All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

As a long-time fan of British television, I must say that it’s always a pleasure to see familiar faces in new roles. Patricia Hodge, with her illustrious career spanning over five decades, has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the industry. Her portrayal of Miranda, Rumpole’s wife, or even the She-Devil herself, is etched in my memory. It’s fascinating to see her bring another character to life in All Creatures Great and Small.


In the year 1941, during springtime, life is bustling in Darrowby as well as other places, in the context of All Creatures Great and Small’s fifth season.

Helen is becoming more comfortable as a mother while James is stationed at RAF Abingdon, and Mrs. Hall and Siegfried are delighting in the presence of the new addition. Meanwhile, Carmody has become an integral part of their household.

As World War II reaches its peak, Siegfried is picking up the additional responsibilities in the surgery. Meanwhile, Mrs Hall and Helen are pondering how they can contribute to the community, and Carmody is showing great enthusiasm for taking on a more significant role.

Siegfried eagerly wants everyone to return, but bringing Tristan back isn’t going to be as simple as he initially thought.

Discussing Tristan’s comeback after being absent in season 4, Nicholas Ralph expressed: “I’ve repeatedly mentioned how the show was lacking Tristan, and we were missing Callum.

I’m absolutely thrilled to have Callum back, it’s an enjoyable experience every time I work alongside him. Our shared scenes were fantastic and filled with laughter.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I couldn’t help but feel elated when I saw Tristan return. His character holds such deep meaning for countless film buffs within our community, and his presence truly added to our shared enjoyment.

Find out more about the rest of this season’s cast below. 

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

The main cast of All Creatures Great and Small is made up of the following:

  • Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot
  • Rachel Shenton as Helen Alderson
  • Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon
  • Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon
  • Anna Madeley as Mrs Audrey Hall
  • James Anthony-Rose as Richard Carmody
  • Patricia Hodge as Mrs Pumphrey
  • Imogene Clawson as Jenny Alderson
  • Tony Pitts as Richard Alderson

For more information about who the cast play and what else they’ve starred in, read on.

Nicholas Ralph plays James Herriot

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

Who is James Herriot? He’s the renowned young veterinarian portrayed by Christopher Timothy in the classic 1970s TV series. In rural Yorkshire during the 1930s and ’40s, James initially finds it tough to adjust but eventually grows fond of both the locals and the animals he cares for. At the start of season 5, James is separated from his wife and their newborn son, Jimmy (introduced in the Christmas special), as he’s stationed at an RAF training base.

Have you come across Nicholas Ralph prior to his TV debut in All Creatures Great and Small? He has a theater background, having acted in productions such as Captain Amazing, Interference, and Cinderella in theaters throughout Scotland.

Rachel Shenton plays Helen Alderson 

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

Who is Helen Alderson? She’s the resilient daughter of a local farmer who has taken on the role of raising her younger sister following their mother’s passing. Despite the challenging nature of farm life, she maintains an optimistic spirit. In the first season, she was involved in a long-term relationship with landowner Hugh, but eventually chose to pursue a relationship with James instead. The pair tied the knot in season 3 and in the 2023 holiday special, Helen welcomed a baby boy named Jimmy into their family.

Have I encountered Rachel Shenton somewhere in the past?

Samuel West plays Siegfried Farnon

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

Who does the question refer to? That’s Siegfried Farnon, a well-off but somewhat temperamental veterinarian who had little choice but to hire James Herriot as his assistant. He runs Skeldale House and its veterinary practice. Widowed, he raised his younger brother Tristan following their parents’ demise. Recently, Siegfried has taken on another assistant due to the absence of James and Tristan, which has presented a challenge for him.

Have I encountered Samuel West in any previous roles? He is well-known for his performances in period dramas, with past appearances including Mr Selfridge (portraying Frank Edwards), On Chesil Beach, the Academy Award-winning Darkest Hour (as Sir Anthony Eden). Additionally, he has been in The Crown as Anthony Blunt and Howards End. More recently, you may have seen him in The Midwich Cuckoos and Slow Horses.

Callum Woodhouse plays Tristan Farnon

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

Who is Tristan Farnon? He’s Siegfried’s younger brother, known for his profession as a vet. He was previously serving in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps but will be returning in season 5. Tristan is quite the charmer and tends to approach life with a light-hearted attitude, which often causes friction with Siegfried.

Before I encountered him in All Creatures, I had previously recognized Callum Woodhouse from another captivating period series, specifically ITV’s The Durrells.

Anna Madeley plays Mrs Hall

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

Who exactly is Mrs. Hall? She serves as the housekeeper at Skeldale House. Mrs. Hall, despite her strong-willed nature that occasionally corrects her employer, harbors a kind and compassionate heart. She usually knows what’s best, and she has a past marked by leaving an abusive relationship. Her son, Edward, is an adult and can be somewhat hard to pin down. Mrs. Hall once shared a tender romance with a man named Gerald, but he departed Darrowby to care for his ailing sister.

Have I encountered Anna Madeley in any other roles apart from the ones mentioned? Here are some TV shows where she has previously appeared: Deadwater Fell as Kate, Patrick Melrose as Cousin Mary, Silent Witness, The Crown as Clarissa Eden, Mr Selfridge as Miss Ravillious, Utopia as Anya, Anatomy of a Scandal as Ellie Frisk, and Secret Invasion.

James Anthony-Rose plays Richard Carmody

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

Who is Richard Carmody? He’s a veterinary student who stepped in to help alleviate the workload for Siegfried and James after Tristan left. As the series progresses into its fifth season, Carmody assumes greater responsibilities at his workplace.

Have you recognized James Anthony-Rose from somewhere? He’s appeared in minor roles in the Apple TV+ spy series ‘Slow Horses’ and the ITV historical drama ‘Belgravia’.

Patricia Hodge plays Mrs Pumphrey 

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

Who, exactly, is Mrs. Pumphrey? She’s a well-off resident of the area, doting mother to a pampered Pekingese pooch named Tricki Woo. In the initial season, she was portrayed by the late Dame Diana Rigg.

Have I encountered Patricia Hodge in any of her famous roles such as Miranda, Rumpole of the Bailey, Betrayal, The Life and Loves of a She-Devil or Hotel du Lac?

Imogene Clawson plays Jenny Alderson

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

Who is Jenny Alderson? Jenny is the younger sister of Helen.

Hmm, let me think… Haven’t I seen Imogene Clawson somewhere before? It turns out she played Jenny Alderson in the initial season of All Creatures Great and Small. Quite a memorable role, wasn’t it?

Tony Pitts plays Richard Alderson

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast: Meet the characters

Who is Richard Alderson? A farmer and widower, and the father of Helen and Jenny.

Have I crossed paths with Tony Pitts before? If his face looks familiar, you might know him as Hargreaves from Line of Duty, or perhaps Inspector Moss from Peaky Blinders.

Apart from that, he’s also appeared as Edgar Massinger in Jamestown, Keith Metcalfe as Wild Bill, Lennox in MotherFatherSon, Steve in Giri/Haji, Chloe’s Dad in My Mad Fat Diary, and Archie Brooks in Emmerdale on the small screen. On the big screen, he portrayed Captain Pterro in Rogue One.

Additional cast includes:

  • Samir Mahat (Sex Education) as Banerjee and Luke Hammond as Hibbert – James’s flight crew.
  • Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso) as Mr Bosworth – a colonel who’s coordinating war preparation efforts in Darrowby. 
  • Simon Paisley Day (This England) as Wing Commander Whiteley.
  • Callum Coates (Grantchester) as Medical Officer Reid.
  • Caroline O’Neill (Endeavour) as Dot Fawcett – a Darrowby local who’s recuperating from a hysterectomy. She has a black cat called Frisk. 
  • George Potts (Ackley Bridge) as Mr Edwards – a farmer.

Here are the seasons 1-4 of “All Creatures Great and Small” available for viewing on My5. On Thursday, 19th September at 9pm, you can catch season 5 on both Channel 5 and My5. If you’d like to own a copy, consider purchasing “James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small” from Amazon.

If you’re searching for other shows to watch, feel free to check out our TV Listings or browse through our collection of Drama content. To stay updated on top TV personalities, don’t forget to tune into the TopMob Podcast. Enjoy!

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2024-09-19 20:04