‘All Creatures Great and Small’ Season 4 Episode 2 recap: ‘Carpe Diem’

Brand new All Creatures Great and Small continued tonight!

Based on the much-loved collection of stories by author James Herriot, Channel 5’s hit period drama follows the heartwarming and humorous adventures of a young country vet in the Yorkshire Dales.

Watch the Season 4 trailer here:

A fourth season of All Creatures Great and Small is airing in the UK at 9pm on Thursday nights on Channel 5, with six brand new episodes airing weekly.

The show returns in the US early next year on PBS Masterpiece.

American viewers can catch up on the first three seasons with this free 7-day trial of the PBS Masterpiece channel on Amazon Prime!

Here’s a clip from tonight’s ep:

As we return to the Dales in 1940 with the Second World War underway, the new season welcomes back Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot, Rachel Shenton as Helen Herriot, Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon, Anna Madeley as Mrs Hall, Patricia Hodge as Mrs Pumphrey, and introduces James Anthony-Rose as Richard Carmody.

Here’s a plot recap for the second episode of Season 4 – ‘Carpe Diem’ – which premiered on Channel 5 on Thursday 12 October 2023:

Chaos reigns in Skeldale House!

Siegfried has the bright idea of bringing in an experienced bookkeeper, Miss Harbottle, to bring method to their madness.

She’s certainly efficient, but the cracks start to show and a sick ferret puts a spanner in the works.

Farmer Dakin is very attached to his injured, elderly cow, Blossom, but Siegfried advises letting her go.

Having made a few rash decisions recently, he might have to put aside his pride as James presses him to see the truth of the situation he has created.

However misguided it might be, James and Helen take inspiration from Siegfried’s ‘Carpe Diem’ approach, and make a long-awaited decision.

All Creatures Great and Small is available to watch on PBS Masterpiece via Amazon Prime with a free 7-day trial.