We’re talking about a show set in the 1940s, where the biggest drama is whether Mrs. Hall’s mince pies will burn. Yet, somehow, it’s edge-of-your-sofa stuff. The landscape looks like it was painted by a drunk elf with a snow machine—absurdly beautiful. You’ll find yourself genuinely anxious about whether a farmer’s sheepdog will survive a snowdrift.
The secret sauce? It’s pure, unadulterated nostalgia. No Wi-Fi, no Amazon Prime, just people fighting for a phone line to call a vet. It’s basically a documentary about how we used to suffer, but with adorable puppies and James’s adorable face. If you don’t tear up when Siegfried gives a gruff compliment, you might actually be a robot.
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James Herriot is back, still looking like he just stepped out of a Poldark audition but forgot to be broody. He’s now a seasoned vet, which means he can deliver a calf and a heartfelt monologue about the circle of life. Tristan, the chaotic younger brother, is still treating veterinary school like a long weekend. His idea of a Christmas blessing is finding a pub that’s still open during a blizzard.
Then there’s Mrs. Hall, the actual brains of the operation, holding the house together with a firm hand and a better scone. Siegfried Farnon is his usual self: a man who mistakes shouting for leadership and has the emotional range of a cinder block—until a kitten looks at him. And Helen? She’s the strong, silent type who can birth a foal and then calmly explain why James is being an idiot. Surprising fact: Nicholas Ralph (James) actually trained as a real vet for the role, so those gross animal scenes are not CGI. He’s seen it all, and he still opted for a Christmas special. That’s commitment.
All Creatures Great And Small: Christmas Special (2026) : ABC iview
