A period drama series set in the world of medicine is a perfect watch for fans of Call the Midwife. If you have been searching for another show with a similar premise, your search ends now. Aptly dubbed 'one of the best feel-good shows in a long time', this medical period drama serves as a balm to the soul, and viewers cannot stop praising it.
About the Series
The British period drama series is set in Northern England during the 1930s and 1940s, taking audiences on a joyful journey from the very beginning. All Creatures Great and Small, available to stream for free on Channel 5, is based on Alf Wight's (pen name James Herriot) series of books set in the Yorkshire Dales. It follows a vet surgeon and his interactions with the community and animals around him.
A highly lauded television adaptation by the BBC, based on the same novels, first aired between 1978 and 1990, and viewers thought it could not get any better. Then came Channel 5's latest adaptation, which premiered on September 1, 2020, and took viewers by storm.
Production and Cast
Filmed in the Yorkshire Dales with funding from Screen Yorkshire, Channel 5's adaptation has warmed hearts worldwide. The show currently has six seasons with seven episodes each, and was renewed for a seventh and eighth series in November 2025. The cast includes Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Nicholas Ralph, Callum Woodhouse, Rachel Shenton, Diana Rigg, Patricia Hodge, and James Anthony-Rose, all praised for their excellent performances.
To ensure authenticity, the actors trained in basic vet procedures with an on-set vet advisor. Nicholas Ralph told Vulture in a 2021 interview: 'Straight off the bat with our on-set vet adviser Andy Barrett, we were up close and personal with horses, sheep, going through the procedures and things that we would be doing. Learning how to approach the animal and everything like that. Using the stethoscope on the cow's heart, then lungs, then stomach.'
Plot Overview
The show's official plot states: 'This series chronicles the heartwarming and humorous adventures of James, a young country vet who lives and works in Yorkshire in the late 1930s. The show revolves around a trio of veterinary surgeons, including Siegfried Farnon, who hires James into his veterinary practice at Skeldale House. Besides Siegfried and James, there is Siegfried's younger brother, Tristan, and Mrs. Hall, their housekeeper.'
Critical Acclaim
With an incredible 99% average rating on Rotten Tomatoes across all six seasons, All Creatures Great and Small has garnered excellent reviews. One critic wrote: 'The show is irresistible. Always has been, always will be.' Another compared it to Call the Midwife: 'Issues are tackled — rural poverty, loneliness, the position of women in society — but with a light touch and genuine feeling. All Creatures — it's Call the Midwife with added animals. No higher compliment could be paid.'
One critic felt it deserved more praise: 'A criminally underrated show. Everything from the casting to the production values to the writing is wonderful.' Another said the new adaptation held its own: 'The remake has had massive Wellington boots to fill in the wake of the original, starring Christopher Timothy, Peter Davison and Robert Hardy, and it continues to do so beautifully.'
Audience Reactions
Audience reviews were equally favourable. One viewer wrote: 'The most comforting and soothing show I've ever seen. While watching the show, I feel calm and at peace. I watch it again as a form of meditation.' An IMDB user said: 'It's rare nowadays to find TV that is suitable for the whole family to enjoy but this adaptation of All Creatures hits the nail on the head. No sex, no violence, no bad language, just engrossing and comforting storytelling.'
Another viewer added: 'Excellent series for all ages. This is probably the first time I've ever rated a show 10 but there really is nothing I can find fault with with this series. It's delightful, well written, acted, directed, edited, costumed, propped, and set in beautiful countryside with wonderful animals. It's wholesome, uplifting entertainment and leaves me with a smile on my face eagerly awaiting the next episode to air.'
One fan wrote: 'Simple perfection. An absolute gem. A perfect way to relax and wind down from this imperfect and troubled world. Love it, love it, love it.' Another added: 'One of the VERY Best! I am simply incapable of refraining from binging every season as soon as it becomes available. I love this series so deeply! It brings joy to my very soul.'
All Creatures Great and Small is available to stream for free on Channel 5.
