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, in the shadow
of World War II. 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. Peter Davison played Tristan Farnon, the younger brother
of Siegfried.
Tristan is studying to be
a vet during the first three seasons, while assisting James and Siegfried
in the practice. However,
he keeps failing his exams,
although he does become a qualified vet in the final episode of season
three, at the same time
as James and Siegfried are
called up to serve in the military. Tristan is fond of both alcohol and
women, and both vices often
get him into trouble. However,
although he often comes across as irresponsible and a layabout, he is kindhearted
and has
a genuine love of animals.
His caring side came to the fore in an episode where a badly injured cat
is taken to the practice,
and Tristan insists on trying
to save its life, despite warnings from James that it is hopeless and the
cat should be put down.
'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 - as well as the beautiful
scenery of the Yorkshire
Dales. The series was also known for the humorous and oddball characters
who inhabited the Dales.
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:
A
number of actors familiar to Doctor Who fans made guest appearances in
'All Creatures Great and Small', including
Patrick
Troughton, Nicholas Courtney and Annette Badland. Linda Bellingham of 'Trial
of a Time Lord' fame took over the role
of
Helen Herriot after the first three seasons.
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