James Herriot’s “All Creatures Great and Small” stories are set for a PBS “Masterpiece” television series 50 years after publication of the veterinarian’s first book
James Alfred Wight, OBE, FRCVS was a young British veterinary surgeon in 1940, when he was hired by a veterinary practice in Thirsk, Yorkshire. He fell in love with the stark countryside and its people and animals. Wight later wrote heartwarming stories based on his adventures as a young country vet, under the pen name “James Herriot”.
The fictitious Herriot became one of Britain’s best-loved (and bestselling) authors and his stories are often credited by many veterinarians and other animal health professionals as their inspiration to pursue a career with animals. In 1978, the BBC made a television series based on 90 of the veterinarian’s stories, and it is still much-loved by all who remember it.
This week, television executives in the US and Great Britain announced a re-make of the Herriot stories for a new generation of viewers.
Boston, MA; June 27, 2019 — (via press release) MASTERPIECE on PBS will co-produce All Creatures Great and Small, a brand new adaptation based on best-selling author James Herriot’s cherished and iconic collection of stories.
All Creatures Great and Small will shoot on location in Yorkshire, England, as 2020 sees the 50th anniversary of the original publication of the much-loved books.
Since their first publication in 1970, the beloved books of James Alfred Wight, published under the pen name James Herriot, have held a special place in people’s hearts throughout the world. Chronicling the heartwarming and humorous adventures of a young country vet, the books introduced readers to his unconventional mentor and the cast of farmers and townsfolk who lived and worked in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s.
This new adaptation will preserve the rich spirit, tone and values of Herriot’s iconic characters and stories and will bring to life his sharply observed, entertaining and incredibly funny tales of country life in the North of England for a modern audience, introducing a new generation to his life-affirming stories.
“Revisiting James Herriot’s beloved stories is an immense privilege and we are honored that Alf Wight’s family have entrusted us with his legacy. It is a responsibility we take very seriously,” says Colin Callender, Executive Producer and CEO of Playground. “At a time when the country feels more divided than ever, Herriot’s glorious books remind us how to connect and belong again.
The series will embrace the fun and the nostalgia of revisiting the England of the past, while celebrating Herriot’s values that, despite all our current upheaval, still underpin British life today.”
“When it originally aired on public broadcasting, All Creatures Great and Small captured the hearts of millions of television viewers,” says Rebecca Eaton, Executive Producer of MASTERPIECE. “We promise that the new series will have all the wit, warmth, and quirky charm of the original — and of course, lots of irresistible animals.”
Sebastian Cardwell, Channel 5 commented: “James Herriot has a special place in the heart of the public and the commission of this iconic drama series, against the stunning backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales, is set to bring joy to a new army of TV viewers. The original books affectionately captured a unique slice of British life; in challenging times, we hope the charming and heart-warming stories of community and compassion will resonate with new audiences.”
Never out of print, the books have sold 60 million copies internationally becoming a global cultural phenomenon with devoted fans around the world. Their focus on community and its importance in our lives gives Herriot’s work an enduring power and contemporary resonance that reminds us all that belonging to a community makes us part of something greater than ourselves.
Jim Wight and Rosie Page, Wight’s children, say: “The books of James Herriot have enchanted millions of readers worldwide for almost half a century. We are delighted that our father’s work will be brought to life once again for a new generation of viewers Great and Small.”
All Creatures Great and Small is a timeless classic that continues to be loved by generations. The collected works of All Creatures Great and Small is comprised of Herriot’s debut novel If Only They Could Talk, originally published in the UK in 1970, and its follow-up It Shouldn’t Happen to A Vet. Herriot went on to write over a dozen subsequent stories and collections which have gone on to sell millions of copies internationally.
About the project: The series will be a production from BAFTA and Golden Globe®-winning production company Playground (Howards End, Wolf Hall). Channel 5 in the UK commissioned the series and All3Media will distribute internationally. The production will also receive funding and support from Screen Yorkshire. The six-part series plus a Christmas special, will be produced by Richard Burrell (New Tricks, Silent Witness). Executive Producers are Colin Callender and Melissa Gallant for Playground, Hugo Heppell for Screen Yorkshire and Rebecca Eaton for MASTERPIECE. MASTERPIECE on PBS is presented by WGBH Boston. Ben Vanstone (The Last Kingdom) is lead writer and Executive Producer and Brian Percival (Downton Abbey) is lead director.
No information on casting has been released.
Additional information: It may be 18 months to two years (or longer) before it shows on American television.
In the meantime, the seven years of the old BBC production, which won many awards back in the 1970s and 1980s, is probably on DVD in local libraries. Season 1 of the BBC version is available for live streaming via Amazon Prime Video but it is likely that it will be taken down now that the new series has been announced.
