All Creatures Great and Small is not merely about a family. The books by James Herriot – in real life, the vet Alf Wight - and the TV series are the embodiment of a sense of family and a love of landscape.
A new book Celebrating All Creatures Great and Small - For the Love of the Yorkshire Dales, reviewed in this month's Yorkshire Life magazine, does exactly what it says on the cover with photographs of James Herriot’s much-loved landscape and stories of people – real and fictional – embedded in this beloved stories of a vet’s life.
The stories written by Alf Wight fictionalised his working life as Thirsk-based vet and his James Herriot became a household name.
The BBC series of All Creatures was first broadcast in 1978 with its cast of Christopher Timothy as James, Robert Hardy as Siegfried, Peter Davison as Tristan, Carol Drinkwater and then the late Lynda Bellingham as Helen.
Sir Colin Callender – the CEO of Playground, the production company behind the series – was another. He remembers how it made him feel when the idea for this new version came along.
‘I thought we could bring this back to life,’ says Sir Colin, ‘and entertain in the way that the BBC series had done, but for a contemporary audience.
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Ben Vanstone was appointed lead writer of the show for series one to three. As a lad, he’d sit enchanted as he watched the BBC’s adaptation of All Creatures.
‘I suppose it was one of the first shows that I remember as a kid,’ he recalls. ‘Watching with my family on a Sunday night.’
Samuel West, too, enjoyed the series and loved the books. Although Rachel Shenton hadn’t seen the first series – ‘it was a bit before my time’ – her mum was ecstatic when Rachel landed a key role in this show.
Jill Clark, who, with her son Dean, trains the animals for the show describes herself as ‘a devoted fan’ of Herriot.
‘I read all of the books, and years ago I was one of the millions who watched the series. What really appeals to me is the compassion James Herriot showed towards the animals he was working with. He was down-to-earth and, in fact, similar to my own vet.’
Mark Atkinson, who, with his son Ben, trains the horses for the show, is also a huge fan of Herriot.
Then there is the family of Alf Wight, his children Jim and Rosie and their families. They are a part of the production, sharing insight that has been valuable to the writers, the cast and the producers. At the first meeting with the members of the ensemble cast, Jim gave a copy of his biography, The Real James Herriot, to each of them – an especially helpful guide for the actors as they prepared for their roles.
Jim reads the scripts in advance so he can offer advice and spot howlers.
The stand-in vet
During filming, the on-set vet is Andy Barrett, who worked with Jim Wight and his father as well as Donald and Brian at 23 Kirkgate. Andy is also a stand-in for Nick Ralph – when you see a close-up of Nick’s hands during a difficult procedure they belong to Andy.
In Herriot’s books, we see Helen through the eyes of James and how he felt about her, but we don’t see life from her perspective. The story within the new series needed to appeal to a modern-day audience, with well-rounded, multifaceted, strong female characters.
‘Through them I gained an insight; they were just short anecdotes, but they left me feeling as if I’d peeped behind the curtain. I could understand Helen. Rosie said that if there was ever going to be a cheeky joke in the house, it’d always be Joan who told it. That sort of anecdote is helpful because it brings Helen alive for me.’
Often the animals are also members of the family. Being a veterinary practice, Skeldale frequently has animals for a sleepover, but the four-legged residents are Jess – Mrs Hall and Jess have long chats when they’re alone together in the kitchen – and the abandoned Springer Spaniel Dash. Not forgetting Siegfried’s pet rat and office companion, Vonolel.
Tricki is played by Derek, who is a natural and regarded as ‘a real pro’ by Patricia Hodge, who plays Mrs Pumphrey.
Derek is, she says, ‘very, very sweet-natured. Pick him up and tickle his tummy and he purrs like a giant cat.’ Nicholas Ralph is adamant: ‘You’re never going to win a scene when Derek’s in it.’ Derek’s owner is Jill Clark, who says that, just like the character he plays on screen, Derek is extremely spoiled. He might not be on a diet of Fortnum’s goodies, but Derek does have his own special gadgets and luxuries. ‘He has a big hairdryer – it’s like a leaf blower – which I use after he’s had a bath,’ says Jill. ‘It gets out the undercoat and dries him very quickly. He also has his own little leather sofa. But that’s how it should be – he’s such a sweetheart.’
Jackie Smith, Production designer, talks of Skeldale House having a kind of buttery warmth to it, almost inspired by home baking. ‘I used an analogy of a fat rascal, which is a large Yorkshire scone made with currants and cherries, almonds on top. It’s utterly delicious and served with butter and jam and could be eaten on its own. Go past Bettys in Harrogate and you’ll see plenty of fat rascals in the window.’ A fat rascal sums up Skeldale House – warm, super-saturated colours, much like Ros Little’s costumes for the show.
Rachel Shenton talks of going above and beyond to get the fabric and the DNA right and of how she loves the way the set – carefully plotted and planned and adorned with artifacts from the World of James Herriot – has a feeling of familiarity. ‘When I first emerged in my costume it was like being transported back in time. With the late thirties all around me, I couldn’t help but feel I’d stepped into that era.’
Off set, cast and crew are fed by Yorkshire-based location caterers Daru TV and Film, which is run by Danny Janes and Russ Kellet. The ensemble cast’s WhatsApp group messages often focus on the Daru’s daily offerings, which include afternoon tea.
The chocolate brownies are especially popular. Nick Ralph and Rachel Shenton can’t resist these particular treats, but to keep the calories down and alleviate the guilt they share one brownie between the two of them
Samuel West says, ‘I rather like black pudding, but I did one day forget not to have breakfast when we were shooting a breakfast scene.
I had to do about seventeen takes of eating black pudding, at the end of which I had turned into one.’
(If you are a black pudding devotee and find yourself in Thirsk's Kirkgate, check out Johnson’s, the butcher’s shop. The Wights tended to buy their meat
from Pattison’s and Lee’s.)
Yorkshire pudding. As we all know, a batter made of eggs, milk, flour and a pinch of salt is cooked in the oven until nicely inflated, golden and crispy. Traditionally, Yorkshire puddings are served with roast beef, though it’s a comforting accompaniment to most roast meats or game. With hot gravy poured into the hole of the pudding, it’s fantastic.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was especially keen on a Yorkie with her Sunday lunch after church (she liked the well-done, slightly crispy end slice of the joint).
Yorkshire pudding is so intrinsic to the region’s culture that Herriot could not avoid mentioning it, even if his first reference is not complimentary of either the savoury dish or the region from which it takes its name.
He writes of how, before coming to Darrowby, he had never been to Yorkshire but had always imagined the county to be ‘stodgy and unromantic like its pudding’ (though as he makes that initial bus journey towards the Pennines, he is soon captivated by the landscape).
In the run-up to the first series, Ros Little, the series' costume designer, considered Anna Madeley’s character of Mrs Hall and what she would have worn on a housekeeper’s salary.
‘We tried a variety of colours and came up with some that looked very good on Anna,’ says Ros, ‘but we all concluded that she had to look like a member of staff rather than a woman of the house. She had to look plain and a little bit intimidating when James first meets her.’
So, Anna was given a limited wardrobe and a work look – after all, she is an employee at Skeldale House. Ros adds: ‘We also talked about her being buttoned-up. Day in, day out, we see her in that cardigan, and it’s been mended several times, which is perfect – she’d have darned her own clothes. For a special occasion she breaks into colour and has a beautiful hand-knitted maroon cardigan. She has a range of overalls and floral aprons, which Anna loves.
Anna says that ‘it’s more about pinny on, pinny off’, and she was delighted by Ros’s suggestion of the ‘lovely old cardigan’.
‘We stick to that strong and important sense of homemade,’ she adds, ‘and Ros has the knowledge and experience to achieve that
Drone camera captures a scene at Broughton Hall near Skipton with James arriving at Mrs Pumphrey's (Image: a)
Rosie Page: Watching mum and dad get married
'This new series of All Creatures is an adaptation and does not closely follow the stories in the Herriot books. But the ethos is right, the acting and production are superb, and we see it as sitting comfortably and respectfully alongside the books and the first series. Jim and I read the scripts, and at times give advice to help with the authenticity. The producers and cast are always extremely gracious to us and seem to welcome our input.
We were invited to watch the filming of ‘our parents’ getting married in a beautiful little church in Wharfedale – a surreal experience! I have had several Mums and Dads in film, theatre and TV. The early ones were, indeed, a few years older than me, while my new ‘parents’, Nick and Rachel, could be my grandchildren! Jim and I like them both very much. Nick has a head start with his Scottish accent, which is so similar to Dad’s.
Rachel looks like old photos of Mum and contacts me occasionally to ask about her. Once she asked me if they would use endearments; they very much did not. Sometimes Mum would call the dog ‘darling’, and Dad would answer, ‘Yes, dearest?’, knowing fine well it was not him she was addressing.'
Jim Wight, the son of Alf Wight reflects on a vet’s life in Yorkshire during his dad’s time.
‘It was a tough life. It still is I think. I remember cars. No brakes, no heater. In winters – and they were proper winters – I don’t know how the hell he did it, having to drive up to the Dales. An hour’s drive in sub-zero temperatures, and he used to arrive at the farms stupefied with cold. That was his word – stupefied. Before he could even function, he’d have to go into the kitchen to thaw out. The farmers were all right. They’ve got layers of coats on and have been mucking out and exercising and milking cows. But the poor old vet has to stand there with syringes, testing for TB.
Money? He had nothing. Donald paid him a share of the takings with TB testing, but that’s all he got. So, he had to do it. And in fact, when he made money as James Herriot – ’cause he were never a greedy man – I said to him: ‘You were never interested in money, were you?’ And he said, ‘I was once. When I didn’t have any.’
This new series of All Creatures Great and Small has encouraged a new generation to enjoy the works of James Herriot. It has also done an enormous amount to promote the Herriot name, which for many years has been a force for good. For decades it has helped tourism. Now it also helps small local charities of which he would hugely approve.
Herriot Hospice Homecare has opened a new hospice in Thirsk called Herriot Hospice at The Lambert, and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust now has a James Herriot Plantation in Dad’s Alf’s favourite dale, Swaledale. ‘He would be so proud’, says Rosie.
It’s 25 years since the opening of The World of James Herriot in Thirsk, dedicated to the author, his books, the two films, the original BBC series and this most recent adaptation.
For many years number 23 Kirkgate was the veterinary practice at which Alf worked and the home he shared with Donald Sinclair. Donald’s younger brother, Brian - the inspiration for Tristan - had yet to qualify and lived there.
Herriot fans from across the world come on a pilgrimage to visit this museum, ground floor of which has been loving restored to its former self, a replica of what was once the real life Sinclair-Wight veterinary practice.
It helped to inspire the set of Skeldale, the fictional practice and the place where Siegfried, Tristan, Mrs Hall and James (and later Helen) live together, which was designed by Jackie Smith and built inside a disused mill. Jackie has borrowed items from the museum to use as props for her set.
Visitors to the museum and to the set can almost smell Mrs Hall’s freshly baked scones or the waft of the crackling logs on the fire in the sitting room and perhaps get a whiff of smoke from Siegfried’s pipe and hear his voice bellowing ‘Door!’ or ‘Phone’s ringing!’
The set and the World of James Herriot feature a Bakelite telephone – the sort that was common in the 1930s – and on it is written the number: Darrowby 2297. This was the telephone number for the real Sinclair-Wight practice.
A celebration gala dinner in October marked the anniversary.
worldofjamesherriot.com
Celebrating All Creatures Great & Small, by James Steen. Michael O'Mara Book, £25
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