All Creatures Great and Small (franchise)


The All Creatures Great and Small franchise consists of a series of books written by James Alfred Wight under the pen name James Herriot based on his experiences as a veterinary surgeon. The books have been adapted for film and television, including a 1975 film titled All Creatures Great and Small, followed by the 1976 It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet sequel, as well as on television a long-running BBC television programme of the same title, and a prequel series in 2011, Young James Herriot.

Books

The book series focuses on the adventures of veterinary surgeon James Herriot, and are set in the Yorkshire Dales, in the fictional town of Darrowby, based on a combination of Thirsk, Richmond, Leyburn and Middleham. In the books James Herriot works with fellow veterinary surgeons, Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, based on real-life counterparts, Donald Sinclair and his brother Brian Sinclair respectively. Wight also used the name Helen Alderson for his wife, Joan Danbury.

The UK series

In America the books were collected as pairs into omnibus volumes, as the publisher felt they were too short to publish independently. The title chosen for the first book in the series All Creatures Great and Small was taken from the hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful". According to Herriot's son, it was his sister who suggested the title, initially proposing Ill Creatures Great and Small.

Films

''All Creatures Great and Small'' (1975)

All Creatures Great and Small is based on first two novels, If Only They Could Talk and It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet, and was given the same title as the 1972 US compilation volume of these two novels, was released in 1975. It was directed by Claude Whatham, and written by Hugh Whitemore, and starred Simon Ward as James Herriot and Anthony Hopkins as Siegfried Farnon.

''It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet'' (1976)

It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet is based on the two following novels, Let Sleeping Vets Lie and Vet in Harness, and was released in 1976. It was directed by Eric Till, written by Alan Plater, and starred John Alderton as James Herriot and Colin Blakely as Siegfried Farnon.

Television

''All Creatures Great and Small'' (1978–1990)

All Creatures Great and Small is a BBC television series based initially on first two novels, If Only They Could Talk and It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet. As the novels are written in an episodic style, with each chapter generally containing a short story within the ongoing narrative of Herriot's life, this facilitated their adaptation for a television series by producer Bill Sellars. The series stars Christopher Timothy as James Herriot and Robert Hardy as Siegfried Farnon, and it had two runs: the original was for three series; the second for four. Series 4 saw the introduction of new vet, Calum Buchanan, based on Herriot's real-life assistant Brian Nettleton. A total of ninety episodes were broadcast.

''Young James Herriot'' (2011)

Young James Herriot is a three-part BBC television series based on the life of veterinary student James Herriot. It was based on notes in the Herriot archive and the archives of the Glasgow Veterinary College, including the diaries and case notes the author kept during his student years, and was produced with the cooperation of his family. The series was directed by Michael Keillor and written by Ann McManus and Eileen Gallagher. It stars Iain De Caestecker as Herriot, with Amy Manson and Ben Lloyd-Hughes as fellow students Whirly Tyson and Rob McAloon.

''All Creatures Great and Small'' (2020–)

In 2019, Channel 5 announced it would be filming a new series in the Yorkshire Dales over the summer of 2019, to be broadcast the following year.

The World of James Herriot

is a writer's home museum attraction in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England. The museum covers the life and books of the 20th century vet and author James Wight.