Peter Wright, star of Channel 5's The Yorkshire Vet, has admitted he initially dismissed the show as a flop, only for it to become a global success spanning 250 episodes across 18 countries. The 69-year-old veterinarian revealed he deleted the first email from producers, thinking the concept was 'old hat'.
Speaking ahead of a special anniversary episode, Wright recalled: 'I said to my wife Lin nobody will watch it. She reminded me they would not be interested in me, they would be interested in the patients.' The show, which originated at Skeldale Veterinary Centre in Thirsk, has amassed over two million viewers with its mix of dramatic rescues and northern charm.
Wright credited the Yorkshire countryside and dry local humour for the programme's longevity. He noted that Channel 5's Ben Frow had described the series as a linchpin for other Yorkshire-set shows, including the reboot of All Creatures Great and Small. 'That's an earth-shattering statement,' Wright said. 'If we'd failed, it would have been the end of that love affair.'
Co-star Matt Jackson-Smith, 36, who joined five years ago, described the fanbase as 'incredible'. He recalled being recognised on honeymoon in Mauritius. The special episode, The Yorkshire Vet: A Decade in the Moors and Dales, airs on Channel 5 at 9pm on Wednesday.
