Wheres the original All Creatures Great and Small cast now? From tragic death to controversial replacement

All Creatures Great and Small series four airs on Channel 5 tonight as James Herriot and Helen Alderson return to Skeldale House.

The couple are settling into life as a newly wed couple while waiting to hear if James will be called up to serve in the RAF.

Meanwhile, Siegfried Farnon is getting to grips with his brother Tristan fighting in the war and trying to run the vet surgery without him.

Elsewhere a new trainee veterinary student Richard Carmody arrives, causing complications in the house.

As the new series gets underway, OK! looks back on the original series and where the cast are now.

James Herriot – Christopher Timothy

Christopher Timothy took on the role of loveable Yorkshire vet James Herriot when it aired on the BBC for seven series.

The actor met Alf Wight, the inspiration behind the series, and told The Guardian: "He was a very private man who hated all the fuss about his books, which recalled his days as a vet in Yorkshire.

"We were already filming when he finally came to see us on set. He turned out to be hospitable and friendly, with a soft, lilting Scottish accent – though I was told to keep my speech neutral to retain the universality of the part. Which I thought was complete b******."

Following his time on All Creatures Great and Small, Christopher went on to narrate the audiobooks of the James Herriot series.

Most recently, he has starred as Mac McGuire in Doctors and Ted Murray in EastEnders.

He has been married twice. He had four sons and two daughters with first wife Susan Boys. He went on to have a romance with co-star Carol Drinkwater.

Christopher married Annie Veronica Swatton in 1982, who he has one daughter with.

Siegfried Farnon – Robert Hardy

Robert Hardy played cantankerous Siegfried Farnon before going on to star in Northanger Abbey, Inspector Morse and Foyles War.

Fans will recognise him as Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter film franchise.

His last roles were in Snapshot Wedding and In Familia, both in 2017, and his last TV appearance was as Winston Churchill in Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain.

Robert died in August 2017 at Denville Hall, a home for retired actors.

Tristan Farnon – Peter Davison

One of the most recognisable stars of the original series is Peter Davison who starred as Tristan Farnon.

Following his success on the BBC series, he landed the part as the fifth reincarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who.

He also appeared as David Braithwaite in At Home with the Braithwaites. Davies in The Last Detective and ITV's reboot of The Larkins.

Peter has been married three times; in 1973 to Diane J. Russell, in 1978 to Sandra Dickinson and to third wife Elizabeth Morton in 2003.

Helen Alderson – Carol Drinkwater/Lynda Bellingham



Helen was originally played by Carol Drinkwater for the first three series before she was replaced by Lynda Bellingham.

Lynda was pregnant during series five so was forced to film scenes from a bed and a hole was cut in the mattress to hide her bump.

When Carol left the series, she said: "I'd given everything I could and I couldn't think where else I could take the role, because there was no more material. I wasn't leaving in any kind of spiteful thing. The BBC was so angry with me, they put a ban on using me."

She married French television producer Michel Noll, who she has two stepdaughters with.

Meanwhile, Lynda became the much-loved icon of the Oxo Family between 1983 and 1999.

She was a panellist on Loose from 2007-2011 and starred in the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing.

In July 2013, Lynda was diagnosed with cancer and she confirmed in September 2014, she had just "months to live". She died in October 2014 with husband Michael by her side.


Mrs Hall – Mary Hignett

Mary Hignett starred as housekeep and cook Mrs Hall in the first three series.

She sadly died at the age of 64 just after filming for the series came to an end.

Her death was written into the show with the four central characters honouring her with a toast in the 1983 Christmas Special.

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