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

The new All Creatures Great and Small aired its first ever festive episode in the UK tonight.

Based on author James Herriot’s much-loved collection of stories, the period drama series from the executive producer of Downton Abbey launched on Channel 5 this autumn.

All Creatures Great and Small chronicles the heartwarming and humorous adventures of a young country vet in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s.

The show premieres in the US next month on PBS and a second season has already been confirmed.

The Christmas special features the return of Callum Woodhouse (The Durrells), Samuel West (Mr Selfridge), Anna Madeley (Patrick Melrose) and Rachel Shenton (White Gold), alongside newcomer Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot.

Here’s a plot recap for this year’s festive episode, which aired on Channel 5 at 9pm on Tuesday 22nd December 2020:

It’s Christmas Eve and the day before Helen and Hugh’s much anticipated wedding.

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, Tristan has decked the halls with mistletoe and Mrs Hall has laid on a feast and is looking forward to her son Edward returning for Christmas.

Siegfried is delighted when Dorothy turns up and wonders if now is the time to throw caution to the wind.

As the house fills with locals James receives a call from Bert Chapman who wants help with his dog who is struggling to give birth.

James has to leave the party and is surprised when Helen asks if she can go with him to get away from all the wedding gossip.

Up at the Chapmans’, James is faced with a puppy stuck in the birth canal, and Helen sees how much he loves being a vet.

When it’s time to leave, James is horrified to discover the fog has descended trapping them high up in the Dales until morning.

James calls Skeldale and promises to get Helen back to Darrowby in time for the wedding, meanwhile wondering if he will be able to suppress his true feelings for her.

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