All Creatures Great and Small: Cheers to the Years!

- [Narrator] "All Creatures Great and Small" on MASTERPIECE offers audiences a true escape from the modern world, with magical and unforgettable stories filled with humor, compassion, and love of life.

With plenty of heart, a picturesque setting, and a cast that utterly charms, the series delivers drama, both comforting and entertaining.

- I've learned so much from you.

- Yes, well, I couldn't help noticing that both of you took rather a long time fully to appreciate-- - Oh, be quiet.

- [Narrator] Based on the timeless books by James Herriot, this heartwarming drama continues to embrace the themes of community, caring for animals, kindness, romance, and family.

- [James] No matter what they throw at us, I promise you, I will get back to you both.

Nothing will keep me away.

I will always, always be with you.

- I know you will.

(lively string music) - [Narrator] As we look ahead to more of James Herriot's treasured stories making the leap from his beloved books to the screen, we are pausing to raise a glass in celebration of the first five seasons of "All Creatures Great and Small."

We'll go behind the scenes with the cast and creators to toast the most memorable moments, beginning with the very first episode of the series.

We'll reminisce with the actors who portray our favorite characters, find out what their first impressions of each other were like, and learn what it's like to work with the real stars, the animals of every size, from great to small.

- We are vets.

(poignant theme music) We put animals before profit.

(music continuing) - [Narrator] Join us as we toast the farmers, villagers, and animals of the Yorkshire Dales in this retrospective look back, entitled, "All Creatures Great and Small: Cheers to the Years!"

(cheeky orchestral music) - Mr.

Herriot!

- Welcome back, Mr.

Herriot.

- Mr.

Herriot.

- Morning, Mr.

Herriot.

- I can hardly believe it's been six years.

I've just loved it from start to finish.

- [Mrs.

Hall] Oh, you're back!

- [James] It's good to see you, Mrs.

H!

- Oh!

- [Anna] When we come back each year, there is a feeling of coming home 'cause it is our territory and we know it that well.

(phone ringing) - Darrowby 2297.

- Darrowby 2297.

- Darrowby 2297.

- [Nicholas] The stories themselves, they are about kindness and love-- not only for the animals but for one another, and for looking after your little pocket of the world.

- [James] We need to wait for the results, and then we'll deal with it, so let's stop all this talk about moving on.

Your life is here.

This is where you belong.

(birds softly chirping) - Thanks, James.

- [Rachel] The show is ultimately about love and friendship, and community, and looking after each other, and that doesn't age.

It's never gonna go out fashion.

And I think, more than ever, we need that.

- [Tristan] I saw what happened to your dog, and I wanted to help him.

And I suppose deep down, that also means I wanted to help you, too.

(footsteps) (soft string music) (chuckling) It's not just the animals.

- [Samuel] The center of the series is professional people putting themselves at the service of creatures that can't speak, and that's a good thing to build a series around.

- [Siegfried] You can kick me off again as much as you like.

I'm not gonna give up on you.

(poignant string music) Don't give up on me either.

(music continuing) Maybe we can help each other out.

- [Nicholas] It was my first television job and, you know, the learning curve is just like "zzzhoof!"

- [Siegfried] This is Herriot-- new assistant, possibly.

- [Mr.

Sharpe] Oh, aye?

Another one.

- Oh, another one!

- Yes, another one.

- [Nicholas] Now we've done six years, and to play a character for that length of time as well is just wonderful.

- I'd like you to meet your son.

(soft piano and string music) (baby mewling) - You gave me a little boy.

(both laughing and crying) - [Anna] All the meals we've had 'round the table at Skeldale, they all build up a picture of their family unit.

- [Mrs.

Hall] Remember, it's not the mountain we conquer.

- [All] But ourselves.

(piano and string music concluding) - I don't think when you start any series, you sort of really believe we'll go up to Series Six, but I'm so happy (clapboard clacking) that we're still here, and that there's more to come (cast and crew applauding) we're not done yet.

- Cheers.

(glasses clinking) - [All] Cheers!

- Cheers.

(bright orchestral music) (glasses clinking) (orchestral music concluding) (whooshing sound) (soft orchestral music) - [Narrator] We could not do a proper look back without discussing the first impressions the cast had of each other.

(whooshing sounds) - I'm Helen.

- Herriot!

James...Herriot.

- [Nicholas] My first impression of my cast members, they were absolutely lovely.

- (whispering) Other leg.

(birds chirping outside) (silently mouthing "Thank you") - [Rachel] I met Nick at the chemistry read.

We auditioned together.

He was the first cast member that I met, and we got on like a house on fire straight away.

- [James] I'll be back to see you soon.

To... see the calf.

To remove the cast from his leg.

- [Nicholas] I met Rach throughout the audition process.

There was maybe ten girls had come in to read for Helen and at the end said, "Is there anyone you naturally enjoyed working with?"

And the first name I said was Rachel Shenton.

- [James] It was nice meeting you.

- You too.

- We met on a connecting train from Leeds.

It was just me and Rach and Nick... and I thought they were delightful.

- [Siegfried] Good evening, good evening!

Mrs.

Hall, Helen, a delight as ever.

- I remember a train journey up to Yorkshire where I was super nervous.

I saw Sam, I sort of smiled at him, and I think he might have thought that I probably fancied him or something.

And it was... it was oh... (laughing) it was ever so slightly awkward for a minute until I plucked up the courage to say, "I'm in the show with you."

- You must barely recognize me.

- Oh, I don't know, Siegfried.

I think you've weathered rather well.

- [Siegfried] You're very kind.

- My first day on set was with Sam, and he barely left my side.

Any questions I had, he was right there.

And it just felt very... Siegfried and James.

- [Siegfried] I'm sorry, who are you?

- [Mrs.

Hall] Ah, I see you've met already.

This is Mr.

Herriot.

- [Samuel] He hit the ground running so fast that all of us were keeping up with him after a few days.

- [Nicholas] I just could not wait to get started.

And then being on set that first day, I really did feel at home and I felt like this is where I should be.

I loved it... and been loving it ever since.

- [James] You mean I've got the job?

- How does four quid a week and full board sound?

- Oh that sounds... great!

I, I mean, thank you.

- And then Cal joined us.

I remember thinking he's hilarious.

He's got such a dry sense of humor.

- Tristan Farnon?

- [Tristan] Whatever you heard, it's not true.

I didn't do it.

- Ah, no, no, Siegfried sent me.

I'm James Herriot, his new assistant.

- Really?

Poor you.

- [Nicholas] Cal was like Tristan from the books.

You know, he was so funny, so personable.

We hit it off straight away.

We went for a beer like the first night and that seemed like a very James-Tristan kind of (laughing) evening that we had together over a beer.

- Was he very angry?

- Furious.

- Oh, sweet manna from heaven, tell me more!

Did he shout at you?

- (chuckling) Screamed the house down.

- "What the bloody hell's the meaning of this?"

- Words to that effect.

(both laughing) - [Callum] Me and Nick were just best mates.

By like the end of the first night, having a beer and just sort of talking nonsense.

And that nonsense has grown over six seasons to the point where I don't think anyone else in the cast knows what we're talking about now, 'cause we've sort of developed our own language.

- [Tristan] The only way we'll survive, my brother, is if we stick together.

(soft piano music) - [Callum] Sam was a funny one because I've been a fan of Sam for years, so I was quite nervous to meet him.

- Tristan!

Tristan!

Tristan!

- (sighing) What have I done?

- [Callum] It has really helped me play the relationship of Tristan-Siegfried because... Tristan's sort of always after Siegfried's approval.

And that's sort of how I spent Series One with Sam.

I was like, "I really want him to think I'm quite a good actor."

- [Siegfried] I heard what you did at yesterday's surgery.

(patrons chattering) (glass sliding) (clucking tongue) It's the good stuff.

(background chattering continuing) - When Anna was cast, I thought, "Ah, this is gonna work.

That's the last jigsaw piece of a very nice little five-piece puzzle."

(doors opening) - [James] Oh, hello.

- [Mrs.

Hall] Mr.

Herriot.

- Yes, sorry I'm late.

- I'd almost given up on you.

I'm Mrs.

Hall, I keep house for Mr.

Farnon.

- [Anna] The others had all met-- I was cast quite late.

I remember my first day, it was the scene where I hear there's noise out in the shed in the middle of the night and go out with the cricket bat, and I find an inebriated James in the animal shed.

- [Mrs.

Hall] Mr.

Herriot-- what on earth are you doing?

- Feeding the cats.

- Anna is just the loveliest woman who's ever existed, so she was incredibly easy to get along with.

- [Tristan] Mrs.

H!

You look more youthful and radiant with each passing day.

- Oh.

- [Samuel] I knew her from the Royal Shakespeare Company-- from 25 years earlier-- and adored her and her work.

- [Siegfried] How is it possible?

We have nothing we want and two of everything we don't.

- It's almost as if you might benefit from employing some sort of system.

- Anna and I never had scenes together for quite a long time, so we were like sort of passing ships, just chatting in the makeup room for a little bit and then in the trailer, and now I'll never let her go.

- [Helen] Thanks for doing this again.

- No, it's my pleasure.

For a mother without daughters, this is something I never thought I'd get to do.

- We've played these people for six years now, so our instincts start to be important.

And I suppose what was interesting was how many of those things felt like they were there on the first day.

(very soft orchestral music) - [Siegfried] It's the people.

(orchestral music continuing) Infuriating as you all are... I'm... rather fond of you.

(soft music concluding) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] And as fond as we are of all the people, we are also fond of all the favorite animal moments.

(whooshing sound) - Today, we shall be lifting the curtain on the fascinating world of veterinary science.

(dog barking) (horse whinnying) (bird squawking) (cat screeching) (pig squealing) (James falling) (cow mooing) (pail clattering) - Uh!

- [Nicholas] Like the life of a veterinarian, I guess, every day is so different.

There's so much variety, and of course, you have the challenges of working with the animals.

(James grunting) (ewe licking) - [James] That's good.

A healthy wee lamb.

- [Andy] I think the great fun of the program is that it's reattaching yourself to animals and you know, the love that people have for animals, whether it's a dog, a cat, a tortoise... We've had all sorts of animals on the program.

- [Nicholas] I think one thing that I really can appreciate a lot more now is just the different personalities of all the different animals.

- Cedric!

(James grunting) (Cedric panting) Oh dear, I'm so sorry, Uncle Herriot.

(James chuckling) - [Callum] I love any scene where I get to be with a dog because I prefer dogs to people.

- [Tristan] What's her name?

- Daisy.

- Hello, Daisy.

Daisy, hello.

- You get to know the animals and their personalities and their temperaments.

Derek, who played Tricki wonderfully-- retired, now-- nothing fazed him.

- [James] Paws off-- this is Uncle Herriot's.

- Didn't know you were related.

- [Samuel] I always love working with Tricki.

I think he's a real character.

(cheeky string music) (Tricki munching) - [Siegfried] No, Tricki... You're on a strict diet-- dried dog biscuits only.

- You've got this big, furry bundle who just nuggles into you and is totally with you and does everything you want them to do.

- [Mrs.

Pumphrey] He does love a homemade biscuit.

- They're actually for you, Mrs.

Pumphrey.

- Oh, I only eat a Fortnum myself, but Tricki's a little less fussy.

(bright string music) - And then you've got Dash, who's played by Erin, who... will just lock eyes with you, and she just wants pets and strokes.

(Dash barking) - Dash!

Hello... hello!

(Dash whimpering) - [Rachel] Little Dash... loves a cuddle and a biscuit.

And I'm like, "Well, that's kind of like me."

You know, if you're feeling a bit down, usually a cuddle or a biscuit will fix it.

- [Nicholas] And then you've got Ernie, who plays Jess, who's just this lovable kind of goofball.

(Jess panting) (footsteps) (doorknob clicking) - Hah!

Not this morning, Jess.

- [Callum] I get woke up by Jess the house dog and we had to get her to lick my face, so we had to put, like, cheese paste on my face.

- [Tristan] No, Maggie, you're a married woman.

- [Callum] The original line was that Jess licks my face and I wake up and I'm like, "Get off, Jess."

And I was like, "We need to change that line.

How about he wakes up and he's like, 'Oh, good morning, Jess,' and he kisses her back?"

And the director was like, "Yeah, absolutely-- That's, that's way more 'Tristan.'"

(soft string music) - [Tristan] Oh, Jess-- it's just you.

- [Nicholas] Thinking back, I remember the mix up of the cats and one cat almost getting castrated, which is one of the scenes I auditioned with, actually.

- [James] I don't understand it.

It said Jasper on the cage.

I know it did, so how can it be?

- (sighing) Maybe because you came home soused last night.

- I put them back in the wrong cages.

- [Nicholas] Anna would come 'round.

So, one time she came 'round and there was one cat like on her leg, one on her shoulder.

And we're like, "Oh, reset."

Next time she comes 'round, there's one cat here, there's one cat climbing up her back.

And then the next time she comes 'round, she just had one cat because the other one had just left-- (laughing) had gone somewhere else.

- [James] Jasper's mange has cleared up and you can take him home today.

The bad news-- it'll be half a crown.

(chuckling) - That's not my cat, neither.

- Last season was great, when we had the... fox.

That was really nice.

- [Nicholas] Another one that springs to mind is the goats careering through the house.

(knocking) - [Siegfried] James, are you-- (goats bleating) (bell ringing) - [James] Siegfried!

Watch your head!

- God!

(goats bleating) - [Anna] The goats knew how to cause chaos.

They were well-trained for their acting role that day.

(laughing) - [Mrs.

Hall] Not in my pantry!

James, what happened?

(goat bleating) - [James] Gotcha!

(goat bleating) (jars clattering) - [Nicholas] Just another testament to how well the animals are trained-- they had the goats go one meter with a buzzer and some food and then they got more and more elaborate and further away, and they did it perfect every time, all the way through from the examination room, living room, to up onto the table in the scullery.

(dogs barking) (goat bell clanging) - [Mrs.

Hall] Get down from there!

(dogs barking) (goat chewing) - Siegfried has a rat, because I suggested it.

- Good God-- why is that thing always out of its cage?

- [Samuel] There's something about that interaction that brings something out of him that wouldn't come out with any other animal, and he lives inside my waistcoat.

(chuckling softly) - [Siegfried] You know that rats are as intelligent as dogs?

- I love working with the, the larger animals as well.

You know, horses and things like that-- they're so majestic.

We have wonderful horse trainers and they'll talk to you, "This horse is pretty much this personality type and he is docile and gentle and you can do anything.

This is, like... Artemis," who kicked me in the face in Series One.

(horse neighing) (hoof thumping) (body thudding) (mud squelching) (James groaning) - I'm sorry, young man, I ought to have told you.

He's a very friendly horse.

(horse snorting) (mud squelching) He always likes to shake hands.

(Siegfried chuckling) - [Samuel] My favorite interactions are always with horses.

- [Siegfried] She's young and strong.

I can't see why she wouldn't recover.

I'll do my damnedest to help, in any case.

- (laughing with relief) Thanks.

- [Samuel] I've had conversations with horses on this that you can't see but you can feel, so those quiet moments with horses are probably my favorite interactions with animals.

- [Siegfried] Now then... (gentle string music) shall we go for that ride together?

- [Nicholas] It is wonderful to see these animals and their different personalities.

And I'm talking about all the animals, you know, great and small.

(soaring string music) (soft hoofbeats) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] As we say "Cheers to the Years," it became very clear that everyone has a special place in their heart for the very first episode.

(whooshing sounds) - [Siegfried] So, where did it all start for you?

Wanting to be a vet?

(gentle orchestral music) (birds chirping) - There was a, a small city farm at the back of my school.

- Mm-hm.

- It was like having a part of the country in the city.

I developed a real love for the animals there.

- Ah, well, you see... the animals are the easy part.

(gentle music continuing) It's the people cause all the bother.

(music concluding) - We've had some wonderful, wonderful episodes throughout all the seasons, but I think... probably have to just go back to Episode One because that's where it all began.

(people murmuring) (gentle bright music) - [Samuel] It starts with a sort of... really cinematic trail through Glasgow and I just thought, "This is classy, and it looks like a million dollars-- but it feels like a film."

- [Postman] Morning, James.

There you are.

- Thanks.

- [Nicholas] James Herriot himself went to veterinary school in Glasgow and he trained up there.

He lived in Glasgow, graduated, and then one of his first jobs, he got on a train and he made his way out to the Yorkshire Dales to work under Siegfried Farnon.

- [James] I got an interview.

(muffled street sounds outside) - You did?

(paper crumpling) - [Mrs.

Herriot] You didn't!

Darrowby?

Yorkshire?

- [Nicholas] Much like him, I went to drama school in Glasgow.

And then, my first TV job, I got on a train and was heading out to the Yorkshire Dales to start my professional life.

It was very much art imitating life in that way that my journey and James Herriot's journey to that beginning was very similar.

- Ooh, she likes you.

That's a good start.

Jess is suspicious of most men.

Rightly so, too.

- [Anna] I'm a huge fan of the house 'cause that's where I do most of my work.

I always wish people could come and see it up close.

It's extraordinary, the detail that's in there.

- One of the memories that never quite leaves me is the first time I walked into Skeldale House.

Jackie Smith's design really feels like home.

(cat mewing) - [Siegfried] Dispensary.

(footsteps) Oh, emasculator.

(door opening) - [Anna] Everything had been made slightly dirty, so nothing was pristine.

Everything was lived-in, and used, and loved and made up from different phases of someone's life.

And it does feel like a home.

You forget you're not actually in a house.

(soft orchestral music) - What's wrong?

Why can't I have that?

- Because it's not one word and it's spelled differently.

- Yes, yes-- apart from that.

(silence) - [Narrator] The very first episode created some different concerns for Rachel Shenton.

- [Rachel] I was terrified in the scene with Clive, the big bull at the start of the series.

- [Helen] Sorry about Clive.

He's a miserable devil at the best of times.

- Who's Clive?

(chickens clucking) - This one.

- [Rachel] When I just said casually to one of the animal handlers, "How much does he weigh?"

And they were like, "Oh, we, I don't know.

Two ton?"

(cheeky orchestral music) I was like, "Oh my God."

His head was like the bonnet of my car.

It was like the biggest thing I've ever seen.

- [Helen] Go on, get!

- [Rachel] She was probably around these types of animals as a toddler.

It had to feel like second nature, so you just have to swallow everything else back and go, "This is what we're doing."

And it's like one of those moments in filming where you go, "I've just personally overcome something," as well.

- [Helen] Thanks.

(chicken squawking) Just don't look him in the eye.

(bull bellowing) - [Rachel] Everyone was a little bit wary of the bull.

Everybody else was behind a gate and at one point, they were trying to get him to get a bit closer to camera 'cause he was just off on his own.

And he took maybe one more step than they would've liked, and you just saw these big burly cameramen-- and Nick Ralph-- scatter.

Nick Ralph was up on that wall for real.

- [Callum] It was Nick's first-ever filming job, so seeing him go from, like, a complete amateur with screen acting to one of the finest screen actors I've ever seen was a real pleasure over the years to watch.

- Dick Rudd's having trouble with a calf.

Better wake Mr.

Farnon.

- Don't!

I'll go.

- Wha- - I can do it.

- [Nicholas] The birthing of the calf at the end of Episode One was such a monumental moment and just one big challenging scene, and then it worked.

(cow lowing) - [James] Got it!

I hooked the jaw.

Take the rope.

- [Nicholas] I just remember afterwards, just being so excited, we were like, "That's a wrap for the week.

Thanks, guys, have a brilliant week!"

And everyone was just so excited.

I just felt we'd really achieved something.

(music swelling) - [James] I think you've got it!

(cow mooing) (hay rustling) (uplifting orchestral music) (James panting and laughing with relief) - It was just amazing seeing that first episode come together.

It was a real sort of injection of energy into that series of... seeing how delightful it was and how happy people were with what we were making.

And then it went out to the audience and did the same, which was brilliant.

- [Samuel] We watched it together in the Herriot Hotel halfway through the first season, and it was a big, important moment where we all just thought, "Yeah, this works."

- Must have seen it a thousand times.

Never gets old.

(serene string music) - [Nicholas] It was just huge for James's character, and I just thought it was a wonderful episode.

And it was the start, it was the beginning of it all.

It was my first TV job as well, so yeah, it holds a lot of special memories.

- [Samuel] It came out during COVID, and nobody could make any journeys at all, so we were their journeys, in their head and in their heart.

And many people have never left us since then.

(car driving over asphalt) - [James] Wooo!

(bright piano and string theme) Wooooo!

(piano and string theme concluding) - [Narrator] When we return, we'll continue our comprehensive look back at "All Creatures."

We'll examine the evolution of each main character.

And you won't want to miss it when we revisit the most memorable scenes in "All Creatures Great and Small: Cheers to the Years!"

(piano and string theme fading) - [Narrator] Welcome back to "All Creatures Great & Small: Cheers to the Years!"

Today, we're taking a look back at everything we love about this series.

Coming up, we'll discuss some of the most memorable scenes, and we'll even visit the rooftop at Heston Grange where so many special moments have taken place.

But first, let's take a look at the character growth over the years.

(bright piano and string theme) (whooshing sound) - I never imagined for a second this is where we'd end up.

- Yes, you did.

- Yes.

I did.

- [Rachel] What's so wonderful about playing a character year on year, is you really get to evolve with the character, and you get to see them going through all those major milestones.

- Look at this.

Quietest baby in all of Darrowby.

- [Tristan] Hm!

- [Rachel] There's parts of me that are Helen and parts of Helen that are me.

I think certainly her love for the outdoors has probably rubbed off on me.

We spend a lot of time in Yorkshire, and so I get out exploring.

(water rushing) (birds tweeting) - [Helen] Morning, James!

(water splashing) - Oh, good morning!

(gentle orchestral music) (water splashing) - [Nicholas] It's always wonderful playing a character like James as well.

'cause every year is a rollercoaster for him.

- He's making- - I am- - you partner.

- Oh, Mrs.

Hall, I was really rather hoping to tell him that, myself.

- Partnership?

In the practice?

A 50/50 split?

- [Nicholas] He continues to grow as a person professionally and personally.

- You may now... (soft string music) kiss the bride.

(soaring string music) (Helen and James laughing) - [Rachel] We've seen Helen... from being a sort of young free single girl, falling in love, to getting married and having her first child and moving out of Heston Grange.

There are all these major life events that we've seen happen.

There's nothing she can't do.

She takes it on with ease.

There's always a bit of humor.

She smiles a lot, and I love that about her.

- [Helen] Are you saying what I think you're saying?

- If you want to start a family- - You know I do.

- Me too.

- Well, then.

- Shall we... - Get cracking?

- Well, I was trying to think of something a bit more romantic.

(uplifting orchestral music) - It's amazing getting to just be these characters for so long and to spend so much time in their shoes.

- And you've been your usual industrious self?

- Oh, you know me.

Nose to the grindstone.

(James laughing) - [Callum] Tristan has rubbed off on me a bit.

He's taught me just to be more positive in life, to not stress as much about certain things, and to just sort of go with the flow.

- Sacred occasion, Tristan.

- That doesn't mean we can't have a bit of fun.

- [Callum] Tristan has matured a lot over the years.

You think of him from Series One, him sort of sneaking onto trains, stealing cars, making the bumper fall off.

(bumper crashing) (ominous orchestral music) - [Siegfried] Tristan!

Herriot!

- Right!

(rapid footsteps) (door opening) (knocking) (Tristan snorting) - He hasn't lost that fun side, but he's just grown up a lot over the years.

- [Tristan] There was a stray moping about the place.

I wanted to see if I could do something for him and help Mrs.

Donovan at the same time.

- That sounds very kind of you.

- [Callum] Now he carries a lot more responsibility, a lot more maturity.

- [Tristan] What symptoms do we look for?

- A high pulse and a discolored membrane.

- And if we need further confirmation.

- Best thing is to listen to its gut.

- Give that man a coconut!

(soldiers laughing) - I think Mrs.

Hall's grown a lot in happiness.

- Violet Creams.

- You're spoiling me.

(Gerald laughing) - [Anna] We've seen some difficult things in her life get resolved, and she counts her blessings.

She knows where she's been lucky in life, and I think that's lovely that we've seen that forward's motion for her.

(gentle music) - [Mrs.

Hall] Edward?

(tense string music) - [Edward] Aye.

It's me.

(Mrs.

Hall sobbing) - Merry Christmas... son.

Where are you?

- I think Siegfried's sort of become more himself.

The sharp bits have got sharper, and the soft bits have got softer, and I like that.

- [Siegfried] What are you implying?

I'm known for my patience.

(horn honking) Get out of the way!

(glass smashing) Oh, blast it!

What's this?

It's empty!

I grow tired of endlessly clearing up after you all!

- [Samuel] He's always been quite a deep, complex person.

I was always drawn to that.

And his backstory makes so much sense.

That's a gift to an actor.

- [Siegfried] I told Evelyn that I... wasn't ready for children.

(laughing) What kind of father would I be?

The, the notion was absurd.

She didn't understand.

She saw something in me I... I didn't see.

- [Samuel] I've never played a character for this long.

It's like I know this person.

I know what he would do.

It's like putting on a really comfortable pair of shoes.

(cheeky orchestral music) "For if they fall, the one shall lift up the other."

(cheeky music continuing) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] Another place that always lifts us up are the stories at Heston Grange.

(whooshing sound) (sheep bleating) - [Helen] Jenny-- get yourself up to the house!

Your homework needs doing!

- [Narrator] When we're not spending time with Helen's newfound family at Skeldale House, over the years, we've spent a lot of time with her blood relatives at the Heston Grange farm.

- [Hugh] The lawyers have... added Helen's and Jenny's names and... specified that they'll inherit the lease on the same terms.

That's assuming that they want to continue farming.

- That's wonderful!

Thank you.

- Thank you, Hugh.

(uplifting orchestral music) (birds chirping) - It's very good of you.

- [Narrator] Helen's sister, Jenny, is played by Imogen Clawson and her father, Richard Alderson, is played by Tony Pitts.

- What do you think we should do, Dad?

- [Richard] I think final decision's got to be yours, Love.

If it don't sit right with you... we'll manage well enough without.

- [Rachel] I'd describe Helen as a modern woman in 1937.

She's had a lot to deal with.

Mum passed away.

She's, you know, looks after her dad.

She looks after the farm.

She looks after her younger sister, Jenny.

She's almost become a mother figure to Jenny.

- In a few months' time, you'll have your very own pony.

- [Helen] Lucky girl.

(birds chirping) Candy were our mum's.

- [Jenny] Yeah, sort of like the next generation.

- [Rachel] What's really lovely about the Jenny and Helen stuff is Rachel and Imogen's relationship has matured as well.

- [Helen] What do you think we should do?

(birds chirping) - Why are you asking me?

(birds chirping) - 'Cause I want to know what you think.

- [Rachel] Helen knows that the farm is being taken care of by Jenny Alderson because (laughing) she is so capable.

I was gonna say Richard, but I-- it's gonna be Jenny.

- [Jenny] Boots off!

I'll not have you making this into a pigsty.

(Jenny's footsteps) I've fed Scruff.

I'll check Joan over and put in some fresh straw for Candy.

- [Rachel] Helen has left Heston Grange to move into Skeldale, and it was a big deal for her, stepping away from Heston Grange, leaving her sister and her dad, and there's been moments throughout this series, which have been really nice, where she's kind of missed things at home actually.

- [Helen] Jenny?

- I've left school.

- What do you mean, you've "left"?

- Well, I'm allowed now.

- It was a decision that Jenny made that Helen really would've been in on had she have been there, and she felt, "I've missed something important."

- [Helen] The truth is, you've always been a farmer.

A truly excellent one.

- No, I haven't.

- Yes, you have.

(breeze blowing) (cow mooing) - Well... if I've been any good at anything, it's all been down to you.

- Helen's gone from being her sort of mother figure to her friend.

It's been a joy to play.

- What's it feel like?

- Like I've eaten all the pies in Yorkshire.

It's exciting... but terrifying.

- Well, I can't wait to be an auntie.

- There was one scene we were doing recently in Heston 'round the dinner table, and, for some reason, I said "Tony" instead of "Richard" to Tony Pitts, who plays Richard Alderson.

I really said, I said, "Oh, come on Tony... (laughing) ...ah, Richard."

- You can tell by looking at him.

He's got farmer's hands.

(Jimmy crying) - [Helen] All right, that's enough!

- [James] The brains of a vet.

- Both of you, that's enough.

- [Richard] He'll be a farmer.

- It says, "and son" - James.

- on the bag.

- "Alderson's Farm," it says!

- Both of you!

He's a baby!

Not wishing his life away.

As long as he's happy and healthy, that's all any of us could want, isn't it?

- [Richard] He'll be a farmer.

- [Helen] Dad!

- [Narrator] Regardless of what he wants his grandson Jimmy to be later in life, Richard is always looking out for his two daughters.

(serene orchestral music) - Ah, don't wait up.

- Look after James.

- Don't you misbehave either.

- Right.

You two be careful up on that roof, and you, steady with my ale.

- Finding those moments for Helen and Jenny were easy because it wasn't a huge departure from what we were really doing.

Our relationship in real life is like that.

- [Helen] He's not the only one who's growing up 'round here either.

- I know.

- You're a proper mum now.

- I meant you.

(Jenny snorts) - [Rachel] Having that sort of anchor point on top of the roof looking over Heston is perfect 'cause it's sort of removed from the busy world, and you've got actually a bird's eye view so you can quite literally see clearly up there, and it's beautiful.

I look out, and I sort of imagine scenes in Helen's life playing out.

- [Helen] Mum's everywhere here.

(birds chirping) Always will be.

- [Rachel] As you're up there, you can see all the history, and so it's easy to get into those emotional moments.

Imogen's such a joy to act alongside.

She brings a real truthfulness to it.

(wistful piano music) - [Helen] I might be a mum, (wistful music continuing) but I were your sister first (wistful music continuing) and I won't stop worrying about you.

(wistful music continuing) - (chuckling) I've noticed.

(music concluding) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] And over the years, we've noticed that this special Heston Grange location has become very meaningful.

Let's visit the Yockenthwaite roof.

(bright string music) - [Nicholas] Hello, I'm Nicholas Ralph and I play James Herriot in "All Creatures Great and Small," and welcome to Yockenthwaite, one of our very special filming locations, one hour outside of Harrogate.

We're here to talk about very special filming location, which is the Yockenthwaite barn, and more specifically the roof of the barn.

So the barn here and the roof in particular is very special to the show.

There's been a couple of key scenes that have happened here, especially one for James and Helen.

The roof of this barn is where James and Helen had their first kiss.

- [James] You were right.

I get it now.

I'm sorry about... (hand patting) (gentle orchestral music) - [Nicholas] And here we have the back of the barn.

We had harnesses on and there was guys down here holding the harnesses as we sat here.

- Behind us is usually about five or six big burly men just really sort of grab you should you fall forward.

So that's the realities of that very romantic scene.

- [Nicholas] When we were doing the dialogue, you had this in the background.

And then for the drone shot, when it panned out, you had the front.

(gentle music continuing) It really is one of those locations where you can shoot in 360 degrees.

- [Helen] This was my mum's favorite spot, up here on this roof.

(birds chirping) We used to come up here at lunchtime and eat our sandwiches.

(water flowing) And she'd point out different parts of the farm and tell me, "That's where you scraped your knee, trying to jump over the bales."

(chuckling) - [Nicholas] They have a little bit of a heart-to-heart, Helen manages to open up to James and it's a beautiful, stunning, lovely moment between them.

- [Rachel] We felt like the audience were going, "Yes, come on, these two got to get together."

- [Helen] "And that spot, there.

(gentle music continuing) (birds chirping) that's where I told your dad I were pregnant with you.

(birds chirping) And his grin filled his whole face."

- [Helen] We'd sort of blocked out what we wanted it to be like and then on the day, it was raining, as it does in Yorkshire all the time.

- [Nicholas] However, about 90 minutes before the end of the day, as we are rolling up to film the scene, I'm not joking, the clouds parted and the sun streamed in.

(romantic string music) (birds chirping) We got our harnesses on, we got up onto that roof, and we managed to film the scene in the golden hour with a drone shot on this stunning landscape out here in the wild Yorkshire Dales.

(romantic music continuing) (whooshing sounds) - [Narrator] As we say "Cheers to the Years," we decided to ask the cast about their most memorable scenes.

- Morning, Colonel.

No Pandhi today?

- [Merrick] You're a vet, Farnon.

- Absolutely my favorite scene in all six years is the exploding cow.

- [Siegfried] Right!

(clapping hands) This is where we go in.

I hope you aren't squeamish, it's not for the fainthearted.

- [Callum] The scene for some reason that is really jumping into my head is this scene with an actor, James Fleet, who played a character called Colonel Merrick.

He's sort of been a bit annoying towards Siegfried.

- [Merrick] Farnon, what was it you said?

"The finest vet in the district?"

You're putting on a right show now.

- [James] Siegfried, do you not think the good colonel could benefit from seeing some of your handiwork up close?

- [Samuel] You puncture a cow's stomach and its sprays green slime over me and Cal and Nick and James Fleet.

(splashing) (Tristan groaning) (cow mooing) - [Callum] I remember James Fleet, this celebrated actor, just... (laughing) just this stomach exploding into his face, and the gunk going underneath his eyelids and him having to get like a saline thing into his eyes to wash them out.

And then afterwards going, "That was brilliant.

I hope I come back for the next series."

And we were like, "What?

Have we not put you off?"

And we didn't, at all.

- Farnon, what the...?

- [Siegfried] It's Mr.

Farnon, and my bill will be in the post.

- [Samuel] And then at the end, we just go, "Well, I think that went rather well, didn't you?"

(laughing) And it always makes me laugh.

- [Siegfried] Well, I thought that went rather well.

- Mm, absolutely.

- Quite the show.

- Textbook.

- I certainly love watching the episodes because then you see all the bits that you weren't in.

- [Rachel] I really like watching the stuff that I'm not in, and actually, sometimes on purpose, I don't read any of the other stuff.

I like watching it as a viewer, so I'd just stick to sort of my own storyline and then let that be a surprise when I watch it.

- [Edward] Mother?

- Edward.

- [Rachel] Season Three, Episode Five, at the train station where Mrs.

Hall's reunited with Edward.

That to me is a standout.

- I love you more than anything in this world, Edward.

You need to know how much you mean to me.

- [Rachel] It was perfectly written.

It was done with such delicacy.

Performances were great and it looked fantastic.

- [Mrs.

Hall] Edward Hall... (poignant piano music) I've always seen the good in you.

- The event episodes are always really fun, so whether it's a fair or the cricket week, you have all the cast, lots of supporting players and guest artists that we have.

And when you just get a big team together like that, I just think it's always just so worth it.

- [Siegfried] Here he is!

- Hello.

- An hour to play and the last man in.

(James chuckling) - Weirdly, what comes to mind, is the dead budgie and then Tristan pretending it hadn't died.

(cloth unfolding) - It's not what it looks like.

- Is it a dead budgie?

- Yes.

- Then it's exactly what it looks like.

- [Narrator] We caught up with Callum Woodhouse on the set of Skeldale House.

- This is Exam Room One.

I've taken out the cage and the budgie is meant to have a heart attack.

I put him in this drawer here.

Safety pins now.

God, imagine if the budgie was still in there.

(drawer opening) - You weren't supposed to see that.

(drawer closing) - [Callum] When I start giving it CPR, which I sort of improvised on the day, which made Brian Percival, the director, like howl-- I think he actually ruined one of the takes from laughing when I did it.

- [Tristan] Oh, God.

- Something the matter, dear?

- Tractor driving, I remember that being a challenge and loving doing that.

- [Tristan] Can I have a go?

I always wanted to drive a tractor.

- I wouldn't.

(distant bird calls) - I won't.

- [Anna] We had a big old, 'round the house argy-bargy, and they were really fun scenes to do.

When she calls him by his full name, those scenes are always good.

If the Siegfried Donald Farnon comes out... (laughing) it's, it's usually a good scene.

(door opening) - [Mrs.

Hall] Siegfried Donald Farnon.

(door opening) - I've no doubt there's a very simple, logical explanation.

- [Nicholas] The James and Helen stuff is just wonderful for the first few series, the first time that they say, "I love you" out in the middle of the Dales... - [James] I'm not afraid to say it.

(birds chirping) (wistful piano music) - Say what?

(wistful music continuing) - I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

Here, in the Dales.

(wistful music continuing) - I'm not afraid either.

- My favorite episode is the Christmas special from Series Three-- the one where Tristan sort of leaves for war.

(envelope smacking) - [Siegfried] This came for you this morning.

You're still in a reserved occupation.

You don't have to go.

- Yes I do.

- [Callum] They have this... heart-to-heart.

They say, "I love you" to each other for the first time.

- You're my little brother.

If anything happened to you, it would be the end for me.

I'd die if I let anything happen to you.

I bloody love you, you damn fool.

- [Samuel] I think the simplest lesson that Siegfried learns in the Season Three finale is, if you love someone, set them free.

We loved each other and both went off knowing that, and that was important.

- (clearing throat) Suppose this is it.

(poignant piano and string music) (embracing) (poignant music continuing) Are, are we huggers now?

- [Siegfried] Yes, we bloody well are.

(poignant music continuing) (inhaling deeply) I'm so damn proud of you.

- [Callum] Tristan leaves in the exact same way that he arrives three seasons ago.

That's maybe my favorite episode.

(door clanging shut) - Tristan!

(piano and string music swelling) (whistle blowing) (Siegfried chuckling) (poignant music continuing) (train chugging) (poignant music swelling and concluding) (Siegfried sighing) (bright piano and string theme) - [Narrator] When we return, we'll discuss the cast's favorite toast from the series.

We'll spend some time in the kitchen with Anna Madeley, also known as Mrs.

Hall, and the talented chef who makes all the food Mrs.

H serves in Skeldale house.

You won't want to miss that, and much more, in "All Creatures Great and Small: Cheers to the Years!"

- [Narrator] Welcome back to "All Creatures Great & Small: Cheers to the Years!"

Coming up, we'll hear from the cast and crew about how they've built a family over the years of creating the show.

We'll also spend some time in the kitchen with Mrs.

Hall and the real chef who makes all the on-camera food.

But, first, as we say, "Cheers to the Years," let's discuss our favorite toast.

(whooshing sound) (festive orchestral music) (glass clinking) - A toast.

- May I raise a toast?

- This calls for a toast.

- My favorite toast throughout all the years 100% has to be "Merry Bloody Christmas!"

- Merry Bloody Christmas.

- Merry Bloody Christmas.

- Merry Bloody Christmas.

- It's times like this... which remind me how grateful I am... for everything I have.

(soaring orchestral music) - [Narrator] Of course, everyone's favorite toast comes from the Season One finale.

- [Siegfried] Well, there's that.

(soft string music) So... Uh, well... (string music continuing) Merry Bloody Christmas.

(string music continuing) - [All] Merry Bloody Christmas!

- It's the best!

You can't have Christmas without it.

- [All] Merry Bloody Christmas!

(glasses clinking) - [Narrator] It's now become a favorite expression for everyone to say.

- [Samuel] My children are quite good at saying "Merry Bloody Christmas."

(chuckling) - I guess the only thing left to say... is Merry Bloody Christmas.

(James chuckling) - [All] Merry Bloody Christmas!

(Mrs.

Hall chuckling) (uplifting orchestral music) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] Of course, right after any given toast, the cast digs into the delicious food on the Skeldale table.

Let's spend some time in the kitchen with Mrs.

Hall.

(whooshing sounds) - Dinner is served.

(festive orchestral music) - [Siegfried] Oh, Mrs.

Hall!

(all fawning and chuckling) You've outdone yourself.

(uplifting string music) - [Narrator] We took a moment with Anna Madeley, who spent some time with Bethany Heald, the chef who makes all the food that appears on camera for "All Creatures."

- Truth is, you're our real Mrs.

Hall, aren't you?

'Cause I don't actually cook anything-- spoiler.

- You mean you don't create all of the meals (Anna laughing) that they're eating?

- You really didn't need to do all of this.

- [Mrs.

Hall] Your birthday only comes around once a year.

Just eat up, and then you can get out from under me feet.

- [Anna] Lots of viewers have said to us that they... get quite hungry from watching the show, (Bethany laughing) 'cause they enjoy... what you've cooked on it.

- [Bethany] That was nice to hear.

- [Tristan] Something smells delicious.

- This looks delicious.

- It looks tremendous.

- [Anna] Do you do anything to the food to make it... look different?

- I try not to, I mean there might be a little brush of oil or a spritz, and then we've got the special effects guys who come and add steam.

- When opening the oven door- - Steaming... it can (making whooshing noise) - [Bethany] ...billow out.

(pan bottom scraping) - Oh, what a treat!

Thank you, Mrs.

Hall.

- [Anna] How do you... manage to know how much to cook for us?

- We kind of work it out on rehearsal, don't we?

So, um... I'll have enough prepared for some of everything, and then, when... - Once we've rehearsed it- - when you've rehearsed it, Then I'll go away and cook the vast amounts of... toast, or whatever it is.

- I can't believe what you've pulled off here, Aud.

If it were me, I'd have told Tris he could have a cold buffet and count himself lucky.

- Oh, the cooking's no trouble, all the other madness... - You don't know what somebody's gonna decide to eat.

It might be a sausage, it might be black pudding, it might be toast.

So you need to have enough of everything.

- [Mrs.

Hall] We don't know who is coming.

Better to have too many than too few.

- [Bethany] If it's... a food scene before lunch, then everyone nails all the food.

(Anna chuckling) Whereas, if it's just after lunch, there might be a bit of... just picking at the last little... - [Anna] Picking after... - [Bethany] bit of toast.

- [Anna] Well, sometimes people say, "I'm not gonna have a big lunch 'cause I know we're having breakfast."

- Oh, really?

(both chuckling) - So that happens too.

- Well, Mrs.

Hall, this is certainly... a lot of food.

(silverware clanking) - Well, you've been hard at it all day-- I expect you've worked up an appetite.

(James snickering) - [Callum] There's an episode where... Mrs.

Hall has cooked the biggest Sunday dinner of all time, and neither Siegfried and James can eat it.

And Tristan comes home and he looks at Siegfried and he says, "I'd do anything for you, Siegfried," and then he just gets to work.

- [Tristan] Gentlemen, never fear... (unbuckling belt) (sighing) Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Anything to help you, Siegfried.

- [Callum] We had Andy Hay directing it, and he just put a camera on my face, and I was like... I got to the point where I looked like, sort of like a squirrel, sort of like taking nuts somewhere, like, my cheeks were so big.

And then he was like, "Now a full roast potato," and it just made me laugh, and all the food came, came flying back out.

- Anything I can do to help?

- Mm, stay out the way, and don't touch anything.

- Understood.

(pan banging) - [Bethany] We obviously have a prep kitchen, because ov- the oven doesn't work- - [Anna] On account of you can't- - [Bethany] Yeah.

- [Anna] wash or cook anything ... in it.

(both laughing) - So, yeah, things... magically appear from the, um... the kitchen around the corner.

- Well, you can take them sausage rolls through for me, would you, James?

(festive string music) There's a good lad.

- She cooks in here at the table as everybody's eating quite often, doesn't she?

- I say, Mrs.

H, it smells marvelous!

- It really does.

- Yes, well, it's just bread and cheese for now, so hands off.

- [Anna] You'd need to buy everything on a daily basis, that was sort of fresh produce.

There's no fridge in the house.

- [Bethany] No.

- [Anna] So pies were a great way of things lasting.

- [Mrs.

Hall] I shouldn't be late, but there's a pie in the oven, just in case.

- Thank you very much.

- [Samuel] I think Mrs.

Hall's black pudding... is always delicious.

- [Siegfried] This is Mrs.

Hall's domain.

Cooks a mean black pudding.

Makes it herself, you know, place looks like an abattoir afterwards.

- [Narrator] Black pudding is a distinct dish from the United Kingdom, similar to blood sausage.

- [Samuel] A good black pudding is not like anything else.

The problem is when you have to do 20 takes.

So I generally don't have breakfast.

- I'm off to the butcher's.

If I can get a decent enough joint, I might try my hand at a Beef Wellington.

- Beef Wellington certainly has a major experience - Beef Wellington is the... - [Bethany] the last few years.

- ...one big dish I had a go at.

- [Anna] I had a go at home-- it took me all day.

There's a monstrous amount of sh- chopping.

But it worked, and everybody ate it, and I was really- - It is delicious.

- ...really pleased with myself.

- Aw!

(Anna chuckling) - Mrs.

Hall, thank you for making such a delicious meal, a- and beef of which Wellington would be proud.

(all chuckling) - Hear, hear!

- Hear, hear.

- I think it's the only show I've been on where everyone asks to eat the food.

(both chuckling) - That's a compliment.

- [Bethany] I want to cook food that looks real and people want to eat.

- What do we have here, Mrs.

H?

- Ah, put it back on.

- Ahh.

- Put it back on, back on.

(all chattering) - [Helen] I'll take a little dressing.

That's enough, thank you.

(whooshing sound) - [Narrator] And it wouldn't be a proper "Cheers to the Years" without a visit to the local Darrowby Pub-- The Drovers Arms.

- Can I interest you in a pint in The Drovers?

- Everyone, who wants a drink?!

- [Crowd] Yeah!

Whoa!

Come on!

- There you go.

(lively fiddle music) (stomping and clapping) (Siegfried laughing) - [Colin] Pubs in England are a glorious place where people congregate on a regular basis and talk and discuss and support each other.

- No, no more, Tom.

Look, I have plenty left here.

- Ah, it's empty.

- Which is plenty enough for me.

(laughing) - [Narrator] The recurring theme at The Drovers is a lack of funds from Tristan.

- Now you're going to have to give me some money.

- How, I just bought you a drink don't tell me you've guzzled it already.

- That'll be six shillings, exactly.

(cheeky woodwind music) (crowd murmuring) - Tristan?

- Would you mind?

I've left my wallet in my other trousers.

(background chattering) - Yes, I'm a tiny bit short.

- (scoffing) Go on.

- [Callum] Tristan is a younger man, so would probably want a bit more excitement in his life, at times.

And I think he gets that from spending so much time at The Drovers.

He'll just go there at the end of a slow working day, and just put away a good few ales.

And that's quite a perfect life for Tristan.

- [Tristan] Put your money away, James, this round's on me.

- [Nicholas] There's a big onus on people going to The Drovers to celebrate a kind of festive time together, to be as one, as part of the community.

(soaring orchestral music) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] As the show has grown and grown in popularity over the years, let's hear from the cast about some of their fan interactions.

(whooshing sounds) - [Callum] Every time I get stopped by fans of the show, it's always really, really, really lovely, because the nature of the show attracts lovely people.

- [Samuel] The Grassington days are extraordinary.

I met somebody from New Zealand.

- [Nicholas] I met people from Japan, South Africa, various places in Europe, America, Canada.

It's wonderful, the reach of the show, and it brings people into the Dales.

People's reaction to seeing me not as James has been funny.

It still takes them a minute, they're like, "God, you look so different with your jeans and your trainers on, and your- (laughing) your hoodie," or whatever it might be.

- [Anna] When we get letters from people, there are lots of different reasons in people's lives why the show has touched them, and, and that's really special to hear.

- [Samuel] We have fans all over the world drawn to it by, you know, the extraordinary tone and beauty of the books, but, on the whole, thinking that we've honored them, and that's really important.

- [Nicholas] We were out filming recently in Yockenthwaite.

They do tours out that way now, so we had about five... different little tour buses go by, and then we had this mini bus of people stop across the way.

They rack on the theme tune full volume, and they all came out and they were just da- they were dancing like this, "God, we love you guys!

You're the reason we're over here dancing in the driving rain."

And then we're like, "Oh, cool.

Where are you from?"

(laughing) They were like, "Brazil!"

(uptempo string music) - [Andy] I was in Grassington and there was, um, three generations of a family from America, and they went, "Oh, we love the program."

And that's why they were there.

They'd flown all the way as a family to be in Grassington.

The one thing they really, really look forward to is hunkering down with "All Creatures Great and Small."

It is like a big hug.

You know, there's a family that loves each other.

You know, every great drama really is about family and what a family does and how it cares for one another-- about the community that cares for one another.

- [Colin] I think this is one of those great shows-- because of these wonderful books-- that you can sit down and watch as a family.

- [Nicholas] We wanted to make a show that all the family, once again, could sit down and watch together because they felt that that had been lost a little bit.

And that's something we achieved because people not only tell us that, but they send pictures and tag us on Instagram, saying, "These are my kids and their cousins and the grandparents and the parents, all watching it together, with the animals as well.

And then people tell us you know, "It's something that we sit down with the whole family and we watch."

So it's something that's been achieved.

(soft orchestral music fading) - [Narrator] The Skeldale family sits down around the table in almost every episode, but it's the larger family of cast and crew that make this program sparkle in every episode.

(whooshing sounds) - Family is a good word for what we are and whatever that magic is, long may it continue.

- It just feels like coming back to a big family every year.

- [Tristan] As I said, the only way of surviving Siegfried is if we stick together.

- To surviving Siegfried.

- [Both] Surviving Siegfried.

(mugs clanking) (all laughing) - [Patricia] The Skeldale family lead the community and provide for the community and that feeds back in so, so many ways.

- [Mrs.

Pumphrey] I shall never forget your kindness.

(poignant orchestral music) - Merry Christmas, everyone!

- [All] Merry Christmas!

- [James Anthony-Rose] For Carmody to find this... family at Skeldale, has given him a whole sort of emotional landscape.

- [Carmody] I confess I've grown rather fond of the place.

- Skeldale tends to have that effect on people.

(birds chirping outside) - It does.

- [Rachel] It's an absolute joy to be part of this show.

We love what we do.

It's testament that the crew come back year on year.

- [Nicholas] There's a lot of the crew here that have been on it since day one, as well.

So you come back and you're like, "Hey, how you doin', Dave?

Nice to see you again."

And then you're just back into it again.

- They approach their work with diligence and with friendship and with love and I think that shows on the screen.

- I'm the grip on "All Creatures Great and Small."

- And I'm script supervisor.

- I work as the second assistant camera.

- I have done every season, every episode.

So I was here on day one, page one.

- I'm very lucky to have worked on all six series of "All Creatures Great and Small."

I've worked on the show since day one, Series One.

- There's very much a family spirit on "All Creatures."

- There's so many familiar faces, year on year, that it's, it's like a reunion every time we get back together.

- Everybody's so friendly.

The cast are so lovely.

- It's a real privilege to work on a show with such a nice atmosphere um, and a family feel.

- It's the people.

(peaceful orchestral music) I love this place.

(peaceful music continuing) It's my home now.

- [Anna] When it's hard or it's difficult, everyone works together really well.

Um, it takes real team spirit to make the show.

And we have that.

- [Mrs.

Hall] Past few weeks... been the hardest of me life.

(Mrs.

Hall exhaling) And I don't think I'd have got through them... without your kindness.

- Every year I take a photo and post it of Scene One, Take One.

And for five out of six of our seasons, it's had the same director and the same director of photography out of it.

And that in itself is just a sign of continuity and strength of our family, I think.

- [Siegfried] To knowledge, fleas... and our growing family.

- [All] Knowledge, fleas, and family.

(whooshing sound) - [Narrator] As we finish our "Cheers to the Years," the cast looks forward to how the themes of "All Creatures" will continue to entertain us.

(whooshing sound) - [Nicholas] The show has changed my life in so many wonderful, wonderful ways and every year we just get closer as a little family and it's just an absolute joy to come back and do another one.

- [Siegfried] Your return is a very welcome change, indeed, James.

- It's funny, it's moving, it's very truthful 'cause it's based in real life.

It's of another time, so it's escapist, but it's also very relatable 'cause it's human beings and how they behave.

- Well, you've earned your stripes.

Fleas tend to come with our occupation.

- Also lice and worms.

- And falling headlong in the muck.

(laughing) - [Callum] Obviously people love period dramas and people love that time, but the stories within that period drama are timeless and I think that's why people love it so much.

- Good feeling, isn't it?

- It really is.

(birds chirping) (cow mooing) - First calf.

- [Samuel] Modern life is very confusing.

It's very easy to feel that you're out of touch.

I think doing a series where people, on the whole, are connected, where they try and do their best for each other is quietly revolutionary.

- Hello, Suzie.

How you getting on with those pups of yours?

- [Anne] They're all grand.

(chuckling) First one you got out's biggest of the lot.

We named him James.

- [James] I'll have to come up and visit him.

- [Nicholas] You've got high drama, you've got romance.

It's all there, and ultimately, it's feel-good, it's uplifting and it leaves you with a smile on your face.

- [James] I love you so much.

(tender piano and string music) - I love you too.

(piano and string music fading) - [Callum] It's just about very honest and real relationships between people and I think that's why it's stood the test of time.

- You passed, little brother.

- I passed!

(laughing) - [Siegfried] Our father would be very proud of you... and so am I.

- [Rachel] The cast are... friends that I miss when we're not shooting.

So it's just a joy.

I feel incredibly lucky to be part of it.

- This is my home and you're not on the outside.

This is your home too, so you should start treating it as such.

Come here.

- [Anna] I hope we'll keep in touch over the years because we'll have a shared... memory that will be even bigger than any one of us can remember.

- [Mrs.

Hall] To things that never change.

- [All] Things that never change.

(glasses clinking) - [Anna] It's been an amazing journey, and kind of blows my mind now to think that we can look back over five years.

Everyone's children have grown up and people have got new dogs.

(crowd murmuring) - [Narrator] Each year on the last day of filming, the cast and crew of "All Creatures" get together for a group photo.

(joyful orchestral music) - Everybody's as lovely as they seemed on day one.

And the series has turned out to have all the complexity and the beauty and the simplicity that it had in the first series.

So to be allowed to do it again is just such a huge privilege.

- Cheers!

- [James] Cheers.

- [Maggie] Cheers.

(glasses clinking) - [All] Cheers!

(mugs clanking) (crew cheering) (camera flash popping) (cheering and applauding) - [Narrator] Thank you for joining us for this comprehensive look back at "All Creatures Great and Small" on MASTERPIECE.

We've heard from the cast and creators about everything they love about the show.

And we've said, "Cheers!"

to all the magic moments that have come to life from these classic James Herriot stories.

Until next time, this has been "All Creatures Great and Small: Cheers to the Years!"

(piano and string theme concluding) (bright piano and string theme) (piano and string theme concluding and fading)