All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special cast: Meet the characters

"It's a horrendous time for Mrs Hall," said Anna Madeley. "It's every mother’s worst nightmare... and this happens right before Christmas, when Jimmy's birthday is also coming up – a time when you desperately want good news and for everyone to be together.

"But as the story progresses, it becomes harder and harder to hold on to that strategy. She even seeks out information on her own, meeting a young lad named Paddy, who had been with Edward on the ship.

"It's a difficult journey for her, and even though she tries to stay strong, that uncertainty starts to take its toll."

Initially, Mrs Hall "copes by staying busy and focusing on what little she does know", added Madeley. "She tells herself, 'Let's deal with the facts we have.'"

Read more:

• All Creatures Great and Small festive special is "very Christmassy despite heavy overtones"
• All Creatures Great and Small's Mrs Hall faces heart-wrenching turmoil in Christmas special

Elsewhere, "James is balancing the excitement of their son Jimmy’s first birthday with the festive season alongside Helen, while Siegfried is guiding Tristan in the right direction as he embarks on an important wartime mission".

Alongside the main cast, a number of new guest stars appear in the festive episode.

Find a full rundown below.

All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special cast

The main cast of All Creatures Great and Small is made up of the following:

• Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot
• Rachel Shenton as Helen Alderson
• Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon
• Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon
• Anna Madeley as Mrs Audrey Hall
• Imogene Clawson plays Jenny Alderson
• Tony Pitts plays Richard Alderson
• Duncan Preston as Enoch Sykes
• Owen Phillips as Christopher Taylor
• Becky Simon as Ethel Taylor
• Adam Best as Major Robertson
• Elliot Franz as Paddy Grainger

For more information about who the cast play and what else they've starred in, read on.

Nicholas Ralph plays James Herriot

Who is James Herriot? The iconic young Yorkshire vet, played by Christopher Timothy in the original 1970s television series. Working in rural Yorkshire in the 1930s and '40s, James struggles at first to adapt, but soon finds himself won over by both the community and animals he works with. At the beginning of season 5, James is away from his wife and son Jimmy, who was born in the Christmas special, at an RAF training base, but has since returned home after being ruled unfit to serve due to contracting a bacterial disease.

Where have I seen Nicholas Ralph before? The Scottish actor makes his television debut in All Creatures Great and Small. He's previously performed at a variety of theatres in Scotland, in plays including Captain Amazing, Interference and Cinderella.

Rachel Shenton plays Helen Alderson

Who is Helen Alderson? Helen is a local farmer's daughter with a positive can-do attitude. She helped raise her little sister after the death of their mother. In season 1, she had a longstanding romance with landowner Hugh, but later broke things off to embark on a relationship with James. The couple married in the season 3 premiere and in the 2023 festive episode, Helen gave birth to a baby boy, Jimmy, who is played by Otto and Sullivan Pearson.

Where have I seen Rachel Shenton before? Two years ago, Shenton notably won an Oscar for Best Live Action short film, for The Silent Child. She's otherwise known for playing Anne "Mitzeee" Minniver in Hollyoaks, Joanne Scott in White Gold and Courtney in Waterloo Road. She recently appeared in Channel 5 drama For Her Sins with Jo Joyner.

Samuel West plays Siegfried Farnon

Who is Siegfried Farnon? A wealthy and capricious veterinary surgeon who – reluctantly – hired the recently qualified James Herriot to become his assistant. Siegfried is also the proprietor of Skeldale House and its veterinary practice. He is a widower, and he also raised his younger brother Tristan after the death of their parents, who he loves dearly, but regularly locks horns with. However in the last season, they did manage to bond a little after Tristan returned from Egypt.

Where have I seen Samuel West before? The actor is no stranger to appearing in period dramas, having previously starred in the likes of Mr Selfridge (as Frank Edwards), On Chesil Beach and the Oscar-winning film Darkest Hour (as Sir Anthony Eden). His other credits also include The Crown (as Anthony Blunt), and the film Howards End. Just this year, he has also starred in The Midwich Cuckoos and Slow Horses.

Callum Woodhouse plays Tristan Farnon

Who is Tristan Farnon? Siegfried's younger brother, who is also a vet, was away serving with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in Cairo. But he's now back and training up new recruits in Doncaster. Tristan is a charmer and doesn't take life too seriously, which has led to a number of clashes with Siegfried over the years.

What have I seen Callum Woodhouse in before? Prior to All Creatures, he was best known for another period drama, ITV's The Durrells.

Anna Madeley plays Mrs Hall

Who is Mrs Hall? The housekeeper of Skeldale House. Mrs Hall is a force to be reckoned with – often putting her employer in his place – but she is kind and loving at heart, and usually knows what's best. She previously left an abusive relationship and has a grown-up son called Edward, who is serving in the military and whose ship is sunk in the Christmas special. Mrs Hall previously enjoyed a very sweet romance with a man called Gerald, but he has since left Darrowby to care for his sick sister.

Where have I seen Anna Madeley before? The actress has previously starred opposite David Tennant in the acclaimed Deadwater Fell (as Kate), while also appearing in Patrick Melrose (as Cousin Mary), Silent Witness, The Crown (as Clarissa Eden), Mr Selfridge (as Miss Ravillious), Utopia (as Anya), Anatomy of a Scandal (as Ellie Frisk) and Secret Invasion.

Imogene Clawson plays Jenny Alderson

Who is Jenny Alderson? Jenny is the younger sister of Helen. There was tension between the two sisters last season when she considered leaving Darrowby for Leeds.

Where have I seen Imogene Clawson before? Imogene Clawson made her acting debut in the first season of All Creatures Great and Small as Jenny Alderson.

Tony Pitts plays Richard Alderson

Who is Richard Alderson? A farmer and widower, and the father of Helen and Jenny.

Where have I seen Tony Pitts before? You might recognise Pitts as Hargreaves from Line of Duty, or as Inspector Moss from Peaky Blinders.

He's also been in Jamestown (as Edgar Massinger), Wild Bill (as Keith Metcalfe), MotherFatherSon (as Lennox), Giri/Haji (as Steve), My Mad Fat Diary (as Chloe's Dad) and Emmerdale (as Archie Brooks). On the big screen, he played Captain Pterro in Rogue One.

All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special guest cast

• Duncan Preston (Emmerdale) as Enoch Sykes – he owns some pigeons that Tristan is in need of.
• Owen Phillips (The Dumping Ground) as Christopher Taylor – he leaves an injured fox on the doorstep of Skeldale House.
• Becky Simon as Ethel Taylor – Christopher's mum. Mrs Hall swaps some coupons for a goose.
• Adam Best as Major Robertson – Tristan's superior.
• Elliot Franz as Paddy Grainger – a friend of Mrs Hall's son Edward from the army.

The All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special will air on Monday 23rd December at 9pm.

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