“We cannot wait for everyone to see it” - Three-year-old Isabella from Halifax to appear in All Creatures Great and Small Christmas Special

Isabella Ward will appear in the All Creatures Christmas Special as Rosie Herriot, the daughter of James (Nicholas Ralph) and Helen (Rachel Shenton).

She joins Thomas Riches, aged seven, from Birstall, who plays her elder brother, Jimmy Herriot.

The festive episode, which will be shown on 5 and My5 at 9pm on Christmas Eve, was directed by Andy Hay, and little Isabella appears in the Nativity scenes as well as in scenes with her on-screen mum, Rachel.

Isabella’s real mum, Jodie Ward, says: "Isabella had the most amazing time filming the Christmas Special.

“All the children had so much fun dressing up for a nativity, even though it was a hot summer’s day outside.

“I have to give huge credit to the director who got the very best out of Isabella playing little Rosie - even trusting and giving her lines to say at only three years old.

"Isabella loved her on-screen mummy Rachel Shenton, they were so natural together on-set and we even got to meet her tiny new arrival after filming one day."

Photos released by 5 show Helen and Rosie in the Skeldale House kitchen looking at a huge cake, which is presumably intended for little Jimmy’s fifth birthday on Christmas Day.

Jodie says: “The first time Bella looked at it, she poked it and said, ‘That's not real.’ And Andy had to explain to her it was pretend.

“Isabella loved the whole experience and didn't want it to end. After such a brilliant season six, we cannot wait for everyone to see the Christmas special.

“Being on this set was special. I've been on many, many sets with the kids, but there is something special there.”

Isabella is signed with Shipley-based acting and coaching agency Articulate, whose youngsters have appeared in hit TV dramas including Adolescence, Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack and Last Tango in Halifax.

The agency also has young actors starring in festive adverts. Mia Tormey, 9, from Sheffield stars in an advert for the Dog’s Trust, as a child whose Christmas wish is to be able to talk to her dog. She has also just secured a role in an exciting new movie alongside a star-studded cast.

Last year, young actor Jack Wisniewski starred in Richard Curtis’s animation That Christmas (Netflix), and this Christmas, Matilda Firth from Cleckheaton has a lead role in Sky Film’s Tinsel Town, playing Keifer Sutherland’s daughter, alongside an all-star cast, including Rebel Wilson.

Another Yorkshire actress represented by Articulate Agency, Iris Danbury, also shot a commercial for PureGym scheduled for release on Boxing Day.

Articulate specialises in securing acting roles for clients in TV, film, commercials and radio, with a strong reputation representing children (4-15) and young adults (16-25).

It works with the top UK and US casting directors, producers and show runners to secure high-profile, career-making roles across major TV networks including Netflix, Sky, ITV, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO, and the BBC, as well as UK and US film studios, including Universal and Fox.