In All Creatures Great and Small season 6, Mrs Hall and Siegfried’s relationship remains as complex as ever

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The charming world of All Creatures Great and Small has some constants you just can’t imagine changing. It’s unthinkable to picture Siegfried and Tristan getting along for more than a few minutes, Mrs. Pumphrey without her dog Tricki, or Skeldale House without Mrs. Hall bustling around inside.

When season 6 begins, Skeldale House is a complete disaster, as if hit by a hurricane. This strongly suggests something terrible has occurred: Mrs. Hall is gone.

Four years after the Christmas special, we find out the housekeeper left Darrowby to go to Sunderland and look after her son, Edward. He had been seriously injured when the ship he was serving on was attacked and sunk.

When her granddaughter arrived, she immediately decided to stay, and several years flew by. Eventually, her family in Skeldale all felt it was best for her to be with her loved ones.

Although it wasn’t unexpected, her leaving had really affected Siegfried. Since she’d been gone, Skeldale had deteriorated so much it was barely habitable, even for the farm animals, let alone its residents.

By the start of season 6, the veteran is shown starting his day disheveled and still wearing the previous day’s clothes. He’s running late, with an almost empty whisky bottle nearby. A woman is sleeping next to him, covered with a coat, while a small Shetland pony wanders around, likely searching for a treat like an apple.

Despite his efforts to appear okay, Siegfried is really struggling without Mrs. Hall. He’s been mostly living on liquor and canned sardines, and his house has been overrun by surprisingly comfortable rats.

And eventually, James and Tristan decide that they have had enough.

Completely overwhelmed by the chaos, they journeyed northeast to retrieve Mrs. Hall before Siegfried lost control and did something drastic. Fortunately, she agreed to return, though only for a short visit while Edward was out of town.

The three characters are caught up in a risky situation. Siegfried doesn’t know Mrs. Hall is coming, and when she arrives, he mistakenly believes she decided to visit on her own. In reality, James and Tristan have explained how bad things have become at Skeldale, prompting her visit. Discovering the truth would be deeply embarrassing for Siegfried, and eventually, he does find out.

Initially, he’s completely unaware of what’s happening. He just thinks Mrs. Hall is a visitor, and even though their first meeting is a bit strange – he’s not even sure if they’ve met before – he’s happy to see her return.

He said, “It’s good to see you again.” It wasn’t a grand gesture – he rarely showed much emotion unless he was completely overwhelmed – but their eyes met with genuine warmth.

It’s obvious Siegfried is holding back a lot. Despite his attempts to hide his emotions, it’s clear he’s deeply troubled, and those feelings are starting to overwhelm him.

That evening, a Scrabble game between them was cut short when Siegfried, losing control of his temper, sharply told Mrs. Hall that things had always been fine at Skeldale and that she had taken away their independence, especially his and his brother’s.

After Mrs. Hall points out James and Tristan’s worries about him, he angrily leaves. She then sadly decides to end her visit early.

The tense encounter left Siegfried and James feeling awkward and unable to communicate openly. Siegfried broke the silence by finally sharing his true feelings with James, not about the practicalities of running the household, but about his personal life.

He said, with a lot of pain, “She just left.” He wondered how he could have acted like everything was okay when he was clearly hurting, questioning if he was even expected to.

James tries to warn Siegfried that he’s isolating himself, but Siegfried doesn’t listen. It isn’t until he finds Mrs. Hall’s apron at home that he understands his error. He immediately rushes to the station, desperate to prevent her from leaving before he can reach her.

Siegfried arrived just in time and pleaded with her to stay, giving a heartfelt speech.

He explained they searched for someone to take his place, but it was impossible. No one else could do the job because he was unique.

We realize you need to live your own life, and we respect your choices if that means not being with us. However, we want you to know that we would prefer it if you were.

Whew! Is someone cutting onions?

They held each other tightly on the platform. Watching them, you’d easily think they were a couple, lost in a close embrace as the announcement of the war’s end came over the loudspeaker.

However, even though fans of All Creatures Great and Small have often asked for it, the show hasn’t explored that particular subject matter.

Callum Woodhouse shared with The Mirror that viewers are really rooting for Siegfried and Mrs. Hall to get together. He admitted he’s conflicted about it, feeling like Mrs. Hall is almost a mother figure to him. He’s also concerned for Sam and Anna’s relationship, and doesn’t want to see them get hurt.

Beyond feelings, there are practical concerns. While Mrs. Hall is like family, Siegfried is still her boss. A romantic relationship would likely mean she’d have to stop working for him professionally. But it’s hard to believe she’d ever truly stop taking care of the house – it’s just who she is. That would create an awkward situation if they were a couple, as she’d essentially be both a partner and a housekeeper.

Also, does the story really need to focus on whether or not these characters will become romantically involved? Creating a romantic pairing could suggest that friendships can’t be as deep, important, or long-lasting as romantic relationships, which isn’t true.

Despite the skepticism, many viewers still believe there’s a connection between Siegfried and Mrs. Hall and feel the show should delve into it. It’s easy to understand why – they often act like an old married couple, perfectly in tune with each other without even realizing it, as shown in a beautifully edited fan video.

Everyone recalls the Christmas when Siegfried was stunned by Mrs. Hall’s appearance, and there have been many other instances that seemed like playful flirting.

As a film buff, I’m totally hooked by the relationship between Siegfried and Mrs. Hall! It’s *way* more than just a boss and employee situation, that’s for sure. But honestly, after the latest episode, I’m still trying to figure out what’s *really* going on between them. There’s this undeniable chemistry, all these little glances and tense moments, but pinning down exactly what it is remains incredibly complicated.

Season 6 of All Creatures Great and Small is on Thursdays on Channel 5. You can find James Herriot’s book, All Creatures Great and Small, on Amazon.

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2025-09-26 00:49