‘All Creatures Great and Small’ recap: What happened in 2021’s Christmas special?

This year’s festive episode of All Creatures Great and Small aired in the UK tonight.

Channel 5’s popular period drama is based on author James Herriot’s much-loved collection of stories.

The series chronicles the heartwarming and humorous adventures of a young country vet in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s.

Season 2 recently concluded on Channel 5 in the UK, and the six new episodes are airing very soon on PBS in the US.

Nicholas Ralph is back as James Herriot, alongside returning regulars Samuel West (Mr. Selfridge) as Siegfried Farnon, Anna Madeley (Deadwater Fell) Mrs Hall, Callum Woodhouse (The Durrells) as Tristan Farnon, and Rachel Shenton (White Gold) as Helen Alderson, with Patricia Hodge (Miranda) as Mrs. Pumphrey.

A third season of All Creatures Great and Small is set to begin filming next year.

Here’s a plot recap for this year’s Christmas special, which aired on Channel 5 at 9pm on Friday 24th December 2021:

It’s Christmas in Darrowby and Helen and James realise they haven’t agreed on where they’re spending Christmas Day.

Mrs Hall is expecting them at Skeldale and Jenny at Heston Grange, and the pair are reluctant to disappoint either of them.

The situation raises bigger questions about what their lives will look like in the future.

When a beloved local pet is taken seriously ill, Siegfried has to bring them into the practice for emergency treatment.

In the face of such an emergency, Helen ends up feeling like a spare part at the Skeldale Christmas Party.

But fellow farmer Dave Kitson could end up being the solution to Helen finding her place at Skeldale and the key to the animal’s survival.

Tristan learns that it might be time to take himself more seriously and reveals some important news.

Meanwhile, a card from James’ father asking him to phone them on Christmas Day leaves James on tenterhooks about whether he can make amends.

All Creatures Great and Small is available on DVD on Amazon.