Towers of STRENGTH

ANNA MADELEY, RACHEL SHENTON and PATRICIA HODGE on how the women of Darrowby take centre stage in the finale

- CAREN CLARK

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL THURSDAY, 9PM, CHANNEL 5 DRAMA

Helen Herriot, Mrs Hall and Mrs Pumphrey can each be relied upon to offer unflinching support through troubled times. But as the fifth series of Channel 5’s hit period drama All Creatures Great and Small draws to a close this week, the ever-practical trio must team up and use their abundance of compassion and resilience to deal with a crisis at veterinary practice Skeldale House.

When James (played by Nicholas Ralph) falls worryingly ill while treating pampered Pekinese Tricki Woo, Helen (Rachel Shenton) rushes to care for her husband, as Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley) and Tricki’s owner Mrs Pumphrey (Patricia Hodge) juggle surgery inquiries, the Herriots’ baby, Jimmy, and even a spot of jam-making!

Here, in a TV Times exclusive, leading ladies Anna, Rachel and Patricia tell us what to expect in the (fictional) village of Darrowby…

‘MRS HALL’S A REALLY CAPABLE PERSON’ ANNA MADELEY on how the stoical housekeeper holds the fort

‘This series, everything’s been shaken by war and people have taken on new roles – it’s been great seeing Mrs Hall gather her confidence as an Air Raid Precautions warden,’ shares Anna. ‘Now, Skeldale is in the happy position of having everyone home, but they’re dealing with huge workloads and then James becomes unwell. Mrs Hall’s a really capable person and supports Helen while she looks after James, but she finds Mrs Pumphrey taking a seat in the scullery with her!