All Creatures Great and Small star says Rachel Shenton’s return for Christmas special was uncertain

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All Creatures Great and Small was a couple of characters short for the second half of season 6.

Once Jenny Alderson learned she’d been accepted to nursing college, she moved from the Dales to London. Her older sister, Helen, came with her and planned to stay for a few weeks to help Jenny get settled in.

Everyone was disappointed to see Helen leave, even if it was only for a little while. Rachel Shenton, however, was focused on a much more important event: the arrival of her son, Orson, born in April. This also meant she wasn’t certain she’d be able to film the Christmas special.

We were lucky enough to have her with us for about a week, and it was a wonderful time. Everyone got to meet the baby, who is just lovely. We also had some family dinners, and it was great to include Patricia and Gaia – it felt like a big, extended family gathering. It was a really good week overall.

Anna Madeley admitted it was a big challenge to get Shenton on set, considering they filmed the Christmas special in July, only weeks after she’d given birth. However, Madeley shared that they’d filmed a few scenes earlier in the series as a precaution.

We were just checking in to see how things were going. We really missed her while she was away, so it was wonderful to have her return.

This year’s Christmas special, airing on December 24th at 9pm, celebrates the first peaceful Christmas following the war. It shows the community coming together, as they always do, to support each other, according to Madeley.

People experience a range of emotions – some are struggling, others are finding comfort, and still others are overjoyed. This episode highlights how communities and friendships provide the support everyone needs during these times, offering a space for each person to cope and thrive.

Woodhouse agreed, pointing out that even though Tristan makes fun of the fake turkey they call a ‘murkey,’ the important thing is the people sharing the meal together.

We have a great turnout for the Skeldale event, which is wonderful and truly meaningful. It highlights the value of connection and community over material possessions.

So, what can you expect in the upcoming special?

Helen is unwell, so James is responsible for making sure the Darrowby Nativity play runs smoothly – a challenging task! Meanwhile, Tristan and Charlotte are becoming increasingly close.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Hall is focused on winning the darts competition at The Drovers, hoping to claim the first prize – a turkey, which is hard to come by because of the war. Back at Mrs. Stokes’ farm, Siegfried finds that Hilda the goat is, as usual, getting into trouble.

But it’s not just Hilda who is keeping Siegfried on his toes…

The vet and Mrs Hall are also caught off guard when an “old friend turns up” out of the blue.

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If you’re looking for even more to enjoy this Christmas, there’s a special hour-long documentary called All Creatures Great and Small: Behind the Magic. It features the show’s entire cast and takes you behind the scenes.

The cast is reflecting on six years of creating the hit drama series, and Graeme Hall – known as the presenter of ‘Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly’ and a professional dog trainer – has enjoyed being part of the team and seeing all the work that goes into making a show he loves, according to a description of the program.

This delightful holiday offering gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the All Creatures Great and Small series.

You can watch seasons 1 through 6 of All Creatures Great and Small on Channel 5. The book series by James Herriot, which inspired the show, is also available to purchase on Amazon.

The complete series of “All Creatures Great and Small” (seasons 1 through 6) will be available on DVD and digitally starting December 1st, released by Acorn Media International.

Don’t miss All Creatures Great and Small! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

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2025-12-09 13:36