The Yorkshire Vet: Memories of popular show and how protagonists' lives have changed
Anyone connected with The Yorkshire Vet or, in fact, any television programme based in Yorkshire, has much for which to thank RTS Yorkshire. This regional branch of The Royal Television Society does a lot to support and promote broadcasting from our region. So, when they asked me to participate in an evening event on 20th May, I was more than happy to help.
The first time I knew anything about RTS was when The Yorkshire Vet was nominated for an award. This was back in 2016, after the first series of the show had been aired and we were filming for series two. The event occurred the day after the Brexit referendum and I remember, during the evening, there was a sense of foreboding about the future. I also remember the mounting tension as the awards were announced. Peter Wright and I had been briefed on what to say if we won and each given a list of who to thank. As it transpired, we need not have worried- another, much more worthy, series won the category of Factual Entertainment. It was gritty, hard-hitting and dealt with a sensitive subject; quite the opposite of our show.
After that first event, many of us became rather obsessed by the notion of TV awards and there was always a clamour for invitations. Whilst not exactly the Oscars, it was exciting to be surrounded by actual famous people off the telly, despite my always feeling something of a fraud in their company. We have, however, won several awards over the last ten years and I even have my own replica sitting on a bookcase at home. If you add in awards won by the farming spin-off series of The Yorkshire Vet, the production company- Daisybeck Studios- has quite a haul.
On Wednesday 20th May, RTS Yorkshire, tapping into the experience gleaned through such a long running show, is hosting an “In Conversation” event with the main protagonists from our programme. All the vets will be there, reminiscing over the highlights of the last few years and pondering how our lives have changed during this period. The evening bears the title Yorkshire Vets In Conversation: A Decade of Dales, Drama and Devotion! but hopefully the chat will be less full of hyperbole than the title, with honest opinions from the heart. At the time of writing, the identity of our interlocutor is unknown but I’m sure they’ll have their work cut out keeping all six, slightly overexcited, vets in order. But it’s not just chatting! There will be plenty of favourite clips from episodes over the eleven years we’ve been making telly. I’m pretty certain what will be included, because there are some memorable moments and some hilarious bits. The famous Mangalitsa pig called Monica from series one is bound to appear. She was vigorously defending her piglets when I intervened to give the behemoth of a swine an injection using a special lance, allowing me to operate from a safe distance. Monica was quicker than I expected and, after an earlier warning from the farmer that she had recently injured his hand, causing lacerations down to tendons, I wasted no time in screaming and leaping into the air. This is not something I usually do and I pleaded with the producer who had filmed the drama, “please don’t put that bit on telly!” Of course, my protestations fell on ears already deafened from the pig’s furious squeal.
There will be plenty more: a baby alpaca toppling over like an uncoordinated robot, amusing conversations about my colleague’s love of Spam as well as new life delivered on the farm…
The event is at Headingley Stadium at 7.30pm on Wednesday 20th May and tickets can be purchased online at www.rts.org.uk/events. See you there!