All Creatures Great and Small star teases major season five update for fans

All Creatures Great and Small heartthrob Nicholas Ralph has excitedly announced the wrap of the show's fifth season.

Taking to Instagram Stories with a cheerful group selfie alongside his co-stars Rachel Shenton, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, and Callum Woodhouse, Nicholas penned: "S5 wrapped."

Set to grace our screens in autumn, the upcoming series promises six new episodes plus a festive treat. Channel 5 is keeping the plot under wraps but hints at more delightful tales from the 1940s Yorkshire Dales, featuring the much-loved Skeldale House gang and the vibrant local community.

Fans will be thrilled by the "unexpected return later in the series" of Tristan Farnon, played by Callum, who left for military service in season three. Nicholas Ralph will, of course, reprise his role as James Herriot, with Rachel Shenton as Helen, Samuel West as Siegfried, and Anna Madeley as Mrs Hall.

The ensemble cast also includes James Anthony-Rose as the eager student vet Richard Carmody and Patricia Hodge as the eccentric Mrs Pumphrey. While the series draws inspiration from James Herriot's renowned books, the actors have previously expressed their own aspirations for the new season during an interview, reports the Mirror.

In a conversation with Hello, Anna shared her thoughts: "I think there are loads of stories that are fantastic to tell," echoed by Samuel who said: "I think we're all still having a very nice time," with Anna adding: "There's still lots and lots of things that we'd still love to film."

The upcoming season teases the introduction of James and Helen's baby boy, also named James, in the eagerly anticipated Christmas special. Fans can anticipate a warming return to the scenic village of Darrowby to get reacquainted with the iconic Skeldale family as well as the colourful community of farmers, creatures, and locals living in Yorkshire Dales during the 1940s.

Speculation suggests that the forthcoming episodes will portray Helen adjusting to motherhood whilst James persists with his duties at the RAF base. Commissioning Editor for Drama at Channel 5 and Paramount+, Paul Testar, expressed his immense pride for the show.

Happily elaborating about the series, he stated: "We're so pleased that All Creatures Great and Small will be returning to Channel 5 for two more series. The show has captured the hearts of our audiences and we are committed to bringing even more of James Herriot's unforgettable stories to our viewers. We can't wait to share this next chapter."