James Herriot would approve of new All Creatures Great and Small show, says son

The new verision of the show, based on the collection of stories by Wight, also known by his pen name James Herriot, will air on Channel 5 next month.

A new trailer has been released in recent days.

Jim Wight, son of the Sunderland-born author who worked in Yorkshire, said: “I hope and believe this could be a breath of fresh air to the population at the moment.

"Would my father have approved of it? Oh, I think so.”

Produced by BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning production company Playground (Howards End, Wolf Hall), written by Ben Vanstone (The Last Kingdom) and directed by Brian Percival (Downton Abbey), All Creatures Great and Small was filmed on location across Yorkshire.

Executive producer Colin Callender said: “We live in a very divided world now and one of the joys of these stories is that they are about community and people coming together and supporting each other. I think that’s a story that we want to tell now more than ever.”

Nicholas Ralph makes his television debut as the vet who became renowned for his inspiring compassion, humour and love of life.

Samuel West (Mr. Selfridge, On Chesil Beach) is Siegfried Farnon, the capricious veterinary surgeon and proprietor of Skeldale House who reluctantly hires the recently qualified Herriot to join his rural practice.

Mrs Hall, the resident housekeeper and matriarch of Skeldale House, is played by Anna Madeley (Patrick Melrose, Deadwater Fell), while Siegfried’s charismatic younger brother, Tristan, is played by Callum Woodhouse (The Durrells).

Rachel Shenton (Switched at Birth, White Gold) takes the role of Helen Alderson, an independent local farmer’s daughter who helps her father manage the family farm and looks after her younger sister.

Also starring are Dame Diana Rigg (Game of Thrones, The Avengers) as Mrs Pumphrey, the eccentric owner of pekingese dog Tricki Woo, Matthew Lewis (the Harry Potter film series, Ripper Street) as Hugh Hulton, a wealthy landowner and rival to James for Helen’s affections, and Nigel Havers (Chariots of Fire, Coronation Street) as General Ransom, the manager of the local racecourse.

Executive producer Melissa Gallant said: “Wonderfully entertaining and sharply observed, Herriot’s world and spirit is a much-needed antidote to the complexity and challenges of modern times.”

“The Yorkshire Dales provide a glorious and cinematic escape back to a world where supporting one another, living in community, and gathering around the dinner table after a hard day’s work were the foundations of everyday life.

"Herriot’s joyful, funny and truthful celebration of creatures great and small could not be more timely."