Series 3 of All Creatures Great and Small on Channel 5

Just in time for the crisp autumn weather, the season of cosy evenings on the sofa with the family, All Creatures Great and Small is returning to Channel 5.

The programme, which is based on a series of books about a Yorkshire vet written under the pen name James Herriot, is now in its third series - and it's all change for the character of James.

This series, James is getting married to Helen, moving on up in the veterinary practice at Skeldale House, and having to come to terms with a new power dynamic with Siegfried.

Of course, as in his real life in the 1930s, all the action is happening in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, and there's plenty of gorgeous scenery to feast upon from the comfort of our living rooms.

Nicholas Ralph, who plays James, shares more about what's to come.

WHERE DO WE FIND JAMES THIS SERIES? HE'S BECOMING A BUSINESS PARTNER AT THE VETERINARY PRACTICE?

James is getting a little more responsibility, which is great. It's great for him, especially if you're going to be a newly married man...

Helen will be joining him at Skeldale House, so obviously he wants to be provider as well as protector.

[He's] also trying to steer Siegfried, slowly but surely, trying to steer him down newer, more modern routes, keeping the practice up to speed with the modern day. And of course, that comes with challenges and challenges from Siegfried, and ends up at loggerheads with him over various things, as you can imagine.

But ultimately, that's what he wants to do: he wants to provide a little more than he currently can.

DOES THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH SIEGFRIED CHANGE WITH JAMES HAVING THAT BIT MORE RESPONSIBILITY?

Oh, yeah, definitely. Definitely.

Even though James has more responsibility, I don't know if Siegfried is ready or willing to renege, to give up the responsibility to James that he's given him, in another sense. There's challenges there, there's butting of heads, until they gradually can come to an understanding of one another.

They know each other so well by this point as well, that they can kind of work one another out a little more, can appease to their personalities.

Helen and Mrs. H can see it all unfolding as well. And they know how to nudge people in certain directions, as well, which is very useful! It's all part of Helen's embedding into Skeldale House as well, and for her finding her place in the house.

OKAY, MY INTEREST IS PIQUED - TELL ME ABOUT THE WEDDING!

I can't say too much! However, what I can say is when I read the script, I was smiling like a Cheshire cat from start to finish. It's absolutely brilliant.

Not only is it everything that you would hope it would be - romantic and touching in points as well - but it's also very funny. It's a really funny script, as well.

As I said, I was just smiling all through reading it, and we were straight on the phone to the rest of the cast, Callum, Rachel and saying: "Have you read it yet? Have you read it? Have you seen this bit, have you seen that bit?"

So yeah, I'm really excited for people to see it.

HOW DOES JAMES FIND MARRIED LIFE? DOES IT MAKE HIM FEEL EVEN MORE SETTLED?

Absolutely. I don't think there's anything better than him being in their little area within the house, just the two of them.

I think he also says that, in the books, the time spent just sat in front of the fire with her, before going out on a call - that was the best moment.

HOW IS IT HAVING JIM AND ROSIE, JAMES'S REAL LIFE SON AND DAUGHTER, ON BOARD FOR THE PROGRAMME?

Really priceless having them on board. I know Rach and Rosie have a really good relationship, because of course, Helen doesn't appear in the books as much as the rest of the characters. So for me, still my number one is the books because, you know, it's all there. But having that connection with the family as well is priceless.

They said anytime that James left the house, or Helen left the house, to go out to rounds or whatever, they would always kiss one another before leaving the house, which is just... these little things just make it more authentic.

Those little touches, I think, are priceless.

WHAT ABOUT THE LOCALS OF THE DALES, DO THEY ENJOY YOU FILMING THERE?

Yeah, they do like it, when we were up in Arncliffe, which I've mentioned before cause I love it up there, you get the ladies all out for their four o'clock gin and tonics, they're always like: "Do you want to come in James, for a gin and tonic? Please sit down!"

And Grassington as well, you know, we have to close down large areas of square and the shops, you know, we've done that for 1930s.

People come up all the time when you're filming, especially in Grassington, we had big, big crowds out this year.

THIS IS THE THIRD SERIES OF ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL - WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE IT SO MUCH?

I think it came at the right time in that we were in lockdown during Covid, so I think it was a brilliant escapism for people straight away, like the other characters, the Yorkshire Dales and it's absolutely stunning. We can't believe our luck sometimes, they're just absolutely beautiful.

I remember beforehand, the execs and Brian Percival the director talked about wanting to do a show where all the family could sit down together and watch it, every generation, and that's something that has happened. We'll find out that grandparents, parents, sons and daughters and grandchildren are watching together. So I think that's part of the appeal.

And there's no villains in it either, which I think is quite different to a lot of TV these days.

It's gentle, it's warm, it's funny at times. It's all that lovely stuff.

All Creatures Great and Small returns to Channel 5 on Thursday, September 15. It can also be streamed on My5.