All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special to air on Christmas Eve as jewel in Channel 5 festive crown - preview images

All Creatures Great and Small will return for a festive episode on Christmas Eve, Channel 5 has announced, with storylines celebrating community spirit and togetherness, a theme certain to chime with modern-day viewers finally able to gather with friends, neighbours and loved ones this year.

New images released show Darrowby, for which the Yorkshire Dales village of Grassington is used, dressed for the festive season with the market square loaded with Christmas trees and holly as Mrs Hall does her shopping for the big day. The Christmas Eve party at Skeldale House has become an eagerly awaited annual event, and this year is no exception.

Series Two ended with the engagement of young vet James Herriot (Nicolas Ralph) and young farmer Helen Alderson (Rachel Shenton), who now face a timeless and highly recognisable festive dilemma - where to spend Christmas Day and eat their Christmas dinner. Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley) is expecting them at Skeldale House and Helen’s sister Jenny (played by Harrogate Grammar School student Imogen Clawson) is planning a feast at the family farm, Heston Grange. The couple are reluctant to disappoint either party, a situation that raises bigger questions about what their lives together will look like in the future.

There is no rest from animal emergencies for the Darrowby vets over the festive period. James attends the seriously ill sheep of a curmudgeonly Dales farmer, while Siegfried (Samuel West) is consulted when Mrs Pumphrey (Patricia Hodge) becomes concerned about the health of her adored, pampered pooch Tricki Woo. Tristan (Callum Woodhouse) realises that it might be time to take himself more seriously and reveals some important news, and a card from James’s father asking him to phone them on Christmas Day leaves him nervous as to whether he can make amends for the disappointment he is causing his parents by not moving back to his native Glasgow.

Season Two was set in 1938, the year before the Second World War started, and the final episode touched on the prospect of war with news of Neville Chamberlain entering peace talks, leaving the characters nervous about what was on the horizon. But, for now at least, it is a time for love, togetherness and mutual support, celebrated in an episode guaranteed to touch the heart and remind viewers of the true meaning of Christmas.

The All Creatures Great and Small Christmas episode will air at 9pm on Christmas Eve on Channel 5.