The Yorkshire Vet returns to Channel 5 tonight (Thursday, August 13) at 8pm with a special episode that is set to leave viewers emotional. The long-running series, which has aired since 2015, follows Peter Wright and Julian Norton as they care for animals at their practices in North Yorkshire.
Peter's passion project
The season 23 opener sees Peter embark on a personal project to create a memorial garden for pets that have passed away. He travels to Sussex to meet the country's first animal chaplain and visit her church's pets memorial garden, which inspires him to build something similar in Yorkshire.
Peter sets up the garden at the World of James Herriot in Thirsk, a site that houses props from the hit drama All Creatures Great and Small. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, Peter explained his motivation: "For years, I've considered people. I've always tried to put myself, as a veterinary surgeon, into our client's shoes. When they come in to have an animal put to sleep, and I've used this phrase many times, that I suppose you would call it anticipatory grief."
Honouring lost animals
He added: "You know what's coming as a pet owner. You can prepare yourself, but you're never ready for it. I think of those people going back home again. They left home with their pet that day, they're going back home now to a house that's not a home anymore. It's soulless. Even if you have other pets there, they've lost that particular one."
Peter described the garden: "For the memorial garden, the very first one that we've put up is at the World of James Herriot in Thirsk. We have some plaques on the wall, and there's the statue of James Herriot, Alf Wight, there, and people can just go and sit quietly in an area of the garden that is relatively isolated. They can just go and sit there with their memories, and I think that's very important."
A tribute to Herkules
The episode also features Cannon Hall farmers Rob and Dave, who honour their late shire horse, Herkules. They had previously warned fans on Instagram: "Have your tissues ready for the upcoming new series of @yorkshirevetc5 - we appear on the special episode on Thursday (August 13) with a very special tribute to our shire horse Herkules."
Rob had earlier announced Herkules' death on Facebook, writing: "It's really difficult to take in, heartbreaking is an easy word to say, but we just can't believe it. He had everything going for him. I never thought we'd have an animal like him."
The Yorkshire Vet returns tonight (Thursday, August 13) at 8pm on Channel 5.
