All Creatures Great and Small Cast: Original to Season 6

Few television dramas have managed to capture the warmth of rural life quite like All Creatures Great and Small. Whether you grew up watching the original BBC adaptation or discovered the story through the 2020 reboot, the cast has always been at the heart of its magic. This guide tracks every major actor across both series, explains the real-life faces behind the fiction, and looks ahead to Season 6 coming in 2026.

Number of seasons (2020 series): 5 · Number of seasons (original 1978 series): 7 · Main cast members (2020 series): 7 (Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Callum Woodhouse, Rachel Shenton, Diana Rigg, Patricia Hodge) · Main cast members (original series): 5 (Christopher Timothy, Robert Hardy, Peter Davison, Carol Drinkwater, Mary Hignett)

The two adaptations share core characters but take different casting approaches. The table below shows how the main roles have been filled across both productions.

Why was Helen replaced on All Creatures Great and Small?

In the original BBC series, Helen Alderson was first played by Carol Drinkwater for three series (1978–1980). After series 3, Drinkwater left the show, and the role was recast with Lynda Bellingham for series 4 through the final series 7 (Radio Times). The replacement happened only in the original run; the 2020 reboot has kept Rachel Shenton as Helen since season 1. Drinkwater later cited creative differences as the reason for her departure, though exact contract details were never made public.

The implication: The recasting in the original series created a visible tonal shift, while the 2020 series has maintained continuity.

Who is the cast of All Creatures Great and Small in 2026?

Season 6 of the 2020 reboot is expected to air in 2026, following a renewal that was part of a multi-season order (Wikipedia). The main cast is expected to return:

• Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot
• Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon
• Anna Madeley as Mrs. Hall
• Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon
• Rachel Shenton as Helen Alderson

No cast departures have been announced for season 6. Patricia Hodge may also return as Mrs. Pumphrey. The production, by Playground Entertainment for Channel 5, has not confirmed any new cast additions yet.

The pattern: The 2020 series has kept a remarkably stable main cast across five seasons, unlike the original which saw one major recasting.

Why did Mrs. Hall leave All Creatures?

A common question among viewers — but the truth is that Mrs. Hall has not left the show. Anna Madeley has played the housekeeper at Skeldale House since season 1 of the 2020 reboot, and she remains in the cast for season 5 and the upcoming season 6 (Wikipedia). The confusion may come from a specific storyline in season 4 where Mrs. Hall temporarily considers leaving Skeldale, but she ultimately stays. In the original series, Mary Hignett played Mrs. Hall for the entire run; no actress departure occurred there either.

What this means: Both series treat Mrs. Hall as a constant presence, anchoring Skeldale House with stability.

Did Siegfried Farnon marry in real life?

Siegfried Farnon, the brusque but kind-hearted vet, is a fictional character based on real-life Yorkshire veterinarian Donald Sinclair. In real life, Donald Sinclair was married to Audrey Sinclair (Radio Times). The character’s wife Evelyn, who appears in the 2020 series, is a creation of the show — not a historical figure. The show has explored Siegfried’s grief after Evelyn’s death, but the real Donald Sinclair lived a stable family life.

The catch: The show’s version of Siegfried is a widow, adding emotional depth that the real-life Sinclair never experienced.

Does James Herriot marry Helen in real life?

James Herriot is the pen name of real veterinarian James Alfred Wight. Wight married Joan Danbury in real life, who served as the inspiration for Helen Alderson in the books and the television adaptations (Radio Times). So yes — the marriage of James and Helen accurately mirrors the real Wight-Danbury marriage.

Timeline of cast changes

• 1978 – Original All Creatures Great and Small airs on BBC One (Radio Times)
• 1978–1980 – Carol Drinkwater plays Helen in series 1–3 (Radio Times)
• 1980 – Carol Drinkwater leaves; Lynda Bellingham takes over as Helen (Radio Times)
• 1990 – Original series ends after 7 series (Radio Times)
• 2020 – New adaptation premieres on Channel 5 and PBS (Radio Times)
• 2021 – Season 2 airs (Wikipedia)
• 2022 – Season 3 airs (Wikipedia)
• 2023 – Season 4 airs (Wikipedia)
• 2024 – Season 5 airs (began 19 September 2024) (Wikipedia)
• 2026 – Season 6 scheduled to air (Wikipedia)

The pattern: The original series had only one major cast change (Helen), while the 2020 reboot has kept its core cast intact so far.

Confirmed facts vs. What remains unclear

The implication: While most core facts are solid, the story behind Drinkwater’s exit remains ambiguous, and the 2026 series still holds some casting mysteries.

Quotes from the cast and family

“He’s a man of contradictions, and that’s what makes him interesting.”

— Samuel West, on playing Siegfried Farnon (Radio Times)

“My father was a down-to-earth vet, not the romanticized version.”

— Jim Wight, James Herriot’s son (Radio Times)

The implication: The 2020 series consciously softened the edges of Herriot’s world, but the real-life counterpart carried a grit that the books filtered out. For viewers who grew up with the BBC original, the new cast offers a more intimate, psychologically nuanced portrait.

Frequently asked questions

For fans of the original cast, the question of whether to rewatch the BBC series or start fresh with the 2020 reboot is simple: both are worth your time, but they serve different appetites. If you want nostalgia and theatrical warmth, start with Christopher Timothy and Robert Hardy. If you want subtle character arcs and modern cinematography, the Nicholas Ralph and Samuel West version is your entry point. Either way, the world of Darrowby is richer for having two great casts.