"All Creatures" was allegedly offered to the BBC, but rejected since it failed their diversity test, so I watched it judging that anything rejectable by "Beeb" must be entertaining. Right from the opening music to the production, location and cast we are still in the English time-line, which is a huge relief. Channel 5 and Playground Entertainment DID take a bit of a risk hiring unknown Nicholas Ralph as iconic James Herriot. To be quite honest it's hard to warm to his personality, since Christopher Timothy of the 1978 series was such a a cosy, all-compassing person, compared to this rather plastic Jimmy-James H. who hardly ever pulls even a wrong facial expression, if he ever could. The 2020 Siegfried Farnon played by Samuel west, is a slow-burn, as yet feeling his way into the part, with strong sense he'll blossom in subsequent Series. The housekeeper, Mrs Hall looks too young. If 40 really is the new 20's they really ought to have got someone older, to even tick a diversity box (ha ha, gotcha!). So, frank and fair, not primarily to spite the BBC (which is dying anyway) I do recommend All Creatures Great & Small, hoping it shall go from strength to strength, for all the "right" reasons.
Review of All Creatures Great and Small
