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

"I say it every season because she always just seems to, but I was a big fan of Mrs Hall and Gerald (Will Thorp, it was very hard for me to let go of that [romance]. And then this year, Mrs Hall faces something huge that really sort of tests her mental [health]."

And of course Tristan is also set to return, but he's not the same man who left in the 2023 Christmas special.

"He's obviously seen some horrible things, which he's not talking about," said Samuel West (Siegfried). "And he's obviously masking with drink and good humour."

Tristan's comeback will also lead to some interesting exchanges with Carmody.

"It's a really fun thing to watch play out, the dynamic between them," said James Anthony-Rose. "Tristan coming home and being met by this curious character, Richard Carmody.

"They're like polar opposites in one sense, because Tristan is very good at putting a lot of energy into relaxing, whereas Carmody, I describe him as sort of like a precision tool. He puts a lot of energy into his work, and then probably relaxes by doing a little bit more hard work – whether that’s studying for these exams, or whatever it might be."

He added: "So yes, they’re positive and negative in that sense, but through a mission that they find themselves on, they are able to look past their differences."

Read more:

• All Creatures star rejects criticism story is "boring": "It’s the opposite"
• Callum Woodhouse on returning to All Creatures: 'One episode is like Breaking Bad'

But what about the show's future beyond season 5?

"We don't know anything about series 6," Anna Madeley told RadioTimes.com.

West added: "No. We’re about to have some discussions about that. I mean, one of the things that the books do is dramatise the fact that Tristan leaves. Brian, the original Tristan, left the practice. And I don't think we'll be doing that. I hope not. So at that point, I think we will be non-canonical."

Madeley continued: "Yeah, because our adaptation is so very different to both the '70s adaptation, but also how the book’s written, it's quite a different journey that we're on, even though those stories are obviously the main source of inspiration, the journey and the arc for those characters is very different. So we shall see."

West went on to say that "one of the pleasures of being in a returning series is that it feels quite like life, in that you're in it, and you try and play the part as well as possible, but you don't really know what's around the corner".

"It's not like doing a play where you know you're going to have to shoot the king in two pages," he added.

"The fact that we don't know what's coming in series six is sometimes a little bit, I wouldn't say worrying, but sometimes a little bit of a concern, but at the same time it has to contain the possibility of being surprised, just like life."

But back to the present. Find out more about the rest of this season's cast below.

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 cast

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
• Jeremy Swift as Mr Bosworth

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

Nicholas Ralph plays James Herriot

Who is James Herriot? The iconic young Yorkshire vet, played by Christopher Timothy in the original 1970s television series. Working in rural Yorkshire in the 1930s and '40s, James struggles at first to adapt, but soon finds himself won over by both the community and animals he works with. At the beginning of season 5, James is away from his wife and son Jimmy, who was born in the Christmas special, at an RAF training base, but has since returned home.

Where have I seen Nicholas Ralph before? The Scottish actor makes his television debut in All Creatures Great and Small. He's previously performed at a variety of theatres in Scotland, in plays including Captain Amazing, Interference and Cinderella.

Rachel Shenton plays Helen Alderson

Who is Helen Alderson? Helen is a local farmer's daughter who has been helping raise her little sister ever since the death of their mother. It's a hard life making a living from the farm, but Helen has a relentlessly positive can-do attitude. In season 1, she had a longstanding romance with landowner Hugh, but later broke things off to embark on a relationship with James. The couple married in the season 3 premiere and in the 2023 festive episode, Helen gave birth to a baby boy, Jimmy.

Where have I seen Rachel Shenton before? Two years ago, Shenton notably won an Oscar for Best Live Action short film, for The Silent Child. She's otherwise known for playing Anne "Mitzeee" Minniver in Hollyoaks, Joanne Scott in White Gold and Courtney in Waterloo Road. She recently appeared in Channel 5 drama For Her Sins with Jo Joyner.

Samuel West plays Siegfried Farnon

Who is Siegfried Farnon? A wealthy and capricious veterinary surgeon who – reluctantly – hired the recently qualified James Herriot to become his assistant. Siegfried is also the proprietor of Skeldale House and its veterinary practice. He is a widower, and he also raised his younger brother Tristan after the death of their parents. Siegfried has since taken on an assistant in Tristan and James's absence, which has been an adjustment for him.

Where have I seen Samuel West before? The actor is no stranger to appearing in period dramas, having previously starred in the likes of Mr Selfridge (as Frank Edwards), On Chesil Beach and the Oscar-winning film Darkest Hour (as Sir Anthony Eden). His other credits also include The Crown (as Anthony Blunt), and the film Howards End. Just this year, he has also starred in The Midwich Cuckoos and Slow Horses.

Callum Woodhouse plays Tristan Farnon

Who is Tristan Farnon? Siegfried's younger brother, who is also a vet and has been away serving in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. But he's returning in season 5. Tristan is a charmer and doesn't take life too seriously, which has led to a number of clashes with Siegfried over the years.

What have I seen Callum Woodhouse in before? Prior to All Creatures, he was best known for another period drama, ITV's The Durrells.

Anna Madeley plays Mrs Hall

Who is Mrs Hall? The housekeeper of Skeldale House. Mrs Hall is a force to be reckoned with – often putting her employer in his place – but she is kind and loving at heart, and usually knows what's best. She previously left an abusive relationship and has a grown-up son called Edward who is somewhat elusive. Mrs Hall previously enjoyed a very sweet romance with a man called Gerald, but he has since left Darrowby to care for his sick sister.

Where have I seen Anna Madeley before? The actress has previously starred opposite David Tennant in the acclaimed Deadwater Fell (as Kate), while also appearing in 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

Who is Richard Carmody? An undergraduate vet student who has been brought in ease the burden on Siegfried and James following Tristan's exit. In season 5, Carmody takes on more responsibility at work.

Where have I seen James Anthony-Rose before? He's had minor roles in Apple TV+ espionage drama Slow Horses and ITV period drama Belgravia.

Patricia Hodge plays Mrs Pumphrey

Who is Mrs Pumphrey? A wealthy local resident and proud owner of an extremely spoilt Pekingese dog named Tricki Woo. Mrs Pumphrey was played by the late Dame Diana Rigg in the first season.

Where have I seen Patricia Hodge before? Olivier Award-winning actress Patricia Hodge is best known for starring in Miranda, Rumpole of the Bailey, Betrayal, The Life and Loves of a She-Devil and Hotel du Lac.

Imogene Clawson plays Jenny Alderson

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

Where have I seen Imogene Clawson before? Imogene Clawson made her acting debut in the first season of All Creatures Great and Small as Jenny Alderson.

Tony Pitts plays Richard Alderson

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

Where have I seen Tony Pitts before? You might recognise Pitts as Hargreaves from Line of Duty, or as Inspector Moss from Peaky Blinders.

He's also been in Jamestown (as Edgar Massinger), Wild Bill (as Keith Metcalfe), MotherFatherSon (as Lennox), Giri/Haji (as Steve), My Mad Fat Diary (as Chloe's Dad) and Emmerdale (as Archie Brooks). On the big screen, he played Captain Pterro in Rogue One.

Additional cast:

• Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso) also joins season 5 as Mr Bosworth, a colonel who's coordinating war preparation efforts in Darrowby.

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 guest cast includes:

Episode 1

• Samir Mahat (Sex Education) as Banerjee and Luke Hammond as Hibbert – James's flight crew.
• 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.

Episode 2

• Caroline Menton (Oddity) as Doris - Jenny's friend from the Women's Land Army.
• Jennifer Hennessy (Dickensian) as Hilda Sudderby - a farmer who is instructed to paint her cows by Mr Bosworth.
• Adrian Hood (All Quiet on the Preston Front) as Mr Dowson - a farmer who has a problem with one of his calves.

Episode 3

• Drew Cain (Hollyoaks) as James Herriot Senior - James's dad.
• Gabriel Quigley (Chewin’ the Fat) as Hannah Herriot - James's mum.
• Mollie Winnard (Happy Valley) as Maggie - a local barmaid who used to be romantically involved with Tristan.
• Nicholas Asbury (Alma’s Not Normal) as Farmer Biggins.
• Angela Lonsdale (Coronation Street) as Mrs Hanley - her dog has formed a deep attachment to a stuffed animal.

Episode 4

• Ryan Hawley (Emmerdale) as Sid Crabtree - a farmer who is very worried about his cow's refusal to eat.
• Nicholas Collett as Jim Oakley - a postman.
• Bailey Brook (Masters of the Air) as Harry Tucker - a solider.
• Caroline Chesworth as Mrs Herbert - a matron.

All Creatures Great and Small airs on Channel 5 and My5. You can order James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small from Amazon.

If you're looking for something else to watch, visit our TV Guide or take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.