Fans of All Creatures Great and Small awaiting the new Channel 5 season can enjoy another tale from the best-selling novels: the 2011 BBC mini-series Young James Herriot, which explores the vet's early life before his arrival at Siegfried Farnon's practice.
Prequel Chronicles Student Years
The three-part drama aired on BBC One in 2011 and follows James Herriot's formative years as a student at Glasgow Veterinary College, before he moved to the Yorkshire village of Darrowby. The first episode was an instant success, watched by six million viewers.
The plot follows James' start as a vet, including a costly accommodation scam that left him in financial difficulties. He is responsible for treating ailing farm livestock, including horses and sheep, and tending to an entire kennel of dogs.
Lead Actor and Cancellation
Playing the lead role is Iain De Caestecker, who also played Adam Barlow on Coronation Street from 2001 to 2003. The student quickly discovered that veterinary medicine is more challenging than anticipated, though his dedication to the profession remained.
Unfortunately, the BBC opted not to commission additional seasons, despite fan interest. One fan commented on X: "It would have been nice if Young James Herriot had been continued." Another said: "I’m ready for a rewatch of Young James Herriot... It’ll get me pumped for the newest season of #AllCreaturesPBS."
All Creatures Great and Small Returns
The latest season of All Creatures Great and Small is set to return to Channel 5, with filming starting in February. Now in its seventh series, the plot is expected to follow the Skeldale House team and their family life in post-war Yorkshire in the 1940s.
The reimagined show debuted on Channel 5 in 2020, succeeding the original which ran on BBC One from 1978 to 1990. Young James Herriot is available to stream on Prime Video, and All Creatures Great and Small is streaming on Channel 5.
