All Creatures Great and Small

Fans of Gentle, Feel-Good Drama

There's no murder, no mystery — just warm, character-driven storytelling about a country vet, his eccentric employer, and the animals and farmers of the Yorkshire Dales. If you want comfort television with a bit of a lump-in-the-throat moment each episode, this is it.

One Episode, One Sitting

Episodes run about 50 minutes each. Six series have aired since 2020, with six regular episodes and a Christmas special in each series, for 42 episodes total.

Family-Friendly Throughout

All Creatures Great and Small is gentle, family-friendly viewing with no graphic content — some episodes deal with animal illness or loss, handled tenderly rather than graphically. British TV Hub's verdict: an easy, wholehearted recommendation for anyone who wants a genuinely comforting watch.

You've Got to Dream (Series 1, Episode 1)

Fresh out of veterinary college and unable to find work in Depression-era Glasgow, James Herriot travels to the remote Yorkshire village of Darrowby to interview with eccentric local vet Siegfried Farnon. A difficult calving gives James his first chance to prove himself.

You've Got to Dream

The series premiere, introducing James Herriot's arrival in Darrowby and his rocky first meeting with Siegfried Farnon. A strong, welcoming entry point for new viewers.

All God's Creatures

The Series 5 Christmas special. Skeldale House prepares for Christmas and Jimmy's first birthday when Mrs. Hall is rocked by worrying news about her son, while an abandoned fox cub and one of Tristan's stranger wartime assignments bring some lightness to the season.

Old Dog, New Tricks

James and Siegfried clash when James buys an X-ray machine for the vet practice, while Mrs. Hall learns more about Siegfried's past shenanigans.

Jenny Wren

Helen struggles when her sister Jenny receives some exciting news, Tristan doubts himself as he tries to find his place in Charlotte's world, and Siegfried has a run-in with a troublesome goat.

Fixes

James gets himself in a spot of bother when he takes on a new role, while Jimmy inadvertently causes a stir with Siegfried — a good showcase of the show's blend of comedy and heart.

Nicholas Ralph

James Herriot — a newly qualified vet from Glasgow who arrives in Darrowby with more nerves than confidence. This was Ralph's first-ever TV role.

Samuel West

Siegfried Farnon — the eccentric, mercurial head of the Darrowby veterinary practice, and James's boss, mentor and occasional headache.

Rachel Shenton

Helen Herriot (née Alderson) — an independent local farmer's daughter who becomes James's wife over the course of the series.

Callum Woodhouse

Tristan Farnon — Siegfried's wayward, charming younger brother, forever in search of a shortcut.

Anna Madeley

Mrs. Audrey Hall — the shrewd, resourceful housekeeper who quietly holds Skeldale House together. Madeley has played the role since Series 1.

Patricia Hodge

Mrs. Pumphrey, the delightfully eccentric owner of the pampered Pekingese Tricki Woo. Hodge took over the beloved role from Series 2 onward, following the death of Dame Diana Rigg, who originated it in Series 1.

Based on a Real Vet's Life

James Herriot was the pen name of Alf Wight, a real Yorkshire vet whose own decades of practice inspired the memoirs behind this adaptation. That authenticity gives the show's warmth a genuine foundation rather than manufactured sentiment.

The Yorkshire Dales

Filmed on location across the real Yorkshire Dales the books are set in — the sweeping countryside is as much a part of the show's appeal as any character, and it's rarely looked more beautiful on screen.

Gentle, Hopeful Storytelling

There's not a cynical bone in its body. Even its harder moments — animal illness, wartime separation, financial hardship — are handled with warmth rather than misery, making it a genuine comfort watch.

Grassington as Darrowby

The village of Grassington, in the Yorkshire Dales, stands in for the fictional village of Darrowby, with its cobbled square transformed into period-era Darrowby for filming in nearly every episode.

Malham, Swaledale & Beyond

The wider Yorkshire Dales National Park supplies the sweeping countryside shots, including Malham and Malham Cove, the Swaledale valley, Bolton Abbey Estate, and Nidderdale. Broughton Hall Estate near Skipton stands in as Mrs. Pumphrey's grand home.

The Real Thirsk Connection

The real Skeldale House — where Alf Wight actually lived and worked as a vet — still stands at 23 Kirkgate in Thirsk, now open to visitors as the World of James Herriot museum. It isn't used for filming, but it's the true origin of the story.

James Herriot's Own Memoirs

The series is based on the real memoirs of Alf Wight, published under the pen name James Herriot. The books If Only They Could Talk (1970) and It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1972) were combined for US readers into the omnibus edition titled All Creatures Great and Small.

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Is All Creatures Great and Small based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on the memoirs of Alf Wight, a real Yorkshire vet who wrote under the pen name James Herriot, practicing in the Yorkshire Dales from 1940 until his retirement from full-time practice around 1990.

Is this the same as the 1978 BBC series?

No — this is a brand-new 2020 adaptation with an entirely different cast, though it's based on the same James Herriot books as the original 1978–1990 BBC series.

Is the show still going?

Yes. All Creatures Great and Small is an ongoing series — six series have aired since 2020, and it's already been renewed through an eighth series.

Why does Mrs. Pumphrey look different after Series 1?

Dame Diana Rigg died in September 2020, shortly after the series premiered. Patricia Hodge assumed the role beginning with Series 2.

How many episodes are there?

There are 42 episodes across 6 series, including Christmas specials, as of this writing. The show has been renewed for Series 7 and 8.

When does Series 7 premiere?

Series 7 is set to premiere January 17, 2027 on PBS Masterpiece. The show has already been renewed for an eighth series beyond that.

Where can I watch it in the US?

PBS Masterpiece is its primary US home — free via participating local PBS stations, with full library access through PBS Passport. It's also available via the PBS Masterpiece channel on Prime Video.

Where is it filmed?

Filmed on location across the Yorkshire Dales, with the village of Grassington standing in for the fictional village of Darrowby.