All Creatures Great and Small: Series 4

In 1937, a young, newly-qualified surgeon arrives in the picturesque village of Darrowby to take up his first job in the established veterinary practice of Sigfried and Tristan Farnon. But in rural Yorkshire, with few medicines available, the treatment of sick animals still seems to be rooted in the Dark Ages. This, together with the country-folk's inherent suspicion of strangers, poses problems for James Herriot in the early years of his career.

Gradually, James establishes himself with the people of Darrowby and is made a partner in the veterinary practice. He courts and eventually marries Helen and becomes a family man. And over the next 20 years, James, his family and friends share in the joys and heartaches of caring for the many wonderful creatures that become part of their world.

Based on the best-selling novels by James Herriot. Includes the episodes:
One of Life's Little Miracles; Barks and Bites; The Bull with the Bowler Hat; The Pig Man Cometh; Hail Caesar!; Only One Woof; Ace, King, Queen, Jack;...The Healing Touch; City Slicker; For Richer, For Poorer.

All Creatures Great and Small Series Four continues the story of James Herriot (Christopher Timothy), his wife Helen (now played by Lynda Bellingham) and his volatile but warm-hearted partner, Siegfried Farnon (Robert Hardy). The setting is now the early Fifties, and the Dales are still suffering from the bleak austerity that gripped all England after World War II. Now that Tristan (Peter Davison) has landed an exalted position in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Darrowby practice recruits a young Scottish vet Calum (John McGlynn), who arrives by motorcycle with a badger in his luggage.

Little Miracles - Calum Buchanan joins the practice along with his tame badger, Marylin. Pregnant ewes, the plumbing at Sceldale and Helen's lost engagement ring herald the new arrival.

Your Ideal Partner - Helen and Jimmy are threatened with a shotgun by a cruel dog- owner. Tristan has a new assignment as a fertility counselor and Siegfried shows new- boy, Calum, the ropes at the practice -- and introduces him to a few of the more difficult clients.

The Bull with the Bowler Hat - James has a crisis of professional confidence while treating a cow with a new drug. Tristan tries to convince a local farmer of the virtues of artificial insemination but Siegfreid only succeeds in enraging the farmer's bull.

The Pig Man Cometh - James has his eye on a little semi-detached property coming up for sale, with the notion it would make a pleasant surprise for Helen. Unknown to him, however, Helen has grander ideas. There is trouble from a local farmer, which ironically leads Calum to celebrate his departure from the Herriot household.

Barks and Bites - Tristan has been appointed a fertility counsellor for the Ministry of Agriculture. He and James are sent to Grimbsby to examine an export consignment of sheep with two Russian vets. The Russian woman vet lives up to Tristan's belief that all Russian women are built like discus-throwers.

Only One Woof - James and Seigfreid deal with a sheepdog trainer, whose dog is suffering from epilepsy. At Skeldale, two wild cats wander in the garden and Helen takes out food for them. She is hopeful of keeping them but James warns her that they will never come in from the wild.

Ace, King, Queen, Jack - The week leading up to the Darrowby Show proves to be a difficult one for James. He finds that he has been asked to judge the dog section at the show, an invitation he can't refuse. Since Mrs. Pumphrey will inevitably want to enter Tricky Woo, James expects to be put in a very embarrassing situation.

...The Healing Touch - Trying to save the life of a badly-injured, much-loved cat, James and Tristan seek the help of Granville Bennett, who runs a small animal hospital. The fruits of Bennett's practice are clearly much richer than the hard graft of the Dales, and James is intrigued to find that Bennett is looking for a partner.

City Slicker - Andrew Bruce, an old school friend of James's comes to stay for a long weekend. Andrew, a city bank manager, is rhapsodic about the idyllic countryside and Yorkshire Dales courtesy, and he cannot understand why James should want to change such an ideal lifestyle -- until he finds himself in a rural nightmare.

For Richer, For Poorer - Harvest Sunday proves to be a trying time for the practice. Seigfreid seizes the opportunity to teach Callum cleanliness by example, forcing him to watch "the perfect operation" on a sick cow. Unfortunately, the operation doesn't go according to plan. When Callum is chased by a bull, James goes to his aid.

James Herriott	---	Christopher Timothy
Tristan Farnon	---	Peter Davison
Siegfried Farnon	---	Robert Hardy
Helen Herriot	---	Lynda Bellingham
Calum	---	John McGlynn

Written by James Herriot
Adapted by Johnny Byrne, Alfred Shaughnessy, Terry Hodgkinson
Produced by Bill Sellars
Directed by Michael Brayshaw
Incidental Music by Johnny Pearson

When you visit Thirsk someday, be sure to amble through the spacious sweep of grass called the Flatts in nearby Sowerby. James Herriot (real-life veterinarian James Alfred Wight,or "Alf") loves this peaceful open space, and often walked with his dogs here.