All Creatures Great and Small has returned to Channel 5 for its seventh season, introducing a new romance for Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) with Dorothy (Maimie McCoy), one of Mrs Hall's (Anna Madeley) closest friends. While many fans have long hoped for a romance between Siegfried and Mrs Hall, the current storyline sees Siegfried and Dorothy happy together.
Dorothy's Role in the New Season
The second episode, titled The Friesians are Coming, will show Siegfried on a mission to improve the practice, though not everyone is convinced he is on the right track. Siegfried's good mood, brought on by Dorothy, provides a fun opportunity for Tristan (Callum Woodhouse).
Dorothy has become a firm part of Skeldale House, and fans may wonder whether, like most other characters in the show, she was inspired by a real person.
Was Dorothy Based on a Real Person?
Dorothy is a friend of Mrs Hall's from their time serving in the Women's Royal Naval Service, but the original memoirs written by the real-life vet Alf Wight do not feature Dorothy. The character was created specifically for the Channel 5 series.
The real Siegfried Farnon, Donald Sinclair, was married twice: first to Evelyn in 1930, who died from tuberculosis in 1936, and then to Audrey in 1943. He and Audrey were together for 53 years until her death in 1995, and they had two children, a son and a daughter. Donald died from an overdose two weeks after his wife's death.
Actress Maimie McCoy on Dorothy's Return
McCoy said she had always hoped Dorothy would return to the series but was never sure it was possible. She admitted: "I've been secretly hoping I'd come back, and there had been chatter over the years, but I'd let it go, as I just thought it wouldn't align. So, it felt such a treat to be in the Christmas special."
She added: "And I guess it's a testament to the show that a lot of the crew is the same as before, so there were a lot of familiar faces. It is very welcoming, and you step back in. I felt like the new girl a little bit, but it's always been very easy with Sam and Anna, so it was a lovely reunion."
McCoy also discussed Dorothy's relationship with Siegfried, noting they are very different people but Dorothy sees a side of him that many others do not. She explained: "Dorothy sees a different side of him than others see in the house, a less stubborn, gruff side to him when he is a little looser. He is extraordinarily intelligent and fascinating: a great raconteur and a wonderfully respectable man, so I think they both delight in each other's company for different reasons."
She added: "Let's see what this next chapter might be. For all of the heartbreak she has been through, it has not closed her off. She has a willingness to open her heart and see where it leads."
All Creatures Great and Small airs on Thursdays on Channel 5. If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact Samaritans day or night, 365 days a year, for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.
