented an accompanying 47-minute documentary for PBS Masterpiece titled The Durrells in Corfu - What the Durrells Did Next.