‘All Creatures’ reveals Season 4 hints and behind-the-scenes shake up
We’ve got some new details on the fourth season of All Creatures Great and Small!
Six new episodes of Channel 5’s popular period drama have been in production filming in Yorkshire since March.
Based on author James Herriot’s much-loved collection of stories, All Creatures Great and Small follows the heartwarming and humorous adventures of a young country vet in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s.
Last week it was officially revealed which actors will be back – and we received confirmation that the rumours of one main cast member’s departure are sadly true.
We also learned that there will be two brand new characters joining the show!
There are some changes behind the scenes too, with executive producer Ben Vanstone (The English Game, The Last Kingdom) stepping down as lead writer after three seasons.
Vanstone is currently busy with his adaptation of A Gentleman in Moscow, starring Ewan McGregor.
Replacing him on Season 4 is returning All Creatures writer Jamie Crichton, who’s also previously written episodes of Grantchester, Ripper Street, and Law & Order: UK.
His new writing team includes Helen Raynor (A Discovery of Witches, Call the Midwife) and Maxine Alderton (Emmerdale, Doctor Who).
Ben Vanstone will be back to write this year’s Christmas special, however.
“Season 4 sees Nicholas Ralph reprise his role as young country vet James Herriot, now happily married to Helen Herriot, played by Rachel Shenton,” a new official synopsis tells us.
“Samuel West returns as James’ capricious and erratic mentor Siegfried Farnon, while Anna Madeley continues as Mrs. Hall, matriarch of Skeldale House.
“Patricia Hodge also reprises her role as the wonderfully eccentric Mrs. Pumphrey, and Derek as her adored and pampered Pekingese Tricki.
“With Tristan away serving in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Siegfried and James bring in some extra hands to help around the practice.
“Neve McIntosh joins the cast as highly efficient bookkeeper Miss Harbottle, alongside James Anthony-Rose as studious undergraduate vet student Richard Carmody who arrives at Skeldale as part of his placement under the guidance of James.”
The show’s fourth season will premiere in the UK in late 2023 on Channel 5.
“All Creatures Great and Small is one of the highlights of our year and we are eager to return to the glorious Yorkshire Dales this autumn,” said Channel 5’s Drama Commissioning Editor, Paul Testar.
All Creatures Great will return in the US in early 2024 on Masterpiece on PBS.
“We are thrilled to be back in the glorious Yorkshire Dales for a fourth season of family, community and, of course, animal hijinks,” commented executive producer Colin Callender CBE.
“Our wonderful cast and crew are all delighted to be returning to adapt more of James Herriot’s joyful and life-affirming stories,” he added.
While it looks like we won’t be seeing Tristan in the next season, actor Callum Woodhouse has been filming a new movie called One of Us in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The upcoming mystery thriller sees members of a family begin dying one by one at a funeral.
Mrs Pumphrey actress Patricia Hodge can also be seen alongside Diane Keaton (First Wives Club) and singer Lulu (Ab Fab) in new British comedy-drama Arthur’s Whisky soon.
All Creatures Great and Small is available to watch on PBS Masterpiece via Amazon Prime with a free 7-day trial.