More Creatures Great And Small: Reboot of Herriot classic returns
Awill-they-won’t-they storyline, plenty of cute animals, and the stunning Yorkshire Dales as the backdrop; it’s no surprise All Creatures Great and Small has been a hit all over again. The remake of the timeless classic, based on the memoirs of iconic vet Alf Wight who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot, delighted viewers.
The second series is set three months on and sees James, played by Nicholas Ralph, heading on a trip home to Glasgow, to help out his old mentor. But his heart isn’t in it because back in the Dales is Helen Alderson (Rachel Shenton) whom he has complicated feelings for.
The brilliant Dame Diana Rigg, who played Mrs Pumphrey, sadly passed away last year at the age of 82. Taking on the role of the wealthy and eccentric figure for series two is Miranda star Patricia Hodge, 74.
“She was so good from day one,” said Ralph, who was a relative newcomer before landing the role of James.
“She made it completely her own character. Her relationship with Derek (who plays her dog,tricki Woo) is just great – she was almost like a puppeteer.”
Ralph, who trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, promises “there are a lot more animals this time – a lot more procedures”.the series kicks off with one of his favourite storylines, involving a gorgeous little cocker spaniel called Scruff.
“It’s Jenny’s – Helen’s little sister’s – dog, and she has quite a keen interest in the animals, and maybe even veterinary things as years go on,” said Ralph.
“She’s having a little bit of trouble with her dog, so James tries to teach her whilst teaching Scruff as well how to behave around farm animals. He’s up against it a little bit – and of course, he hasn’t really seen Helen, and then all of a sudden he’s taking an interest in this dog and helping out Jenny…”
Fan favourite Tricki Woo is also back in a big way. “I love working with that little dog,” said Callum Woodhouse, who plays Tristan.“he’s so sweet.”
“The way that these animals are trained by the handlers that we have… They are the real stars.they’re incredible.”
Although with animals things can, of course, go wrong.woodhouse recalled one particularly messy encounter: “During a take, wee shot out on to my neck, and then dribbled down my body, and I heard the director behind me start laughing. I just carried on saying my lines, and then they shouted ‘cut’, and as I was standing up, it then pooed all over my hand! I had to go for a costume change and then we did the scene again.”
All Creatures Great And Small, Channel 5, Thursday, 9pm