All Creatures Great and Small’s Siegfried sheepish after awkward James encounter

by

When Mrs. Hall came back to Skeldale House at the start of season 6 of All Creatures Great and Small, you might have expected Siegfried to finally start acting his age. It seemed like he’d been given complete freedom for the first time, like a teenager without any grown-up guidance, and it was time for that to stop.

Following last week’s incident – arriving late to a client meeting after apparently sleeping on the sofa in the same clothes he wore the day before, with a whisky bottle nearby and a woman hidden under a coat – we are sorry to report that he is repeating the behavior.

Noticing his business partner was clearly upset, he immediately turned around to ask what was wrong – and perhaps share a bit of humor. However, Siegfried, who attempted to backtrack and avoid the conversation, remained mostly unwilling to talk.

You can watch the full clip at the top of this page.

Samuel West explained that his character has been going through some changes. He said, “In the three or four years since we last saw him, he’s turned 50, and I think he’s having a bit of a midlife crisis,” commenting on the character’s behaviour before season 6.

We concluded season 5 with the sinking of HMS Repulse. Now, we’re introduced to a character whose increasingly difficult efforts to maintain Skeldale House – or, more accurately, the people living within it – have ultimately been unsuccessful, and he’s starting to lose control.

Honestly, watching him is just heartbreaking. He’s really spiraling – too much drinking, letting his work fall apart, and constantly waking up with strangers on his couch. And the thing is, being Siegfried, he absolutely refuses to admit anything is wrong! It’s like he’s terrified of being left alone, and he does actually talk about that fear – which is pretty risky for someone who can’t cope when he’s by himself. It’s almost like he sabotages things, because his actions often end up driving people away. You just want to shake him and say, ‘Get help!’ It’s a really frustrating dynamic to watch unfold.

Season 6 begins with the much-loved Skeldale group… set in 1945, right as World War II is officially ending.

According to the official description, when we return to Darrowby, we find improvements in veterinary medicine, growing families, and some new people, all hoping for a better and calmer future.

As you’d expect from All Creatures, there will be lots more touching stories about people and animals.

The sixth season of All Creatures Great and Small will be shown on Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 5. If you missed the earlier episodes, seasons 1 through 5 are currently available to stream on My5. You can also purchase James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small books from Amazon.

Read More

2025-09-30 19:04