This January, audiences returning to James Herriot’s heartwarming depiction of the fictional town of Darrowby will be treated to more of his life-affirming stories with the return of “All Creatures Great and Small” for its third season, promising new partnerships, ghosts, a gesture of kindness towards a rival and a cheerful, optimistic tone despite rumblings of war.
The series, based on the bestselling memoirs by veterinarian James Herriot has been lauded by critics and audiences alike with more than 10 million viewers tuning in for the first season.
Nicholas Ralph (“The Devil’s Light”) returns as young James Herriot, who is struggling to balance the growing responsibilities of his veterinary practice and his new marriage to Helen Alderson, played by Rachel Shenton (“The Silent Child”). Helen faces her own difficulties letting go of her old life on the family farm and finding her new place within the walls of Skeldale House.
The cast also includes Callum Woodhouse (“The Durrells in Corfu”) as Tristan Farnon, a newly qualified vet, as well as Anna Madeley (“Mr. Selfridge”) who returns as the motherly housekeeper Mrs. Hall, who is beginning to open herself up to a future outside of managing the household.
As war with Germany looms on the Horizon, Siegfried Farnon, the irrepressible but unpredictable proprietor of Skeldale House, played by Samuel West (“Hyde Park on Hudson”), contends with the painful memories of his experiences serving with the Army Veterinary Corps during the First World War. Patricia Hodges (“Roadkill”) is back as Mrs. Pumphrey, the wonderfully eccentric owner of Tricki, the pampered Pekingese.
Season three begins in the Spring of 1939 as James and Helen prepare to walk down the aisle. Additionally, James is trying to expand the veterinary practice by joining a government program to test for tuberculosis in cattle. The initiative pays well, but is looked upon with suspicion by the local farmers who run the risk of their farms being shut down if a positive case is found.
With change on the horizon, Herriot and crew deal with sick animals, eccentric farmers, courtship, strict government mandates and the maturation of professional and emotional relationships in the rural Yorkshire veterinary practice.
The highly anticipated third season of “All Creatures Great and Small” on MASTERPIECE premieres at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 8 on Panhandle PBS.
