BRIDE and joy!

RACHEL SHENTON and NICHOLAS RALPH on Helen and James' nuptials

- CAREN CLARK

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

NEW THURSDAY, 9PM, CHANNEL 5 DRAMA

Fans of All Creatures Great and Small have long yearned to see kind vet James Herriot marry the girl of his dreams, Helen Alderson.

And when TV Times catches up with our cover stars Nicholas Ralph and Rachel Shenton to chat about the third series of the hit Channel 5 period drama, they vow that the opening episode, which sees the lovebirds tie the knot, is worth the wait.

‘When I read the script, I was smiling like a Cheshire cat from start to finish,’ says Nicholas. ‘It’s absolutely brilliant!’

As we head back to 1930s Yorkshire, the new six-part run finds James and farmer’s daughter Helen preparing for their big day in the (fictional) village of Darrowby, but a potential tuberculosis outbreak within a cattle herd could delay proceedings.

Here, Nicholas, 32, and Rachel, 34, tell us what lies ahead…

What are you able to reveal about James and Helen’s wedding day?

NICHOLAS I can’t say much but it’s everything you would hope it would be – romantic and touching, but also funny because there are little mishaps and teething issues on the day…

When I read it, I was straight on the phone to Rach and Cal [Callum Woodhouse, who plays cheeky vet Tristan Farnon], saying, ‘Have you seen this bit?!’ I’m really excited for people to see it.

RACHEL Yes, they do get married, but like any telly wedding, there are bumps along the way…

The wedding dress is beautiful! Our costume designer is brilliant and we wanted something that felt and looked right.