This year's Christmas special of All Creatures Great and Small finds the team at Darrowby dealing with the festive cheer alongside the realities of wartime.
For pure seasonal comfort and joy, 1940s Herriot country is the place to be – even if it is wartime. It was December 1941 in this year’s Christmas special. It began with Siegfried bringing home a tree, James decking the halls with boughs of holly, and Mrs Hall trading food coupons for a goose.
And having been born during last year’s festive special, this Christmas also marked James and Helen’s son Jimmy’s first birthday (filming regulations apparently meant three different toddlers played Jimmy, although I couldn’t spot the difference). This cosy domestic scene in Darrowby was violently interrupted with news that Mrs Hall’s son Edward’s ship, HMS, had been sunk. Here then was an overdue prominent storyline for Skeldale House’s resident housekeeper and the consistently excellent Anna Madeley. Relief and Christmas cheer were unbounded. Madeley is one of those clever actors who can convey pretty much everything in one silent glance but here the storyline gave her the opportunity to voice a whole range of strong emotions. Mrs Hall’s habitual Yorkshire stoicism finally gave way to an explosive two-hander with Siegfried – nominally over whether Siegfried should put down a sick fox, but really a release of her pent-up anxiety over Edward’s fate. Lightening the mood, Tristan was dispatched by his commanding officer at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps to source some message-carrying pigeons for the war effort. “You can bugger off… you’re coming nowhere near my birds,” he greeted the vet. Tristan resorted to blackmail when he noticed that a couple of Enoch’s pigeons were sick; he would spill the news to rival breeders unless he cooperated. It’s good to have Woodhouse back in the cast – Tristan adds a comic dimension to the proceeding
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL WAR MRS HALL TRISTAN
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Reporter Finds Calm Amidst Christmas Shopping Chaos at Trafford CentreRamazani Mwamba, a reporter with LancsLive, was surprised to find the Trafford Centre unusually calm during a last-minute Christmas shopping trip. He expected the usual crowded and frantic atmosphere but instead encountered a relaxed and spacious environment.
Read more »
Dan Ashworth played a role in signing every player at Man Utd this summer except oneDan Ashworth left Manchester United after their defeat against Nottingham Forest.
Read more »
A vacant Tribeca penthouse is transformed into a bright, contemporary eyrieLéa Teuscher is a Sub-Editor at Wallpaper*. A former travel writer and production editor, she joined the magazine over a decade ago, and has been sprucing up copy and attempting to write clever headlines ever since. Having spent her childhood hopping between continents and cultures, she’s a fan of all things travel, art and architecture.
Read more »
Dunelm slashes price of ceiling light that's 'bright and colourful' to £25Some buyers are claiming it is 'the perfect light for a small room'.
Read more »
EastEnders star Kellie Bright’s life with famous husband and hidden talentLinda Carter hasn't had a great 2024, but actress Kellie Bright is a world away from her soap character as she leads a quiet life with her TV husband and their three sons
Read more »
Patriots-Cardinals Stock Watch: Gonzalez a bright spot in Pats lossTom E. Curran and Phil Perry break down the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Patriots' Week 15 loss to the Cardinals.
Read more »