With the film version of “My Family and Other Animals” premiering on Boxing day, the island of Corfu is set to boom in popularity.

This is thanks to a trend now known as the Mandolin Effect, after the huge impact the film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin had on sales to Kefalonia.

My Family and Other Animals was set and filmed on the sunny Greek island of Corfu, and Thomson, the UK’s largest holiday company, is predicting a boom in sales as this new adaptation by Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly, Pride) of the famous autobiography by Gerald Durrell will certainly be a hit with the family.

Escaping the dreary wet weather of Thirties England, the eccentric and bohemian Durrell family uproot and ship themselves to the sunnier climes of the Greek island of Corfu.

Through the advice of a local taxi-driver Spiro (Omid Djalili), who himself has a soft spot for Mother, the family move to a succession of different coloured villas, providing an incredible showcase for the islands natural beauty and diversity.

Gerald, the youngest son, becomes infatuated with animals and their behaviour, eventually raising and keeping a menagerie of animals in the family home.

The real Durrell family moved to Corfu before the war in the 1930’s after the death of Mr Durrell and spent 4 years there returning to England before the onset of World War II.

“It’ll be so lovely to sit at home at Christmas and watch this warm, summery film,” says actress Imelda Staunton, who plays the mother in this adaptation.

“You can sit huddled together in the bleak midwinter as a family watching another family leading this lovely bright life”.

After watching the film, more families than ever before will want to experience this wonderful island retreat.

But as a long time favourite destination with British sun seekers, this year people are going to have to book early to ensure their place under the Corfu sun.
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