All Creatures Great and Small

Network: PBS
Genre: Historical Drama
Premiere Date: Jan 7, 2024
New episodes air: Sunday at 8:00 PM

Production Companies: Playground Entertainment

Producers: Richard Burrell

Creators: Ben Vanstone

In the early 1970s Alf Wight, writing under the pen name James Herriot, wrote a memoir of his life as a country vet in the Yorkshire Dales in the years leading up to World War II. His stories inspired a popular television series in the late 1970s, and have recently been brought to life again for a new generation to enjoy.

The new series produced by Playground Entertainment for the BBC was released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of publication of "All Creatures Great and Small." Now in its 4th season and airing on PBS in the United States, the series follows James and his wife Helen as a newly married a couple with hopes of expanding their family even as England enters war with Germany and James faces the possibility of being called into service. The series also follows Siegfried Farnon, James' slightly eccentric boss; Siegfried's brother Tristan, who has already been called up; and housekeeper Mrs. Hall.

At its core, "All Creatures Great and Small" is a gentle story about fundamentally decent people living during momentous times.

Although there is no real violence, there are scenes of veterinary procedures and animals giving birth, which can include some blood and may be upsetting to younger children. The word "damn" is used on rare occasions. Characters are sometimes shown drinking in the neighborhood pub.