‘All Creatures Great and Small’ recap: What happened in Season 2 Episode 1?

All Creatures Great and Small returned for a second season in the UK tonight!

Based on author James Herriot’s much-loved collection of stories, Channel 5’s popular drama series chronicles the heartwarming and humorous adventures of a young country vet in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s.

Season 2 will air in early 2022 on PBS in the US.

Watch the trailer:

 

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.

They’re joined by Miranda star Patricia Hodge as Mrs. Pumphrey, taking over the role from the late Dame Diana Rigg.

New guest stars will include James Fleet from The Vicar of Dibley as Colonel Merrick, and Dorothy Atkinson (Housewife 49) as Diana Brompton.

Here’s a plot recap for the first episode of Season 2, ‘Where the Heart Is’, which aired on Channel 5 at 9pm on Thursday 16th September 2021:

It’s spring in 1938, and three months have passed since the end of Season 1.

James’ parents are overjoyed when he’s offered a position at his old mentor’s forward-thinking practice in Glasgow.

When he returns to the Dales, James is reminded of how much he loves the place and the people – and thinks of one person who it would be worth staying in the Dales for.

Since Helen Alderson left Hugh Hulton at the altar, she has kept a low profile and James has given her the space she needed.

But the pair find themselves forced together again when neighbouring farmer Rob Benson’s sheep are in trouble.

Inspired by his time at the Glasgow surgery, James pushes Siegfried to let Tristan do more veterinary jobs so that they can take on more small animal cases at Skeldale House.

Tristan tends to a budgerigar whilst Mrs Hall uncovers a difficult truth.

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