Creature comforts

It's time to catch up with all the goings on at Heston Grange as All Creatures Great and Small returns to our screens for a new series. By EMMA JOHNSON

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WE'RE back in Yorkshire for the sixth series of All Creatures Great and Small, the much-loved drama based on the books by vet James Herriot, but you may notice that things in Darrowby aren't quite how we left them.

There's been a time jump. It’s now May, 1945, and James (Nicholas Ralph) and Helen (Rachel Shenton) now have a baby daughter, Rosie, as well as their four-year-old son Jimmy (Thomas Riches).

However even if the Second World War is now coming to an end, the Herriots are facing some new challenges.

In the first episode, Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse) is certainly shocked when he returns from serving in Italy and sees the state of Skeldale House - and his brother, Siegfried (Samuel West).

Here South Africa-born, Scotland-raised Nicholas, 35, gives us an insight in what to expect from the cosy drama this time around...

There is a bit of a time jump between series five and six. What's happening in James Herriot’s world...

We kick off on VE Day... Mrs Hall has left for Sunderland, Tristan is away on duty in the war, and Siegfried has spiralled.

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.

James and Helen 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.

James is shuttling between the practice and the farm, trying to keep the business afloat while also being a dad to Jimmy, who's about four and a half, and Rosie, who’s almost one year old.