Peter Davison, the actor who originally portrayed Tristan Farnon in the classic BBC series All Creatures Great and Small, went on to achieve iconic status as the Fifth Doctor in Doctor Who. He also comes from a family of actors, including his daughter Georgia Tennant, who is married to David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor.
Peter Davison's Role as Tristan Farnon
In the original series, which aired from 1978 to 1990, Davison played Tristan Farnon, the fun-loving younger brother of Siegfried Farnon (Robert Hardy). The show was based on the books by James Herriot, the pen name of Yorkshire vet Alf Wight. The series followed James Herriot (Christopher Timothy) as he worked at Skeldale House, treating animals across the Yorkshire Dales.
From Yorkshire Dales to Time Lord
Davison, now 75, is best known for playing the Fifth Doctor in Doctor Who from 1981 to 1984, where his character sported a distinctive cricket-inspired look. He also starred in At Home with the Braithwaites, The Last Detective, and Law & Order: UK. More recently, he appeared in Beyond Paradise as Richard Baxter, and in The Gold, The Larkins, and Gentleman Jack.
A Family of Actors
Davison is married to actress and writer Elizabeth Heery, with whom he has two sons, Louis and Joel. Both have pursued acting: Louis starred in Holby City, Poldark, Vikings: Valhalla, and Death in Paradise. Joel has appeared in Mammoth, The F1rst Team, and the podcast Doctor Who: Stranded.
Davison also has a daughter, Georgia Tennant, from his marriage to actress Sandra Dickinson. Georgia met David Tennant while filming Doctor Who in 2008; she played Jenny, the Doctor's daughter. The couple married and have five children: Olive, Wilfred, Doris, Birdie, and Ty. On That Gaby Roslin Podcast in 2020, Georgia said she was the driving force behind their relationship, while David admitted he thought it was unlikely due to their age gap and the Doctor Who connection.
The Reboot Series
The reboot of All Creatures Great and Small on Channel 5, which began in 2020, stars Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon. The show has been renewed for a seventh season and a Christmas special, according to Samuel West, who plays Siegfried Farnon. The series follows vet James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) as he navigates life in the Dales.
