The lowdown: 'All Creatures Great and Small' is one of the BBC's most popular drama series of all time, and chronicles
the professional and private lives of the partners in a veterinary practice in the fictional Yorkshire town of Darrowby in the
mid-1930s. Based on the novels of James Herriot, the show ran for seven seasons and 90 episodes. It initially ran from 
January 1978 until April 1980, before being brought back for two Christmas specials in 1983 and 1985 and a further four 
seasons between January 1988 and December 1990. It starred Christopher Timothy as James Herriott and Robert Hardy
as Siegfried Farnon. The series began with Herriott being interviewed for a job at Farnon's practice, and he eventually 
becomes a partner. Peter Davison plays Tristan Farnon, the younger brother of Siegfried, who is fond of both alcohol and
women. Tristan is also studying to be a vet, but keeps failing his exams, although he eventually passes his exams and
joins the Darrowby practice. The series was known for its realistic portrayal of veterinary work in the 1930s, and the 
humorous and oddball characters who inhabited Yorkshire Dales.

'Hair of the Dog' was episode four of season 3, and was first broadcast on BBC1 on 19 Jan 1980. Series three is set
sometime in 1939, with the threat of war on the horizon, and most episodes include references to whether there will be
a war. Patrick Troughton appears in this episode as an itinerant farmhand called Roddy, who comes to Darrowby looking 
for work for a few weeks before moving on. His only possessions are an old pram and a dog called Jake. James and 
Siegfried are charmed by Roddy's simple lifestyle, and are quick to assist when Jake falls ill and needs surgery to survive. 
This episode also features Tristan taking on the housekeeping duties - with predictably disastrous results - when the vets' 
housekeeper goes away to attend to a sick relative. Patrick Troughton is marvellous as Roddy, and is the real star of the 
episode.

'All Creatures Great and Small' may have ended over 15 years ago, but it is still a pleasant and heartwarming show to
watch, particularly if you are looking for an alternative to the crime and reality shows that seem to dominate the TV 
schedules today. The animals are of course the real stars of the show - no animatronics here, just real live farm animals.
This show is highly recommended if you enjoy stories of country life in a simpler time. And you get to see actors putting 
their hands up the rear ends of cows quite often!

Trivia: James Herriot's real name was James Alfred Wight. His pen name was inspired by a Scottish goalkeeper names
Jim Herriot. The character of Siegfried Farnon was based on Wight's real-life veterinary partner, Donald Sinclair. Tristan
Farnon was based on Donald's brother, Brian.

Quote:
Roddy: 'You got to learn, don't you, to pay your way.'
James: 'Your outgoings can't be very high.'
Roddy: 'Just enough to keep body and soul together.'

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