SPOILERS ALERT!!!
Hello everyone! 🙂
Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!
From September to October this year, I’ve been watching and enjoying the six episodes of Series 3 of the new ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ series on Channel 5. Hopefully one day, I’ll get to write in-depth reviews on each of the six episodes of Series 3 when I get to revisit it on DVD in 2023 or 2024.
Was Series 3 of new ‘All Creatures’ worthwhile and is it as good as the first two seasons? The answer simply is, yes. I’ve greatly enjoyed Series 3 and it’s been nice to see the cast of characters back again. It’s also amazing that Series 3 went by quickly, despite there being six episodes anyway.
The cast includes Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot, Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon, and Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon. There’s also Anna Madeley as Mrs. Hall and Rachel Shenton who becomes Helen Herriot in Series 3. Yes, James and Helen finally get married, which I’m so glad about.
I know it was to be expected, having seen the original BBC TV series, but it was very interesting to see how the Channel 5 series handled James and Helen’s relationship and how they had them married in the first episode of Series 3. It’s a better interpretation compared to the original series. 🙂
Not that the original BBC TV show was awful in handling James and Helen’s relationship, but we didn’t get to see James and Helen be married at all in the original series. The first episode of Series 3 of new ‘All Creatures’ is actually focused on James and Helen getting married, which I think is terrific. 🙂
It’s also clear that the James and Helen relationship is stronger in the new TV show compared to the original series’ version and that Helen is a stronger character. This is especially when Helen stands up for James at times, particularly in the last episode once a mistake is made and James is laid to blame.
Throughout Series 3, there is a sense of war on the horizon, particularly in the sixth episode where it’s profound. James struggles with the decision he makes about whether to join up in the war or not. He also has the challenge of sorting out a tuberculosis testing scheme within the Darrowby area.
Like in the first two seasons, there are echoes of original series episodes featured in the new series episodes of Series 3, of course based on the ‘James Herriot’ books. The episodes themselves continue to be very compelling, especially when you care about the characters featured in the series.
There are certain character-focused episodes that I enjoyed, including the third one where we learn more about Siegfried’s past and he helps a young racehorse (Michael Maloney is in that episode too). I also liked the fifth episode where Mrs. Hall gets to reunite with her own son Edward, who was talked about in Series 1, at a railway station.
It was also interesting to see Tristan have a new love interest in the series, and it’s Sophie Khan Levy as Florence Pandhi. It was good to see Will Thorp back as Gerald Hammond, and I’m glad that Patricia Hodge returned as Mrs. Pumphrey, along with Tricki-Woo, for the last episode of Series 3. 🙂
There’s also Tony Pitts as Richard Alderson, Imogen Clawson as Jenny, and Mollie Winnard as Maggie in Series 3. The last episode of Series 3 does end on a sombre note, especially after the declaration of the Second World War is made in the series. Hopefully, it’ll be cheerful again once the 2022 Christmas Special comes along. 🙂
In the final episode of Series 3, I laughed at the celery dialogue said by Callum Woodhouse as Tristan when he’s with Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki-Woo. Tristan says he ‘can’t stand celery’ and he suggests giving it ‘a wide berth’, which put me in mind of Peter Davison saying that he hates celery in ‘Doctor Who’. And he was Tristan in the BBC TV show.
Series 3 of new ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ has been a worthwhile series to watch on Channel 5. It’s a shame it ended on a sombre note, especially concerning a serious topic. But for the most part, Series 3 has been enjoyable and great to watch. I look forward to seeing more of the new ‘All Creatures’ series.
Hopefully, the 2022 Christmas Special will be coming soon in December this year as well as Series 4 in 2023. I hope to share in-depth reviews on Series 3 of new ‘All Creatures’ sometime in the future. 🙂
Thanks for reading!
Bye for now!
Tim 🙂
Bradley's Basement 
Great review Tim.
The latest series of ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ has been very good. It’s nice that the show has overall been consistent in quality.
The end of series cliffhanger was quite tense. I wonder what the Christmas special this year will be like. I was wondering if you would be able to inform me of when it is going to air, and at what time. I’m asking because I don’t buy the RadioTimes anymore, for cost reasons.
When I check the series out again on DVD, I’ll have to lookout for Callum Woodhouse as Tristan mentioning celery. Speaking of which, did you manage to check out my idea for a Fifth Doctor audio? If so, what do you think of it? Here’s the link for it, my idea is the sixth post down. https://notthebigfinishforum.freeforums.net/thread/7476/pitch-dream-big-finish?page=1#post-343034
On a side-note, I recently saw Tim Marriott and Harriett Thorpe in ‘Allo, Allo’, their both in the same episode in fact. It’s Series 7, episode 4, ‘Up the Crick Without a Piddle’, the one that featured the one-off return of Sam Kelly as Captain Hans Geering.
Take care, WF92.
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Hi WF92,
Glad you enjoyed my review on Series 3 of new ‘All Creatures’. This was a good season to check out on Channel 5 earlier this year. It was tense by the end but I’m looking forward to how it culminates in the Christmas Special this month. I’ve seen a preview of the special in the latest ‘Radio Times’ magazine. I hope to get the new Christmas bumper edition of the ‘Radio Times’ when it comes out to learn more about what time and what the day the special is on in the Christmas week. I’ll try to let you know about it by then. I’m also looking forward to receiving the Series 3 DVD in the post soon.
I’ve seen your idea for a pitch of a ‘Doctor Who’ audio story on the ‘DU’ forum. Interesting you’ve set it during the older Nyssa period with Nyssa, the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough. Also quite a selection of guest stars, including Sarah Smart and Callum Woodhouse. I’ve already included Callum Woodhouse in a couple of ‘Doctor Who’ stories featuring the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Billy where he plays…well, you’ll have to wait and see. 😀
Oh yes, I remember Harriet Thorpe and Tim Marriot being in ‘Allo, Allo’. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the series. Glad you’re enjoying it so far.
Many thanks for your comments.
Tim 🙂
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