Making change: ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ moves forward as the world emerges from war

Nicholas Ralph looks forward to returning to the fictional village of Darrowby each year. 

After six seasons of portraying James Herriot on Masterpiece’s “All Creatures Great and Small,” Ralph still finds excitement.

“One thing I was really excited about this year was getting back to basics,” Ralph says. “We’ve jumped forward a few years, the war is ending, and James is really getting stuck back into the veterinary side of things properly, jumping in with both feet. That’s been a total joy, and I’ve absolutely loved it.”

“All Creatures Great and Small” is based on real-life veterinarian James Alfred Wight, who, under the pen name James Herriot, documented his experiences with animals and their owners in the fictional small town of Darrowby, England.

A new episode of Masterpiece’s “All Creatures Great and Small” will air at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, on New Mexico PBS, channel 5.1. It will be available to stream on the PBS app. The sixth season finale will air on Sunday, Feb. 22.

Season 6 of the acclaimed series picks up in May 1945 as victory in Europe is declared after World War II and there is the promise of peace at last, but Herriot is wishing for a greater sense of peace at the surgery as he juggles vet work with a busy family life.

Ralph says there’s a time jump in the series between last season and the current one.

“We kick off on VE Day, and in that interim time, Mrs. Hall (Anna Madeley) has left for Sunderland, Tristan (Callum Woodhouse) is away on duty in the war, and Siegfried (Samuel West) has spiraled. He’s taken a bit of a nosedive, reverting to his old ways, or even a little bit worse. He’s clearly struggling without everyone,” Ralph says. “James and Helen (Rachel Shenton) decide to spend more time at Heston Grange. It gives them more space — a place in the countryside for the kids to grow up, but also some distance from Siegfried while he’s in this difficult place.”

Ralph says that Herriot is balancing life between the practice and the farm — all while being a dad to Jimmy (Thomas Riches), who’s about 4½, and Rosie (Arlie and Autumn Doyle), who’s almost 1 year old.

“He’s juggling a lot — work, family life, trying to be present for Helen and the kids,” Ralph says. “Clients are being lost, money is tight, and Siegfried isn’t himself. Being at Heston helps, because there’s plenty of space, and the children can help with the animals. There’s also support from Jenny (Imogen Clawson) and Richard (Tony Pitts), which makes a big difference. Moving there wasn’t really a choice, it was out of necessity. But it’s proved to be a good decision for the time being.”

Over the course of the series, Ralph admits to seeing changes in Herriot. One of the big ones is having children.

“Yes, I think naturally you perhaps become even more compassionate and empathetic. And also, as a father, you want to take better care of yourself because you want to be around for your kids. You start thinking a bit more long-term, looking to the future,” Ralph says about having children on the series. “Of course, all the shuttling back and forth, the late nights, all add to the burden. But I think having children does make you a bit more patient too. People often say you start to see the world through your children’s eyes, which is really unique and surprising at times. Some of the things they come out with, especially little Jimmy … Rosie’s still a bit too young for that just yet, though.”