When you’re looking for entertaining content that is suitable for the entire family, shows like When Calls the Heart, Little House on the Prairie or Seventh Heaven may come to mind. MASTERPIECE on PBS also offers a lot of wholesome content including The Durrells, Around the World in 80 Days and Miss Marple. Season 2 of All Creatures Great and Small recently premiered on PBS and is perfect content for your whole family to watch with season 3 set to premiere in January 2023.
Here’s what we know about All Creatures Great and Small season 2.
What is All Creatures Great and Small about?
All Creatures Great and Small tells the story of the life of veterinarian James Herriot and his experiences with animals and their owners in the fictional small town of Darrowby, England.
Is All Creatures Great and Small based on a true story?
Yes! Set in the Yorkshire Dales, All Creatures Great and Small is adapted from a series of books (If Only They Could Talk being the first book) written by James Alfred “Alf” Wight under the pen name James Herriot about Wight’s experiences as a veterinary surgeon in 1930s to 1950s. The books spawned the film All Creatures Great and Small in 1975 and a sequel in 1976. A television series of the same name debuted in 1978 on BBC and ran for 90 episodes until 1990. The current PBS series is a prequel series to the events in the original book and series.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About the New Season of When Calls the Heart!
Who’s in the All Creatures Great and Small cast?
Nicholas Ralph (James Herriot)
James is hired by Siegfried Farnon to be an additional veterinarian in his growing practice in Darrowby in the Yorkshire Dales. During his time there, he falls for Helen who becomes engaged to another man.
Television newcomer Nicholas Ralph landed his first television role of James Herriot just two years after graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Ralph had been engaged in a lot of theatre before auditioning for All Creatures Great and Small. Born in South Africa, Ralph grew up in Scotland and visited his cousins in the U.S. when he was a child.
Like his character on All Creatures Great and Small, Ralph is Scottish and it’s his real Scottish lilt you hear on the show.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @nicholasralph_.
Rachel Shenton (Helen Alderson)
Helen is a farmer’s daughter and there’s an instant attraction between her and James. In the first season she was already dating (and eventually engaged to) Hugh (Matthew Lewis) when she first meets James but on the day of her nuptials she’s gets cold feet and calls off the wedding just as James rides back into to town to stop the wedding himself.
American audiences might recognize Shenton from her role as Lily Summers on ABC Family’s 2011 series, Switched At Birth. Between work and school, Shenton volunteered at Deaflinks, a non-profit organization in England for the hearing impaired. She co-produced a short film, The Silent Child with her husband, Chris Overton based on her experiences growing up with a parent who went deaf. The film won Best Live Action Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. In keeping a promise to Maisie Sly, who plays the titular character in the film and is also deaf, Shenton signed her acceptance speech. Watch The Silent Child here.
Follow Shenton on Twitter and Instagram @RachelShenton.
Front: L to R: Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon, Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot, Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon
Back: L to R: Rachel Shenton as Helen Alderson, Anna Madeley as Mrs. Hall”
Samuel West (Siegfried Farnon)
Siegfried is the elder Farnon brother and is the town’s most experienced vet. He brings James into his growing veterinary practice.
West has appeared in such films as Howard’s End, Notting Hill and Van Helsing. On television, he has appeared on Midsomer Murders, Mr. Selfridge and The Crown.
Follow West on Twitter @exitthelemming.
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Callum Woodhouse (Tristan Farnon)
Tristan is Sigfried’s younger brother and an assistant at the practice. In the first season, believing he had passed his medical exams, Tristan is looking to upstage his brother as the best vet in town only to find out Siegfried had been lying about his failing test scores.
Woodhouse is best known for playing Leslie Durrell for four seasons on the series The Durrells.
Follow Woodhouse on Twitter @cal_woodhouse and on Instagram @callumwoodhouse.
Anna Madeley (Mrs. Hall)
Mrs. Hall is the caretaker of the Farnon household.
Madeley has appeared in many productions on television and stage. She has appeared on The Crown, Mr. Selfridge and Poirot.
How many seasons of All Creatures Great and Small are there?
There are currently two seasons that have aired. A total of four seasons have been commissioned.
Will there be a season 3 of All Creatures Great and Small?
Yes! PBS picked up two more seasons of All Creatures Great and Small. Season 3 will premiere January 2023.
When does season 3 of All Creatures Great and Small premiere?
Mark your calendars! Season 3 of All Creatures Great and Small premieres on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS.
What are the prevalent themes running through season 3 of All Creatures Great and Small?
Themes for the third season include new partnerships,romance, ghosts from the past, and doing one’s duty—and of course doing right by the animals. Helen and James adjust to life at newlyweds while the vets deal with tuberculosis among the cows and the consequences it will cause for their practice and the local farmers. Tristan becomes a full-fledged veterinarian having passed his tests and may find romance of his own in the upcoming season.
How can I watch season 1 and 2 of All Creatures Great and Small?
The first two seasons of All Creatures Great and Small can be streamed on pbs.org with a PBS Passport. You can also purchase or rent episodes on sites like Amazon or iTunes.
How many episodes of All Creatures Great and Small are there?
There are six episodes each in seasons 1 and 2 with an additional Christmas episode for each season totaling 14 episodes thus far. Season 3 will also contain the same number of episodes.
What channel is All Creatures Great and Small on?
All Creatures Great and Small is on your local PBS station.
Related: Sanditon Is Coming Back for Season 3! Here’s What We Know So Far!
How can I watch All Creatures Great and Small?
You can watch new episodes of All Creatures Great and Small on PBS (check local listings). Alternatively, you can purchase individual episodes or watch the show through subscriptions on PBS Passport, Amazon Prime Video, Apple+ TV and other streaming services.
Is there a trailer for season 3 of All Creatures Great and Small?
No official trailer has been released for season 3 of All Creatures Great and Small, but take a look at this video from Masterpiece PBS which recaps where the show left off in the first season and what’s ahead in the second season.
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