All Creatures Great and Small season 6: Release date speculation, potential cast and latest news

"We usually get them at the start of the year. So, get Christmas out of the way, and then we'll get to see what we’re doing next."

When asked whether he knows what's in store for his character Tristan and the show, Woodhouse said: "We've had a few little teasers [about what’s in store], but also at that stage, you don't know if it is going to change.

"So when they give you these teasers, you don't want to take it as gospel, like, 'OK, that's definitely what I'll be doing next series,' because anything could change between then and there.

"I’m sure when they give us these teasers, they're still very much in the workshop stage."

Read on for everything you need to know about All Creatures Great and Small season 6.

All Creatures Great and Small season 6 potential release date: When could it air?

We'd expect season 6 to arrive in either September or October 2025, although no release date has been confirmed yet.

Watch this space for updates.

All Creatures Great and Small season 6 potential cast: Who could return?

It seems we've seen the last of Richard Carmody after he left to take part in a research programme in London – although that doesn't rule out a possible return in the future.

As for the rest of the cast, we'd expect to see the following:

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

There's also Patricia Hodge as Mrs Pumphrey (alongside Derek the dog, who plays Tricki Woo), Imogen Clawson as Jenny Alderson and Tony Pitts as Richard Alderson, among others.

And as ever, you can also expect a raft of new guest stars.

Jeremy Swift joined the cast as Mr Bosworth in season 5, and with the war ongoing, there's also a chance he could return.

All Creatures Great and Small season 6 potential plot: What could happen?

Speaking previously to RadioTimes.com ahead of season 5's debut, Samuel West said that the cast were "about to have some discussions" about what season 6 would bring.

"One of the things that the books do is dramatise the fact that Tristan leaves," he said. "Brian, the original Tristan, left the practice. And I don't think we'll be doing that. I hope not. So at that point, I think we will be non-canonical."

But in the Christmas special, it was confirmed that Tristan won't be going anywhere any time soon.

"He's going to be another permanent fixture at Skeldale for a while," said Woodhouse. "And it's been really nice being back with the family, and obviously Siegfried, in his own way, is very happy to carry on having him around as well."

Tristan has also "found his niche in doing his instructing work" in Doncaster, he added.

"And I think he's really enjoying it and still feeling like he's contributing to the war effort, even though he's not technically on the front line anymore.

"So it's been a nice full-circle journey for him."

Madeley went on to say that the show is on a "different journey" to the source material.

"Because our adaptation is so very different to both the '70s adaptation, but also how the book's written, it's quite a different journey that we're on, even though those stories are obviously the main source of inspiration, the journey and the arc for those characters is very different," she said.

West added that not knowing what's on the cards can create "a little bit of a concern, but at the same time it has to contain the possibility of being surprised, just like life".

As well as Tristan returning to Darrowby, James is also back full time after being ruled unfit to serve due to contracting brucellosis, which continued to cause him problems.

But Ralph has assured fans that his character is now in a "much better place".

"He does bottle things up a little bit and tries to be very stoic about it and put his best foot forward," he said. "But at the same time, the brucellosis was almost like a blessing in disguise because he did have this delirious outpouring of emotion, which Helen saw, and then he managed to open up to her properly about it and deal with those things by talking it through.

"So he’s definitely in a much better place than he was. It will always be in the back of his mind, but he's just once again being reminded about how fortunate he is actually to be back because so many young men aren't.

"And to be there for little Jimmy on his first birthday, and to be there with all the family and friends, he’s incredibly grateful and just taking it all like it's brand new again."

With the war continuing to ramp up in intensity, however, everyone's future remains uncertain – as Mrs Hall experienced in the Christmas special when she thought her son Edward had died after the HMP Repulse was sunk by enemy fire.

"It's a horrendous time for Mrs Hall," said Madeley. "It's every mother's worst nightmare.

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

But what we do know is baby Jimmy will continue to be a delight, the animals of Darrowby and the surrounding areas will keep Siegfried and James on their toes, and Mrs Hall will ensure that Skeldale House remains in tip top condition.

Is there an All Creatures Great and Small season 6 trailer?

Trailers usually arrive in the month leading up to the premiere, so don't expect any new footage until at least August next year.

All Creatures Great and Small seasons 1-5 are available to watch on My5. You can order James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small from Amazon.

If you're looking for something else to watch, visit our TV Guide or take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.