THE life of the world’s most famous country vet has charmed a new generation, thanks to Channel 5’s hugely popular All Creatures Great and Small.

Scenes for the new series were filmed in Little Germany and Broughton Hall near Skipton earlier this year, and youngsters from Bradford theatre school Articulate will appear in the show when it returns to our screens this autumn.

While filming in Thirsk recently, the show’s stars Nicholas Ralph and Rachel Shenton paid a visit to the World of James Herriot to learn about real life vet, Alf Wight, whose books inspired several film and TV adaptations.

Nicholas who plays James and Rachel, who plays his wife Helen, met Rosie Page, Alf Wight’s daughter, who gave them a tour of the World of James Herriot.

Based in the former Thirsk surgery and home of Alf Wight, the attraction brings to life his work as a vet and his popular writing as Herriot. A new exhibition room highlighting the Channel 5 re-make of All Creatures Great and Small was unveiled when the attraction re-opened last month.

Rachel and Nicholas signed an image of the TV series in the exhibition and they and producer James Dean were each presented with a miniature version of the Alf Wight statue which stands in the grounds.

With a Christmas special also planned this year, viewers will be welcomed back to the fictional Dales dwelling of Darrowby (shot largely in Grassington) for more heartwarming stories of farmers, animals and townsfolk in 1930s Yorkshire. The cast also includes Patricia Hodge as Mrs Pumphrey, Samuel West as James’ mentor Siegfried Farnon and Horsforth actor Matthew Lewis as Hugh Hulton.

Stepping through the famous red door of 23 Kirkgate, into the World of James Herriot, takes visitors back to a time when the property was a working veterinary practice. Known in the Herriot books as Skeldale House in Darrowby, it was where he lived and worked, and wrote his much-loved stories based on his experiences as a young vet in a rural farming community.

With the books translated into nearly 40 languages, 35per cent of the attraction’s visitors, before the pandemic, were from overseas.

Retaining many original furnishings and items, the property reflects life in a family home and busy surgery. Displayed in the dining-room, also used as the practice office, are farmer’s bills typed up at the desk, while the sitting-room has books and family photos. An original dispensary containing various remedies is on display, and the consulting room where many a poorly pet waited for treatment is brought faithfully to life.

There’s a fun interactive element to veterinary science rooms, where visitors can test their skills, knowledge and reflexes learning how vets work. One installation that viewers of the hit show will recognise is the ‘not to be missed’ opportunity to place your hand up a cow’s bottom...an essential skill that every vet has to learn. Christopher Timothy, who was James Herriot in the 1980s TV series of All Creatures Great and Small, famously did this for real several times in scenes.

The attraction houses the largest collection of Herriot memorabilia in the world, including books, posters, letters, collectables and items instrumental to Herriot’s writing career. There’s also chance to look behind the scenes of All Creatures Great and Small, on a reproduced set, and see the original 1938 Austin Seven Car which appeared in the opening titles of the previous TV series.

In 2012 the attraction was taken over by a management company headed by managing director Ian Ashton, supported by Alf Wight’s son Jim and daughter Rosie.

* The World of James Herriot, Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The initial period is for group travel operators initially, with plans to attract other visitors as re-opening widens.Visit worldofjamesherriot.com