The Yorkshire Vet – which follows all the drama, laughter and tears as a group of town and country vets at four different practices help animals of all kinds – returns to our screens tonight (Tuesday).
Christopher Timothy, who once played the world’s most famous vet, James Herriot, provides the series narration, which will air on Channel 5 at 8 pm.
Peter Wright, who was trained in Thirsk by Herriot himself, has 40 years’ experience treating all kinds of animals.
After leaving Skeldale Veterinary Centre, his old boss’ original practice, he now works out of Grace Lane Vets in Kirkbymoorside, on the edge of the moors in North Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, Julian Norton – Peter’s former partner at Skeldale – has opened a practice back in Thirsk, which he runs alongside his wife, Anne. Julian is also a partner at Sandbeck Veterinary Centre in Wetherby, just across Yorkshire.
Following in their footsteps in upholding the Herriot ethos are a team of young vets at the Donaldson’s practice in West Yorkshire.
They include Matt Smith, Shona Searson, David Melleney and Rohin Aojula. Although they are based at a state-of-the-art animal hospital in Huddersfield, Donaldson’s is another traditional mixed practice – their work involves caring for farm animals, wildlife and popular pets, as well as some that are more exotic.
According to producers, the team of vets also encounter “all kinds of colourful characters, from children to kindly old ladies to larger-than-life, straight-talking farmers”.
Yorkshire is the series’ other leading character. As producers follow the vets to more remote farm locations, the countryside provides a “stunning, ever-changing” backdrop.
“And whatever the weather, they continue the Herriot tradition – treating all creatures great and small,” a spokesperson for the series said.
Episode one
In episode one of the new series, Peter deals with an emergency at the practice in Kirkbymoorside, when a local farming couple rush in their in-lamb Texel ewe.
At the Thirsk practice, Julian operates on a much-loved terrier called Lovejoy. He is suffering from bladder stones, just like owners, Andrew and Nick’s previous dog, who did not survive.
And they are worried that they are set for more heartache over Lovejoy. Matt heads into challenging, stressful surgery on a chameleon called Miss Pickles, who has lots of eggs stuck inside her.
Huddersfield vet Shona, and her boyfriend James are approaching the big moment in their home breeding adventure, with their first lambs due to be born.
But they are not coming as quickly as expected, and their time off work is nearly over. Julian enjoys a landmark birthday, but although they are showering with gifts, the Wetherby team are not exactly in the most sensitive of moods!
And it has been a difficult time at the Greens’ farm; they have just lost their old donkey Mabel. Peter heads over to check on Mabel’s old pal Cybil, who seems lonely.
So Peter has an idea to cheer them all up and calls on the help of a couple of farming friends – two brothers from Barnsley.
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