Yorkshire Vet to meet TV’s James Herriot as two hit shows unite for Xmas special
Fans of TV hits The Yorkshire Vet and All Creatures Great and Small will see their stars share a vehicle in more ways than one this Christmas.
The shows have teamed up for a festive special – in which real-life vet Peter Wright joins actor Samuel West to roar around Yorkshire in an Austin 7, just like the one James Herriot drove. And viewers are taken along for the ride as they bond over their shared love of the county and explore the similarities and inspirations of their shows.
As well as making for must-watch festive viewing, Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small: Yorkshire Vet Special was poignant for Peter, 67. The Yorkshire Vet star trained at the veterinary centre at 23 Kirkgate in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, in the 1980s. While there, he was mentored by Donald Sinclair – who the eccentric Siegfried Farnon in James Herriot’s books and the TV series is based on.
And when he met Samuel, 57, who plays Siegfried in All Creatures, he found him so convincing it was like being in Donald’s presence again. Peter says: “As he walked over, I felt as if I was stood in front of my old boss and suddenly felt like a young, naughty vet again, ready to be ticked off by him. It really struck me when Samuel drew in a breath, this was Donald Sinclair. I took Samuel on a call-out to an old client of Donald’s and it took me back. Being there with him was like standing next to Donald. He really reminds me of him. It was quite emotional.”
Peter and Shona with All Creatures stars Rachel and Nicholas
Peter on a 1940s busPeter and co-star Shona Searson were granted behind-the-scenes access to filming of the All Creatures Great and Small Christmas episode, which also stars Nicholas Ralph as Herriot – real name Alf Wight – and Rachel Shenton as his wife, Helen. Meanwhile, Samuel and Anna Madeley, Mrs Hall in All Creatures, visited the Yorkshire Vet’s patch of Thirsk in North Yorkshire to find out more about the real people behind their roles.
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Anna meets Alf’s family and has afternoon tea at Betty’s in Harrogate – a tradition Alf and Joan enjoyed on Thursdays. And in the one-off, Peter regales Samuel with stories of his former boss, sharing “Donaldisms” he can use in his portrayal of Siegfried, such as swatting flies on the inside of the car windscreen, saying he’s not getting married until a day before 45 and having a liking for whiskey and milk.
Peter says: “It was great for the two shows to get together. In both we portray life as it is and, as vets, we’ve got to show our failures as well as our successes. That’s what makes the shows so real.”
Samuel with an owlSamuel adds: “Playing somebody who is based on a real character around people who knew him and can tell me about him is joyous. I love playing [Siegfried]. I love that people can tell me about him and tell me that I’m getting him right.” The star gets a chance to work on his method acting when Peter has him helping to treat sheep belonging to farmer Clive Grey – an old client of Donald’s.
Peter says: “I took Samuel to some sheep with foot rot and we had to trim some feet. Samuel was my useful assistant with the antibacterial spray. He quite impressed the farmer.”
It was a great opportunity for Samuel to practise his technique for when he’s back in Darrowby. He says: “When I’m doing my scenes I try to make sure my hands know what they’re doing and they have a firm grip to be believable. This is something you get better at the more time you spend around animals.” The pair really bonded while driving the Austin 7 sports car through the Yorkshire countryside.
Peter reveals: “Alf Wight drove an Austin 7 sports model that Donald bought him. In some of the valleys he used to reverse up the hills, as he couldn’t get up any other way.”
Like Donald, Samuel, who 18 months ago became an ambassador for the RSPB, is passionate about birds and went to the Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre with Peter to meet a milky eagle owl and some red kites.
Sam helping Peter treat sheepHe says: “Red kites are a rare success story in conservation and it’s important to talk about stories that work, so people don’t feel depressed by falling numbers and species under threat of extinction. When we stopped shooting [kites] and started feeding them in the 1950s they bounced back. There are now 1,000 breeding pairs – 10% of the world population.”
Viewers with an eagle eye may have spotted a familiar face in the recent series of All Creatures as Peter had a cameo role, which he really enjoyed. He says: “What impressed me about being on the set was the attention to detail. In the dining room, there was a pewter mug which Donald used to have.
“If anyone had a cash transaction it would go in the mug and get shared out. I looked in the mug and found old-fashioned pound notes. It was just like the old days.” Samuel adds: “Talking to Peter, I’ve really felt the love and confidence that Sinclair and Wight gave to their various assistants and partners over the years.
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“It’s spread through the profession and through our programmes, which continue to inspire huge numbers of young vets today.”
Shona and Peter at Alf’s practiceAnd the inspiration works the other way – Channel 5 was spurred to remake All Creatures after seeing how popular The Yorkshire Vet is. Samuel will be watching the Christmas special with his family, including his parents, the much-loved actors Timothy West, 89, and Prunella Scales, 91, who sadly has dementia. He says: “My mum can’t really follow it but she recognises me and the kids stay up to watch it.”
The festive episode sees James struggling to get home to heavily pregnant Helen and Mrs Hall preparing a community celebration. Samuel says: “The Christmas special has a wonderful revelation at the end. It has a bit of everything that makes it special – togetherness, newness and a bit of missing people. Decency, kindness and inclusion is the watchword.”
And this December 25 he will be repeating a beloved annual family Christmas tradition. He reveals: “We drive into [Central London] at 7.30am just as it’s getting light and we park in Shaftesbury Avenue.
“There’s no one around and we walk along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace and say ‘Merry Christmas’ to the people we bump into. By 9.30am it’s filling up, so we go home for breakfast.
“It’s an extraordinary time and the only hour you can do it. It’s a bit 28 Days Later but we’re very addicted and we do it in all weathers.” And going out, whatever the conditions, sounds just like what a vet would do.
All Creatures Great and Small: Yorkshire Vet Special airs on Thursday at 8pm on Channel 5, followed by the All Creatures Great and Small Christmas Special at 9pm
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