All Creatures Great & Small

People like me of a certain age grew up with the wildly popular books and TV series in the 70's so there are some who will never accept a re-filming of this tale of a vet in post WW1 North Yorkshire. I happen to live near there and know people who actually knew Alf Wight who wrote the books in which he renamed himself 'James Herriot'. Channel 5 who made this already produce 'The Yorkshire Vet' reality show which features the same vets practice still working today along with 'The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard' which features our local preserved steam railway (The North Yorkshire Moors Railway). As such Channel 5 already have a 'track record' (groans) of filming up here and this series has been on the cards for a while. The only question was 'Would this be up to the standard of the original?'. One episode in and I'd have to give it a resounding 'Yes!'. Don't expect complex plots or action chases in this unless you include angry 1 ton+ bulls or roller-coaster local roads traversed in 1930's cars with dodgy brakes. Just instead enjoy the Yorkshire scenery pretty much unchanged since the time it is set populated with little 'feel-good' stories of veterinary life among the very wily Yorkshire folk. It really still is pretty much like this today and the people haven't changed much either...

I have no knowledge of the source material as I never read the books nor watch any the original series or films. So this is a fresh viewing experience for me. And I really did not know what to expect.

All creatures great and small is about as small town vet in the Yorkshire Dales based on a series of books by James Herriot. The opener of the Masterpiece on PBS is truly charming truly heartwarming. Everything you want a British masterpiece PBS show to be, with fabulous characters , endearing animals, wit and humor. Fabulous cinematography of the Yorkshire Countryside that I found to be spectacular.

This is quality fellow feeling television, coming right when I could really use it. I'm very much looking forward to see where this masterpiece on PBS series takes me emotionally. This is great television . Happy 50th Anniversary Masterpiece Theatre on PBS .

It's difficult these days to find a series that does not have violence or sex as main components of the storyline. Not that I don't enjoy that too. But this series is wonderful with a nice story, well acted, transporting the viewer to a different time. Very enjoyable.

I honestly didn't want to watch this, although my wife persuaded me to sit down and watch, and by jiminy do I love it. It reminds me weirdly of death in paradise, they are in no way alike, but after watching both shows you realise that you are just that little bit happier than you were an hour ago. It's just good old fashioned feel good programming.

WELL DONE CHANNEL FIVE, you have made me quite a happy chap

After watching the original series, my hopes for this remake were not high. I am happy to say how wrong I was, captured the setting perfectly and a good group of actors playing the characters so far. I am pretty impressed with Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon, definitely the stand out character here.

I look forward to what the series will bring next...