James Herriot, under pressure from his mother to take a job on the docks, follows his dream when he is selected for an interview as a veterinary assistant in Yorkshire.
Skeldale House descends into chaos with the arrival of Siegfried's wayward brother Tristan. Helen provides James with a reason to stay in the Dales.
Siegfried hopes to bag the job of Attending Vet at Darrowby Racecourse, by buttering up the head of the race course, General Ransom.
When Mrs Pumphrey's Tricki Woo takes a turn for the worse, James takes drastic action. But things do not go to as expected. Tristan prepares to return to Edinburgh University.
It's the Darrowby Show and James is pleased as punch that he has been given the honour of Attending Vet.
James celebrates his birthday, but personal and professional worries but a dampener on the event. James and Tristan ignore Siegfried's advice and operate on a prized cow.
James is trying to bury his pain over Helen and has invited his new girlfriend Connie to the annual Skeldale Christmas party. Preparations are well under way!
Get to know the cast and creators. Savor the best moments from the first season, including Dame Diana Rigg in her final role as Mrs. Pumphrey, and look ahead to what might happen in Season 2.
It’s spring in 1938, and a trip back home to Glasgow presents James Herriot with a dilemma that will mean choosing between the people he loves when he is offered a position at his old mentor's forward-thinking practice.
With Tristan's encouragement, James asks Helen if she'd like to go to the local spring dance. But village resident Gerald's arrival with his injured dog, Rock, puts a spanner in the works. Meanwhile, Tristan worries that Siegfried is in danger of losing his edge.
The fate of a struggling young widow causes difficulties for James and Helen's burgeoning romance. Meanwhile, Siegfried has another scheme to whip Tristan into shape, and a visit from Tricki Woo causes chaos in Skeldale House.
It's an important day for Tristan in more ways than one, as he celebrates his birthday and Siegfried gives him new responsibilities as a vet. Tristan has to withstand the pressure and succeed in the challenge set by his older brother before returning to Skeldale for his birthday festivities. Meanwhile, Mrs Hall reminds James that he needs to tell Helen some home truths.
When a familiar face from Helen's past returns to Darrowby, James worries that he has to vie for her attention and steps up to compete against them at Mrs Pumphrey's annual cricket match. The rest of Skeldale House are apprehensive as the game can be brutal. Siegfried tries his best to train James and get a reluctant Tristan to step in, but it's not looking good for their Darrowby Eleven team.
As Chamberlain heads to meet with Hitler in Munich, James prepares to face his parents and give them some difficult news. Meanwhile, James's agenda is derailed by an emergency with the Alderson's pregnant mare, Candy.
James and Helen spend their first Christmas together, but must agree on where to spend it. Despite all seeming idyllic, the vets are troubled as Tricki Woo is sick.
It is now spring 1939 and a potential world war looms. Tristan is now a qualified vet, while James enters a new stage of his life with Helen and at the practice. After being made joint business partner by Siegfried, James pushes to take on more responsibility via the Ministry of Agriculture's new bovine TB testing scheme, but its unexpected challenges risk pushing him to breaking point.
Everyone is trying to get along as best they can in the face of changes at Skeldale House. Helen has moved into the bedsit upstairs with James.
Siegfried receives some difficult news and becomes even more irascible than usual. Helen gets a new insight into how hard James works, but feels reluctant to help him by asking her father.
Tristan decides that he is outgrowing running the small animal surgery and a shock departure from Darrowby brings James's feelings about his place in Darrowby to the surface for Helen.
Siegfried and Tristan are left in charge of Skeldale House, when Mrs Hall takes time off to meet up with an important person from her past.
Everyone at Skeldale House is pushed to think about what matters to them most when the radio reports that Britain is standing on the brink of war.
It's Christmas in Darrowby and everyone is trying to make the most of things while the world is at war. A young guest brings some wonder, mischief and cheer to Skeldale House while everyone waits for important news. When Mrs Pumphrey heralds the arrival of a kitten in need of extra care at Pumphrey Manor, James has just the person to take him under their wing. Siegfried is asked to pay a visit to an injured River just before a big race and makes an important discovery which Sebright Saunders uses as leverage to get the horse back on the racetrack
It's Easter 1940 and, with Tristan away, Skeldale House is busier than ever. Everyone looks to the future, and James tries to save a dog from its owner.
Siegfried hires an experienced bookkeeper, but her efficient approach doesn't suit everyone. James and Helen arrive at a decision, and a ferret presents a challenge for the practice.
When new vet Richard Carmody joins the practice, James feels his place by Siegfried’s side is threatened. Conflicts come to the surface at Mrs Pumphrey’s community tea party.
Helen rallies the community to help the new farmers while she waits for some personal news. Carmody meets Bernard the tortoise and tries to treat the owner too.
James prepares for his new life, but struggles to get everything in place for Helen and Skeldale House. Carmody finds his place at Skeldale, assisted by a surprising mentor.
Helen feels redundant at Skeldale, and Mrs Hall worries for Siegfried. Both women are about to learn where they truly belong...
Faced with a daunting future, James longs to see Helen, but an injured bird stands in his way. Siegfried and Carmody try to support Mrs Hall's community efforts.
The cast, crew, and locals discuss filming locations in the Yorkshire Dales for All Creatures Great and Small (2020), set there. Locations act as a third cast member, alongside human and animal actors. Some locations are shown, and crew discuss why they were chosen. Logistics include transforming them to 1930s-40s authenticity and seamless transitions. Challenges include inconveniencing residents and driving on countryside roads. Transportation infrastructure, period automobiles, footpaths, and railway stations are mentioned. An animal training center is also featured, where trainers and cast interact before filming. The show's connection to James Wight's life in Yorkshire is highlighted.
