All Creatures Great and Small has returned for a seventh series, with Samuel West reprising his role as eccentric veterinary surgeon Siegfried Farnon. The new season of the Channel 5 period drama picks up from the 2025 Christmas special and moves Darrowby, Yorkshire, into a post-war era.
Samuel West's Famous Family
Samuel West, 60, was born in Hammersmith, London, and is the eldest son of celebrated actress Prunella Scales and actor Timothy West, and the grandson of distinguished actor Lockwood West. Away from the show, fans may recognise his parents from their own television careers.
Timothy gained recognition primarily through his stage work and for portraying King Edward VII in the television series Edward the Seventh. He also starred in the satirical sitcom Brass (1982–1990) and the travel series Great Canal Journeys (2014–2019). In 2013, he arrived on Coronation Street as Eric Babbage for a short stint before portraying Stan Carter on EastEnders between 2014 and 2015. In 2019, he landed the role of Jeremy Lister in Gentleman Jack, and in 2023, he starred as Charles Usher in the Sister Boniface Mysteries.
Prunella Scales' Career
Prunella achieved fame for her role as Sybil Fawlty in the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers. During her final years, she featured in the documentary series Great Canal Journeys alongside her husband. She also starred in The Royal, Marple, Where the Heart Is, Casualty, and Silent Witness.
Deaths of Both Parents
Timothy died at the age of 90 on 12 November 2024. His three children confirmed the news in a statement that read: "After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old."
"Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife, Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly."
Prunella Scales died less than a year after her late husband, passing away on 27 October 2025 at the age of 93. All Creatures Great and Small series seven airs on Thursdays at 9 pm on Channel 5.
