It might seem strange to film a Christmas special during the summer, but Nicholas Ralph, who stars as James Herriot, and the entire cast of All Creatures Great and Small find that working on the Skeldale House set in July feels completely absorbing and realistic.
Ralph told TopMob that the set is beautifully decorated and everyone wears festive costumes, which really helps you feel the holiday spirit. Plus, they have air conditioning, so it’s comfortable even on hot days. Sometimes, the crew even gets to enjoy a Christmas lunch together, making it feel like a real holiday experience.
It’s Christmas 1945, the first one after the war, and everyone’s feeling the pressure to make it special. As Ralph explains, people want everything to be perfect after all they’ve been through.
The impact of hardship won’t disappear quickly. While Christmas brings joy, it’s important to remember that many people are still facing difficulties and experiencing sadness alongside it.
It feels genuine and avoids being overly sentimental, but it’s still full of classic Christmas spirit, fun, and playful energy.
One amusing challenge is the Nativity play. With Helen unwell, the vet has to manage the children and prepare them for the performance. (James’s son Jimmy is playing an angel who descends from “Hebden” instead of Heaven.)
Ralph describes the filming as wonderfully chaotic. The director, Andy Hay, simply let the child actors play freely, and then added animals to the scene, which made everything even more unpredictable and fun.
James was already in a difficult position because he’d promised Helen he would handle the writing, directing, and production. When I arrived, the situation was completely chaotic, so I didn’t even need to pretend to be upset – the real stress was already there.
Thinking about it reminded me of when I was a kid and played Joseph in the Nativity play. I must have been around five! I always had a knack for taking the lead, apparently. We had tea towels as headscarves, and I got to carry a little plastic hammer and saw – the acting wasn’t exactly Oscar-worthy, but we were adorable!
Even though Helen was bedridden, Rachel Shenton came back to filming. She had been absent near the end of the previous season because she was pregnant, and this time she brought her baby, Orson, with her.
Ralph said Helen’s trailer was packed with people eager to meet the actor. He was also happy to have her character back, adding that they filmed some heartwarming scenes between Helen and James that had been missing from the show.
Ralph explains that the central idea this year is love and kindness – extending to everyone, animals, and the environment around us. He believes these are timeless and important themes, and this particular instance is full of them.
You can watch seasons 1 through 6 of All Creatures Great and Small on Channel 5. The book series by James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small, is also available to purchase from Amazon.
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2025-11-24 21:24