All Creatures Great and Small season 5 continues the story of Yorkshire vets James Herriot, Siegfried Farnon and Tristan Farnon.
Yes, good news All Creatures fans Tristan is back in the new season after missing the last series as he was away serving in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. We're not sure about his mustache! He returns in episode three.
It wasn't quite the same without Tristan, so it's great to see the character back in the show as it gives it a bit more spice and fun.
Talking about his return as Tristan, Callum says: "It was always the plan to come back, and historically, Tristan did go away to war for a while, and he did come back. But yes, it was really nice to take the time away to do other projects and then come back home to my family really.
"It was slightly daunting in the sense of, 'Is it going to feel weird? Am I going to feel a bit out of the loop?' but my first day back was a full day in the in The Drovers, which is probably the best place to film Tristan’s first scenes back. And I remember coming back, we did the morning and warmed into it, and then coming back after our lunch break it didn’t feel like I’d been away at all to be honest. I just slotted back in so comfortably and so well and was having all of the same banter and jokes with all of the same cast and crew that’s still with us from series one. Yes, it was just really lovely."
"It was slightly daunting in the sense of, 'Is it going to feel weird? Am I going to feel a bit out of the loop?' but my first day back was a full day in the in The Drovers, which is probably the best place to film Tristan’s first scenes back. And I remember coming back, we did the morning and warmed into it, and then coming back after our lunch break it didn’t feel like I’d been away at all to be honest. I just slotted back in so comfortably and so well and was having all of the same banter and jokes with all of the same cast and crew that’s still with us from series one. Yes, it was just really lovely.
Here's everything we know...
All Creatures Great and Small season 5 release date
All Creatures Great and Small season 5 returned on Thursday, 19 September at 9 pm on Channel 5 and its streaming service My 5. Note My5 also has the first four seasons available. All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 4 airs on Thursday, October 10 at 9 pm.
It will air in the US on PBS MASTERPIECE in early 2025. But the exact release dates are still to be confirmed.
Cast
As mentioned the big news is Callum Woodhouse has returned as Tristan Farnon. Nicholas Ralph is back as James, with Rachel Shenton returning as his wife Helen. Samuel West is back as grouchy by loveable Siegfried, while Anna Madeley returns as the matriarch of Skeldale House, Mrs Hall. James Anthony-Rose also reappears as Richard Carmody along with Patricia Hodge as Mrs Pumphrey. And her pampered pooch Tricki is also back. Here's a full cast list...
Siegfried Farnon – Samuel West
Mrs Audrey Hall – Anna Madeley
James Herriot – Nicholas Ralph
Helen Herriot – Rachel Shenton
Callum Woodhouse – Tristan Farnon
Richard Carmody – James Anthony-Rose
Mrs Pumphrey – Patricia Hodge
Richard Alderson – Tony Pitts
Jenny Alderson – Imogen Clawson
Mr Bosworth – Jeremy Swift
Doris – Caroline Menton
Wing Commander Whitely – Simon Paisley Day
Hibbert – Luke Hammond
Banerjee – Samir Mahat
Medical Officer Reid – Callum Coates
Dot Fawcett – Caroline O’Neill
Mr Edwards – George Potts
Hilda Sudderby – Jennifer Hennessy
Mr Dowson – Adrian Hood
James Herriot Senior – Drew Cain
Hannah Herriot – Gabriel Quigley
Mrs Herbert – Caroline Chesworth
Sid Crabtree – Ryan Hawley
Farmer Biggins – Nicholas Asbury
Mrs Hanley – Angela Lonsdale
Harry – Bailey Brook
Maggie – Mollie Winnard
Jim Oakley – Nicholas Collett
Plot
We now at last have some plot details. The makers tease: "It is Spring 1941 and we return to Darrowby to find young baby Jimmy keeping our favorite Skeldale House family on their toes. Helen is getting the hang of motherhood with James away at RAF Abingdon, Mrs Hall and Siegfried are enjoying having a little one around and Carmody is now part of the furniture.
"With World War Two now fully underway, Siegfried is taking up the slack at the surgery, Mrs Hall and Helen are considering their contribution within the community, and Carmody is eager to step up. Siegfried is keen to have everyone back, but Tristan’s surprise return won't be quite as straightforward as he hoped."
What happens in episode 1?
The makers say: "In Darrowby, Mrs Hall and Helen attend a community meeting about the local war effort. Siegfried is under pressure to keep the surgery going in James and Tristan’s absence and leans on Carmody for more help.
"Meanwhile, at RAF Abingdon, James and his RAF crew prepare for an important training flight. James reassures a young crew-mate, Banerjee, that it’s natural to feel nervous. But as they’re about to take off on their flight, James is unexpectedly grounded.
"James is examined by the Medical Officer who delivers some surprising and disappointing news. A concerned Helen is confused by James’ refusal to come home, but he doesn’t want to let his team down. James’ dismay only deepens when the flight he should have been piloting comes under enemy fire.
"James is sent to do farm labor but steps in when a cow is having a difficult calving. James is reinvigorated, remembering his purpose as a vet. Meanwhile, Helen supports Dot Fawcett and helps solve the puzzle of her cat, ‘Frisk’. Carmody’s new surgery triage system gets him into trouble with Siegfried and Mrs Hall signs up to help the community."
What happens in episode 2?
The makers tease: "James is settling back into life at home but still needs to find his feet with baby Jimmy as he's not yet confident with babies. Helen leaves father and son alone for the day to go up to Heston and realises how much Jenny has grown up in recent months, now best friends with newly arrived land girl, Doris. Meanwhile, Mrs Hall is caught in the middle of Siegfried and her new boss, Mr Bosworth as they fall out over some of Mr Bosworth’s safety tactics.
"Baby Jimmy joins James and Carmody on their veterinary round and charms the farmers. James does a good job juggling work and parenting until he gets distracted at Dowson's farm. Jenny tells Helen that she’s not been up at the farm much since Jimmy was born but when Jenny decides to ignore Helen's advice and take their horses out, there are significant consequences. Helen and Jenny talk through their issues and Helen realizes she needs to allow Jenny to grow up, even if it means her exploring the wider world. Mrs Hall and Siegfried find a poisoned dog and try to work out how what’s happened.
"Siegfried gains a newfound sympathy for Mr Bosworth. James admits his mistake to Helen."
What happens in episode 3?
The makers say: "It's Jimmy's Christening day and everyone is determined to make it special. Helen and Mrs Hall busily prepare to host James's parents and Siegfried is writing his godparenting speech. James’ parents are thrilled to see baby Jimmy, but Helen isn’t sure how to take some of Hannah Herriot’s comments.
"Siegfried is unimpressed when called up to Biggins farm to look at a goat. Biggins is a tricky client whose farm presents as many challenges as the client himself.
"Siegfried receives a surprise telegram from Tristan announcing he's coming home. Thrilled at the thought of having his brother back home safely, but with no further details as to what’s happened, Siegfried makes a promise to himself which he is going to struggle to keep.
"Siegfried and Tristan share a touching reunion and Siegfried is relieved to have him back. James is volunteered to help Mrs Hanley’s poodle who is oddly too attached to her toy. Hannah and Helen find common ground when they work out what's wrong with the dog.
"Meanwhile, Siegfried's promise is already under threat as Tristan unknowingly hijacks the day and drags everyone to the Drovers after the service, telling a rapt audience about his hi-jinks in Cairo. When Siegfried confronts Farmer Biggins over his treatment of a sick goat, it’s not just Biggins he loses his temper with.
"When Tristan helps Siegfried to teach Biggins an important lesson, the brothers rekindle their familiar dynamic."
What happens in episode 4?
The makers say: "Tristan settles back into life at Skeldale, but Carmody has taken his bed – and his brother! Mrs Hall schemes to bring the boys together and sends them to Pumphrey Manor after an alarming report of an escaped animal from the Matron of the army convalescent hospital. Meanwhile, James hopes to reassure a worried Sid Crabtree when he’s called out to treat a sick cow.
"At the Manor, Tristan bumps into Mrs Pumphrey, who is struggling to share her home, and Tristan feels that he can relate.
"James struggles to treat Crabtree’s cow and bristles when the postman suggests a traditional Dales method that James doesn’t think works. A throwaway comment from Sid Crabtree has James grappling with some long buried feelings and Helen is worried about him. James lets Helen in on something he’s been keeping a lid on for some time.
"Tristan and Carmody’s disagreement comes to a head and they finally manage to see past their differences."
What happens in episode 5?
The makers tease: "Carmody gets outstanding exam results and is offered a position in a research programme in London but he wants to turn it down so that he can stay at Skeldale where he can support the war efforts as a vet. Siegfried is relieved but worries that he might be holding Carmody back. An exhilarated Mr Bosworth summons Mrs Hall to examine a piece of debris dropped from a plane into a remote field - this could be his hero moment. Doris arrives at the surgery with a poorly ferret for James to treat. Carmody finds himself oddly unable to string a sentence together in front of her.
"Siegfried and Carmody meet the glamorous Miss Grantley and her herd of pygmy goats. Two are particularly, hyper-sensitive and the vets must figure out the issue. There’s a spark between Siegfried and Miss Grantley, who makes him realise that Carmody has to make the right decision about his future. Meanwhile, what Bosworth thinks could be an explosive turns out to be something far less sinister. But Mrs Hall struggles with Mr Bosworth’s overzealous reaction to the incident.
"Siegfried encourages Carmody to take the offer but Carmody doesn’t want to say goodbye to Skeldale. James treats Doris’s ferret, and Helen realises that Doris’ rat poison could have been behind a previous incident. Carmody finally makes a decision about his future and Mrs Hall and Bosworth mend their relationship."
Is there a trailer?
Yes, here you go...
