This is Y December 2020 Digital Edition

AND THERE ARE PLANS FOR
AN ALL CREATURES GREAT
AND SMALL SERIES TWO?
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?
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.
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.
Image: ViacomCBS / Photographer: Todd Antony
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
Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Matt Squire
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