‘All Creatures Great and Small’ Season 5 Episode 1 recap: ‘To All Our Boys’

The new season of All Creatures Great and Small has arrived on Channel 5!

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.

According to the official synopsis:

It is Spring 1941 and we return to Darrowby to find young baby Jimmy keeping our favourite Skeldale House family on their toes. Helen is getting the hang of motherhood with James away at RAF Abingdon, Mrs Hall and Siegfried are enjoying having a little one around and Carmody is now part of the furniture. With World War II now fully underway, Siegfried is taking up the slack at the surgery, Mrs Hall and Helen are considering their contribution within the community, and Carmody is eager to step up. Siegfried is keen to have everyone back, but Tristan’s surprise return won’t be quite as straightforward as he hoped. 

Watch the trailer here:

Here’s a plot recap for the first episode of Season 5 – ‘To All Our Boys’ – which premiered on Channel 5 on Thursday 19 September, 2024:

In Darrowby, Mrs Hall and Helen attend a community meeting about the local war effort. Siegfried is under pressure to keep the surgery going in James and Tristan’s absence and leans on Carmody for more help.

Meanwhile, at RAF Abingdon, James and his RAF crew prepare for an important training flight. James reassures a young crew-mate, Banerjee, that it’s natural to feel nervous. But as they’re about to take off on their flight, James is unexpectedly grounded.

James is examined by the Medical Officer who delivers some surprising and disappointing news. A concerned Helen is confused by James’ refusal to come home, but he doesn’t want to let his team down. James’ dismay only deepens when the flight he should have been piloting comes under enemy fire.

James is sent to do farm labour but steps in when a cow is having a difficult calving. James is reinvigorated, remembering his purpose as a vet. Meanwhile, Helen supports Dot Fawcett and helps solve the puzzle of her cat, ‘Frisk’. Carmody’s new surgery triage system gets him in to trouble with Siegfried and Mrs Hall signs up to help the community. James finally returns home. Everyone is overjoyed to have him home again and the family is reunited.

Where can we watch it?

All Creatures Great and Small series is a\iring weekly on Channel 5 in the UK. S1-4  are available on My 5 and are free to stream for UK TV licence payers. 

USA:  PBS Masterpiece’s All Creatures Great and Small Season 5 will hit your screens on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025.

It will be shown on PBS and streaming via PBS Passport, PBS.org and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video channel.

Canadians with PBS Passport access will also be able to watch All Creatures Great and Small full seasons online.

Season 1 is available on Netflix UK and Ireland.

Details for the Australian release are not yet available but will be shared as soon as we know more.