'I have a rose-tinted view of Yorkshire': The Dogfather Graeme Hall shares his favourite places and people

I remember being at primary school and the teacher showing us a map of Great Britain, and the fact that Yorkshire was the biggest county. I was surprised that it was described as the North East because it looked pretty central to me. So I took two things from that lesson: Yorkshire's the biggest, and it's the centre of the known universe. And I've not really changed my views since. When people down here say to me, ‘If Yorkshire's so great, how come you don't live there?’ (he now lives in Northamptonshire), I say I'm on missionary duty, spreading the word.

What’s your favourite part of the county?

It's all great, but there is something about North Yorkshire. I love being up Thirsk, Northallerton, all of those areas, and also the part that goes across towards Cumbria. There is something very special about that sort of north country - the landscape, the weather's different, it's just lovely.

What’s your idea of a perfect day out in Yorkshire?

A visit to the Yorkshire coast, particularly Whitby, and fish and chips for tea, with bread and butter and mushy peas, of course, and a cup of Yorkshire tea.

Do you have a favourite walk?

When I was at uni in Hull, we did a hike at night. We got the last train up to Bridlington and we went walking to Filey and then back again. Walking the coastal path as dawn was breaking, that's a memory I think I'll never forget.

Which Yorkshire sportsperson, past or present, would you take for lunch?

I'm not really a very sporting person, but I would say Geoffrey Boycott. He has very clear opinions and I think he'd be a very interesting person to take to lunch.

Which Yorkshire stage or screen star, past or present, would you like to take for dinner?

(Michael) Parkinson, and I'd interview him. And I wouldn't say very much, because he never did. I'd just get him talking and let him go.

If you had to name your Yorkshire ‘hidden gem’, what would it be?

I've worked in Harrogate recently and it's just reminded me what a lovely town it is. So much to shout about. There's an awful lot of tea and coffee heritage there, of course. There's the famous Betty's Tea Rooms and the spa. It's not the first place that people think of when we talk about Yorkshire.

If you could choose something in Yorkshire to own for a day, what would it be?

It would have to be a toss-up between the Rowntree's factory at York, which is actually Nestle these days, and I'd get a decent stock of chocolate that would probably last me for the rest of my life. Or the Yorkshire Tea factory, Taylor's in Harrogate, and ditto. If there's one thing a Yorkshireman likes, it's summat for nowt.

What do you think gives Yorkshire its unique identity?

It's the people. It's that friendliness that you get in Yorkshire. And I know it's not entirely unique to Yorkshire, but there's something very special about walking into a shop in Barnsley and somebody going, “Eh up”, and they don't know you from Adam. There's a quite self-effacing, sort of daft sense of humour that I love.

Do you follow sport in the county, and if so, what?

I went to see York City on Friday, the 10th of January, 1975, because I thought I might become a football fan. It was particularly cold and I can't even remember how we did against Southampton, but I decided it wasn't for me. If I was a football fan, it would have to be York City though.

Do you have a favourite restaurant, or pub?

It's the pub that's otherwise known as the Drover's Arms, The Devonshire in Grassington.

Do you have a favourite food shop?

That's got to be Bettys, York or Harrogate. You can't go wrong with that. When I grew up, tea, as we call it in Yorkshire (dinner, as they call it in other places), was never complete without pudding. I think many of us from Yorkshire originally, we quite like a sweet thing now and again.

How do you think that Yorkshire has changed, for better or for worse, in the time that you’ve known it?

I don't think it has. Honestly, I think Yorkshire character has always been there. As a Yorkshireman living abroad - ie, south of Doncaster - I have a rosy-tinted view of Yorkshire, so when I go back, I just think everything's great because everything's a breath of fresh air and people are friendly and we call it like it is.

Who is the Yorkshire person that you most admire?

Parky again. A smart guy, and he was very clever in the way he did interviews. I've done Dogs Behaving Badly in Australia for the last three years, and people in Australia hold him in really high regard.

Has Yorkshire influenced your work?

Without a doubt. In Yorkshire we don't think much of people who use big and fancy words when they don't need to. Sometimes it takes a bit more effort to make something complicated sound easy but that's what I aim to do. Generally speaking, we're interested in other people and that really comes across, certainly in Dogs Behaving Badly. I'm always interested in what makes other people tick.

Name your favourite Yorkshire book/author/artist/CD/performer.

When it comes to books, I've always been a massive fan of the James Herriot stories. When it comes to performers, I'm going to say Mike Harding. The astute will notice that he’s actually a Lancastrian. However, I went to see him live at Selby Town Hall two or three years ago and he revealed that he's actually lived in Yorkshire since 1973.

If a stranger to Yorkshire only had time to visit one place, where should it be?

Go to York. Where else are you going to see Roman ruins, a beautiful Minster, sample some of the best tea, coffee and cake ever at Betty's, not to mention excellent fish and chips?

All Creatures Great & Small: Behind The Scenes is on Wednesday, December 24, at 8pm on 5. Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly returns to 5 this January.