With summer now officially over and the cold starting to creep back in, there couldn\u2019t be a better time for the return of All Creatures Great and Small<\/a> \u2013 a warming cup of Yorkshire tea in TV form.<\/p>\n Based on the James Herriot books<\/a>, Ben Vanstone\u2019s new adaptation had big wellies to fill when it galloped onto our screens last year, with many viewers being familiar with the BBC\u2019s 1978 series starring Peter Davison. However, All Creatures Great and Small proved to be a big hit for Channel 5, becoming its highest rated show since 2016 after over three million viewers tuned in to be charmed by the dashing Yorkshire Dales.<\/p>\n Hardcore fans of Skeldale House will be therefore pleased to hear that series two is just as delightfully heart-warming as its predecessor, containing all the ingredients needed for your classic, inoffensive family-friendly drama: a bit of relatively low-stakes suspense, a will-they-won\u2019t-they romance, a couple of chuckle-worthy moments and as many cute animals as possible (that last one isn\u2019t a strict requirement, but it certainly helps \u2013 and All Creatures has them in spades).<\/p>\n The new series picks up a few months after the events of the Christmas special. James (Nicholas Ralph) has visited his parents for Easter, who are hoping he\u2019ll take a job at his old mentor\u2019s pet-focussed practice in Glasgow, and returns to the Dales to be greeted by the typically aloof Siegfried (Samuel West). Of course, it\u2019s not long until James is visiting Helen Alderson again (Rachel Shenton), who\u2019s been laying low since ditching Hugh Hulton at the altar and denying her feelings for James.<\/p>\n As for the Farnon brothers, Tristan (Callum Woodhouse) is still none-the-wiser when it comes to his veterinary exam results, which Siegfried has decided to keep from him to avoid coming across as the nagging older brother. Under the false impression that he now has a legitimate license to practice veterinary medicine, Tristan is taking on more work at Skeldale House as Siegfried anxious watches on, while James is once again frustrated by his boss\u2019s by-the-book approach to treating farm animals.<\/p>\n Despite all the bickering, watching the residents of Skeldale House reunite over a hearty roast dinner, made by the ever-patient Mrs Hall, is a welcome sight thanks to the instant chemistry and family-like dynamic between all of the All Creatures Great and Small cast<\/a>. Samuel West is back on top form as the eccentric and emotionally complicated Siegfried, while Callum Woodhouse\u2019s performance as his cheeky, charming slacker brother gives the drama some of its funniest moments. Without giving too much away, Tristan\u2019s budgie ordeal is a slapstick-heavy subplot that acts as the perfect comic relief to later scenes where viewers witness the awkward meeting of James and Helen.<\/p>\n Many All Creatures fans will be eagerly anticipating the debut of Miranda\u2019s Patricia Hodge as wealthy dog-lover Mrs Pumphrey<\/a> following the death of Dame Diana Rigg last year and, while Hodge doesn\u2019t appear until episode three, her grand entrance is well worth the wait.<\/p>\n Hodge effortlessly slips into the iconic role, so much so that you\u2019d think that the big ball of hair that is Tricki Woo (played by dog actor Derek) had known her all his life. Swanning around Skeldale House with Tricki flopped in her arms, Hodge\u2019s Mrs Pumphrey somewhat steals the show with lines like, \u201cI only eat at Fortnum myself,\u201d whilst constantly asking after Tricki\u2019s \u2018Uncle Herriot\u2019.<\/p> Of course, All Creatures Great and Small isn\u2019t exactly fast-paced viewing \u2013 but that\u2019s what makes it so enjoyable. Its slow, relaxing tone and relatively straightforward storylines transport its viewers to the stunning vistas of 1940\u2019s Yorkshire, showcasing beautifully preserved towns like Grassington and Skipton.<\/p>\n A truly comforting treat, All Creatures Great and Small series two proves to be a much-needed tonic in these hectic, ever-accelerating times.<\/p>\n The period drama’s second series is just as heart-warming as its predecessor and acts as a much-needed TV tonic as we accelerate towards post-pandemic life. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":4519,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/09\/all-creatures-great-and-small-series-2-review-comforting-cup-of-yorkshire-tea-we-all-need.jpg",620,413,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/09\/all-creatures-great-and-small-series-2-review-comforting-cup-of-yorkshire-tea-we-all-need-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/09\/all-creatures-great-and-small-series-2-review-comforting-cup-of-yorkshire-tea-we-all-need-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/09\/all-creatures-great-and-small-series-2-review-comforting-cup-of-yorkshire-tea-we-all-need.jpg",620,413,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/09\/all-creatures-great-and-small-series-2-review-comforting-cup-of-yorkshire-tea-we-all-need.jpg",620,413,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/09\/all-creatures-great-and-small-series-2-review-comforting-cup-of-yorkshire-tea-we-all-need.jpg",620,413,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/09\/all-creatures-great-and-small-series-2-review-comforting-cup-of-yorkshire-tea-we-all-need.jpg",620,413,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The period drama's second series is just as heart-warming as its predecessor and acts as a much-needed TV tonic as we accelerate towards post-pandemic life.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/4518"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\""All\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/09\/All-Creatures-Great-and-Small-Series-2_MS_07_04_21_PORTRAIT_0809_m24161-9f020b9.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"all-creatures-great-and-small-series-2-review\"\\"")
<\/div> ![\""All\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/All-Creatures-Great-and-Small-Series-2_EP03_MS_08.04.21_EPISODIC_0915-946b3a6.jpg?quality=90&resize=606%2C413"\" "\\"\"all-creatures-great-and-small-series-2-review\"\\"")
<\/div>
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"