'The world is changing but the Dales will always offer perfect escapism': All Creatures Great and Small Series 7 first look photos and new cast member
All Creatures Great and Small is set to return for its seventh series next month, Channel 5 has announced today, as it also releases first-look photographs taken during filming in the Yorkshire Dales this spring and early summer.
Returning to Darrowby are Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot, Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon, Anna Madeley as Mrs Hall, Rachel Shenton as Helen Herriot and Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon.
They are joined by Patricia Hodge as Mrs Pumphrey (with her beloved Pekingese, Tricki), Tony Pitts as Helen’s father Richard Alderson and Imogen Clawson as her sister Jenny.
Maimie McCoy returns as Siegfried’s rekindled flame Dorothy (they kissed last Christmas), Gaia Wise is back as Tristan’s girlfriend Charlotte and Mollie Winnard returns as Maggie.
The first-look photos tease intriguing storylines, more HERE
“Series 7 of All Creatures Great and Small returns viewers to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales in 1946,” says 5.
“With the war finally over, Skeldale House is full once again and livelier than ever as our beloved characters reunite under one roof and look ahead to a hopeful new chapter.
“James is excited about new developments in veterinary medicine, but a new vet in the area threatens the status quo.”
To this end, fans of the James Herriot series of books - written by Thirsk vet Alf Wight - will be delighted to learn that larger-than-life character, rival vet Granville Bennett, will appear in season seven, to shake up James and the Darrowby vet’s practice.
He is played by Caolan McCarthy (Belfast, Cyrano De Bergerac: the RSC), and 5 adds that he will be “joined by a host of new characters who help bring more of Herriot’s much-loved stories to life”.
Fans of the original James Herriot stories have long hoped that the disruptive, bar-propping Granville Bennett would appear in 5’s highly popular adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small, which is produced by BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning company Playground and MASTERPIECE on PBS.
Rumours of his return began on social media when a new character with a racy red vintage sports car was spotted during filming in Grassington, used for Darrowby, and in Ripley village in March.
Filming for series 7 took place from February to June, and fans from across the world flocked to the Dales, in particular to Grassington, where large crowds gathered to watch.
Fans also spotted filming at other Yorkshire Dales locations including Kettlewell, Arncliffe, Ripon and Yockenthwaite, as well as in Bradford, which it is believed was used to represent London.
The new series will consist of six 60-minute episodes plus a Christmas Special. In the UK, the show will return to 5 this September with a date to be announced.
All Creatures Great and Small remains 5’s most successful drama series to date, a top performer on the channel year after year.
5 says: “The world at large may be changing, but inside this slice of Yorkshire, the Dales will always offer the same perfect escapism. Packed with warmth, humour and community spirit, the series brings more heartwarming tales of people and animals alike.”
Series 7 was announced as a double series commission with series 8 in November 2025. In the US, MASTERPIECE on PBS will air series 7 from January 17, 2027.
Series 1–6 are available to stream on 5.