ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

‘TIS THE SEASON TO WATCH ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

2020 may not have been the best year but let’s not forget its outstanding highlights. Channel 5’s spectacular series All Creatures Great and Small being one of them. A top TV adaptation of heart-warming stories, breathtaking views, animal antics, Dales drama and farmyard fun based on vet Alf Wight’s (aka James Herriot) brilliant books and starring a stellar cast.

The final scene of the series was emotional to say the least … with characters James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph), Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West), Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse) and Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley), quietly crossing the village square following Helen Alderson’s (Rachel Shenton) news of her imminent marriage to Hugh Hulton (Matthew Lewis) … if you haven’t watched it … you must … but what’s next?

Carolyn Nicoll caught up with two of the lead actors to find out more …

Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Matt Squire This Image and above: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Ed Miller

This Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Ed Miller

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE PART OF SUCH A MASSIVE TV HIT SERIES?

NIC HOLAS RAL PH: Incredible. After the first episode and subsequently every episode that followed, I just couldn’t get my head around the response of viewers, particularly on social media, with the general public being so enthusiastic about All Creatures Great and Small. Everyone has been so lovely. It’s an absolute honour to be in a programme that has been so well received across the board. We had a lot of faith in the show with the right cast and crew, in the right place, creating this, but you never know how things will turn out. So such a positive reaction has been fabulous and I’m still buzzing.

This Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Photographer: Matt Squire RACHEL SHENTON: All Creatures Great and Small appeals across all generations and is something the whole family can enjoy together. We’ve had so much fantastic feedback, from the press to viewers sending in pictures of their dogs watching, plus children and grandparents snuggling up together enjoying the storylines. It seems that pretty much everyone has been enjoying it.

NICHOLAS, ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL WAS YOUR FIRST TV ROLE …

AND it’s been amazing. As I was going through the audition process and I realised it was all becoming a reality, I found myself glued to my script pieces in every waking moment. I loved the writing, the characters and really felt like I had an instant personal connection with veterinary surgeon James Herriot. I wanted the part so much and thankfully I got it. The whole experience has been brilliant, including being directed by Brian Percival (who also directed Downton Abbey). Becoming part of such an impressive cast and working with a top crew, I was constantly pinching myself as I couldn’t quite believe what I was doing. Even before drama school, I spent so much time watching my favourite actors on TV and being absorbed in behind the scenes footage, that to then be a part of filming a television drama and being on an actual set was an absolute dream. Landing on day one, which was the technical day and everything’s getting prepared for filming, with the trailers and catering vans arriving … perhaps not the most glamorous of days … BUT I couldn’t stop looking around in awe and saying ‘this is so cool’ and that’s how I felt throughout the whole shoot.

Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Matt Squire

Above: James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) and Helen Anderson (Rachel Shenton)

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR HOW BIG THE SERIES IS GOING TO BE INTERNATIONALLY WHEN IT LAUNCHES IN THE USA IN 2021?

RS: Hopefully they’ll love All Creatures Great and Small, just as much as we all do. Americans generally like things that are quintessentially English. I think they’ll enjoy watching a Dales drama about farm life in stunning Yorkshire countryside and they’ll all certainly want to visit this incredible county. How could they not? Filming in such a beautiful setting was a treat and when I watch it back I think ‘wow, it really is breathtaking from every angle’. What we have now is the advantage of telling these classic tales through modern technology, with high-tech cameras and drones to capture outstanding aerial footage and the vast beauty of the Dales. Everyone will want to come to ‘Darrowby’ (aka Grassington).

DID YOU MANAGE TO GET A SERIES ’WRAP PARTY’ IN BEFORE LOCKDOWN?

NR: We did, on the day before we shot the last scene of the series, as it was the only time the filming schedule would allow. We all went to a pub in Skipton. Sam (Samuel West) who plays Siegfried organised a quiz, he loves doing them and was an excellent compere for the evening. It was lots of fun. SO, THE LAST SCENE OF THE SERIES … WHICH WAS ALSO THE LAST SCENE YOU FILMED … WITH THE CHARACTERS JAMES HERRIOT, MRS HALL, SIEGFRIED AND TRISTAN FARNON ALL LEAVING THE DROVER’S ARMS (AKA THE DEVONSHIRE IN GRASSINGTON) … WAS EMOTIONAL TO WATCH … HOW WAS IT TO FILM?

NR: It was a complete sledgehammer blow for James to find out that Helen (who he is incredibly fond of) was engaged to Hugh and that they are about to be married. Believe me it was a very emotional scene for all of us … not much acting required.

AND THAT SCENE LEADS ON TO THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL …

RS: Emotions are certainly running high, not just for James … but for Helen too as it’s Christmas Eve AND the eve of her marriage to long-term partner Hugh. As suggested in the series, Helen and Hugh have been together for years, but it’s not really a huge romance, they’ve just known each other since they were kids and have grown up together. It seemed inevitable that one day marriage would happen. It’s fair to say that Helen is feeling very overwhelmed. Of course she has this pull towards

James, which she feels she hasn’t really had chance to explore and all of a sudden it’s the eve of her wedding day. Things get quite dramatic, with a veterinary emergency and a lot of fog involved.

NR: There was so much mist, created by a ‘fog machine’, in a derelict Dales location that filming actually became quite difficult as nothing could be seen. (laughs) DOES THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL HAVE AN UPLIFTING ENDING OR IS IT A CLIFFHANGER?

NR & RS: (laughter) You’ll have to watch and see! What we can say is that it’s an emotional rollercoaster, jam-packed with serious drama, yet lighter moments and lots of laughs. It’s very Christmassy.

HAVE YOU KEPT IN TOUCH WITH THE OTHER CAST MEMBERS?

RS: We have an All Creatures Great and Small ’family’ WhatsApp group and keep in contact that way, because of all the COVID-19 restrictions we’ve unfortunately not been able to meet up in person.

NR: There’s a really special friendship bond that we all have. As actors we were all so excited about the series. When you spend 50 to 60 hours working every week as a group and you still want to hang out with them in the evening or at the weekend when filming has ended, then that says something and is a great marker of how we enjoyed each other’s company.

This Image and above: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Ed Miller

Images above: James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) and a scene from the Christmas Special. Images on right: Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley), Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West), James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph), Helen Alderson (played by Rachel Shenton) and Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse). Siegfried Farnon, James Herriott, Tristan Farnon and Mrs Hall AND THERE ARE PLANS FOR AN ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL SERIES TWO?

NR: It’s just been confirmed that this will be happening and we’re all incredibly pleased about the news. Everyone was saying the right things in the right places about a second series. As a cast we wanted to do more, Channel 5 loved it, plus PBS (in America) and now we’ve had that official green light. Wouldn’t it be great to film in spring and summer for the next series (in contrast to autumn and winter for the first), which would mean less shivering and more lambs. Yorkshire is beautiful whatever time of year, but it would be fantastic to experience the Dales on warmer days (laughs).

RS: Imagine that amazing autumn/winter landscape, as a completely different but equally impressive palette of spring/summer colours. It would be a real privilege for all of us to experience the county and all it has to offer during longer, light-filled filming days.

The All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special is on Channel 5 – 9pm Tuesday 22nd December and repeated on Boxing Day evening.

Image: ViacomCBS / Photographer: Todd Antony