All Creatures Great and Small star Nicholas Ralph has recently admitted that his character’s return – James Herriot – came with more challenges than he and the character initially anticipated.
James left Skeldale house, his wife Helen Herriot (played by Rachel Shenton) and their newborn son to join the RAF at the end of season four, following the footsteps of Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse).
Whilst many fans will be thrilled to see James return to Skeldale House, along with his wife, actor Ralph has recently revealed that it won’t be the homecoming he was expecting.
Opening up about James’ return, Ralph said: “James thinks he’s going to come back and be Super Vet, Super Dad, and juggle both roles seamlessly. But the reality is quite different.
“Having a little baby and trying to be a vet at the same time, with those two worlds colliding, is much more challenging than he anticipated. That makes for a lot of fun in the episodes.
“I think what’s always been a comfort for James is knowing Helen has a strong support network around her – Siegfried, Mrs Hall, Carmody right there at Skeldale, her dad, and Jenny are close by. But still, it’s a lot of work.”
Helen Herriot is thrilled to have her husband back home
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Ralph continued: “As James comes back and reintegrates, taking on more fatherly duties, he realises more and more the effort Helen has put in over the last few months by herself.
“He really appreciates what she’s done even more once he’s back and sees the reality of juggling everything with a newborn.”
Alongside James’ return, Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) is also delighted to have his brother Tristan home after he left for war at the end of season three.
West explained: “He’s obviously changed. And he’s changed in ways that I don’t fully understand. He’s obviously seen some horrible things which he’s not talking about. And he’s obviously masking with drink and good humour.”
The Herriot family are reunited in the upcoming series
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The actor also went on to reveal that Siegfried initially struggled with Mrs Hall’s (Anna Madeley) new job, as a blackout warden in the village.
When asked how Siegfried reacts, West teased: “Extremely badly. Selfishly and overstepping the mark, and in ways that an analyst would have a lot of fun dissecting, he doesn’t really understand why the village warden, Mr Bosworth, makes him so angry.”
The official synopsis for the fifth series of All Creatures Great and Small reads: “It is Spring 1941 and we return to Darrowby to find young baby Jimmy keeping our favourite Skeldale House family on their toes.
“Helen is getting the hang of motherhood with James away at RAF Abingdon, Mrs Hall and Siegfried are enjoying having a little one around and Carmody is now part of the furniture.
All Creatures Great and Small returns on Thursday
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“With World War II now fully underway, Siegfried is taking up the slack at the surgery, Mrs Hall and Helen are considering their contribution within the community, and Carmody is eager to step up.
“Siegfried is keen to have everyone back, but Tristan’s surprise return won’t be quite as straightforward as he hoped.”
