All Creatures Great and Small returns for its fifth season, taking us back to Darrowby in the spring of 1941. With World War II underway, the tight-knit community of Darrowby pulls together, and the Skeldale House family is no exception.
Helen (Rachel Shenton), now a confident mother, holds down the fort while James (Nicholas Ralph) is away serving in the RAF. Mrs. Hall (Anna Madeley) and Siegfried (Samuel West) embrace their roles as doting surrogate grandparents to baby Jimmy, and Carmody has become an integral part of the household.
In this season premiere, we find Siegfried shouldering the burden of a busy surgery in James and Tristan’s absence. Mrs. Hall and Helen attend a community meeting to discuss the war effort, eager to contribute their skills and resources.
Meanwhile, James, stationed at RAF Abingdon, readies himself and his crew for an important training flight. He reassures a nervous Banerjee (Samir Mahat), a young crewmate, that pre-flight jitters are entirely normal. However, just as they’re about to take off, James is unexpectedly grounded, leading to a medical examination that yields surprising results.
Back in Darrowby, Carmody (James Anthony-Rose) implements a new surgery triage system, causing a stir among his colleagues. Siegfried relies on him for increased support, but Carmody’s methods create more than a little turbulence.
Helen, ever resourceful, lends her assistance to Dot Fawcett (Caroline O’Neill), helping unravel the mystery of her cat, Frisk. Siegfried, feeling the strain, longs for Tristan’s (Callum Woodhouse) return, but it seems that Tristan’s homecoming won’t be without its complications.
As the episode progresses, James, temporarily reassigned to farm labor, finds his purpose and passion reignited when he steps in to assist with a difficult calving.
Meanwhile, Helen’s kindness extends to James Senior and Hannah, and Siegfried, Mrs. Hall, and Carmody reflect on their roles in the war effort, each committed to making a difference.
All Creatures Great and Small, Season 5, Episode 1, airs Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 9:00 PM on Channel 5.
