All Creatures Great and Small first appeared on television more than four decades ago. The original BBC series, which ran from 1978 to 1980, was based directly on James Herriot's books about a Yorkshire veterinary surgeon in the late 1930s. A second run, from 1988 to 1990, used original scripts but was treated as a continuation of the 1978 series, adding four more seasons.
The original series starred Christopher Timothy as James Herriot, Robert Hardy as Siegfried Farnon, and Peter Davison as Tristan Farnon as the show's trio of vets.
Remake and Revival
In 2020, 30 years after the original ended, a remake also titled All Creatures Great and Small arrived on Channel 5. The first run of the reboot coincided with the 50th anniversary of the original publication of Herriot's books.
At the time, Sebastian Cardwell, the digital channel controller at Channel 5, said: "James Herriot has a special place in the heart of the public, and the commission of this iconic drama series, against the stunning backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales, is set to bring joy to a new army of TV viewers."
The original books affectionately captured a unique slice of British life. In challenging times, we hope the charming and heartwarming stories of community and compassion will resonate with new audiences.
Like the original, the reboot revolves around a trio of vets working in the Yorkshire Dales in the late 1930s. The new series, starring Nicholas Ralph, Anna Madeley, Samuel West, Rachel Shenton, and Callum Woodhouse, recently returned for its seventh run, set in 1946, with an eighth already commissioned.
Christopher Timothy as James Herriot
Christopher Timothy is best known for playing James Herriot, a young veterinary surgeon from Glasgow who moves to the Yorkshire Dales, in all 90 episodes of the original series. He also played Mac McGuire in the BBC's daytime soap opera Doctors and Ted Murray in EastEnders.
More recently, Timothy appeared in the ITV series Kate & Koji and narrated the first nine series of Channel 5's The Yorkshire Vet. His last TV appearance was as Alan Gibson in the first episode of Casualty's 48th series in April.
Robert Hardy as Siegfried Farnon
Robert Hardy played Siegfried Farnon, the eccentric and short-tempered senior partner at Skeldale House, throughout the original 90-episode run. He was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Actor for the role in 1980.
Hardy also played Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter film series and Winston Churchill in several productions. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1981 Birthday Honours. He died in August 2017, aged 91, at Denville Hall, a home for retired actors.
Peter Davison as Tristan Farnon
Peter Davison played Tristan Farnon, Siegfried's younger, mischievous brother and fellow vet, a role that became his breakthrough. He also gained international recognition as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, a role he kept between 1981 and 1984, later reprising it in 2007 and 2022.
Davison went on to appear in West End productions of Chicago, Spamalot, Legally Blonde, and Gypsy, for which he was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award. In June 2026, it was announced that he would join the cast of season 4 of Channel 5's crime drama The Good Ship Murder.
Carol Drinkwater and Lynda Bellingham as Helen Herriot
Carol Drinkwater starred as Helen Herriot in the first three series, appearing in 39 episodes before leaving the role in 1980. She is also known for writing bestselling memoirs about restoring an olive farm in Provence, which led to a six-part documentary series for Channel 5, Carol Drinkwater's Secret Provence, aired between October and November 2021.
Lynda Bellingham took over the role of Helen in the later seasons. She became known for her role on Loose Women, first appearing in April 2007 and remaining until 2011, making over 300 appearances. Bellingham died in 2014, aged 66, after battling colon cancer, which later spread to her lungs and liver, since being diagnosed in July 2013.
Mary Hignett as Mrs. Hall
Mary Hignett starred as the warm-hearted housekeeper at Skeldale House, appearing in the first three series. She died in 1980, aged 64, shortly after filming the third season. Her death was written into the script of the show's 1983 Christmas Special. She was married to Dixon of Dock Green actor Michael Brennan, who died in 1982 and was buried alongside Mary.
