Cast of All Creatures Great and Small – Complete Cast by Season

Two television adaptations of James Herriot’s beloved veterinary memoirs have introduced audiences to the Yorkshire Dales. The original series ran from 1978 to 1990, while a modern revival began in 2020 and continues. Each version features its own ensemble, and viewers frequently search for cast details across both eras.

This guide covers the main actors from the 2020 series season by season, explains what happened to the original 1978 cast, and addresses a common point of confusion: the search for a character named “Charlotte.” All information is drawn from official production sources and archived records.

Who are the main cast members of All Creatures Great and Small (2020 series)?

2020 Main Cast

Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Callum Woodhouse, Rachel Shenton

1978 Original Cast

Christopher Timothy, Robert Hardy, Peter Davison, Carol Drinkwater, Lynda Bellingham

Seasons Covered

2020: 5 seasons (6th coming); 1978: 7 series

Standout Query

‘Charlotte’ – no such character exists; likely confusion with another name.

The 2020 series cast has remained remarkably stable across five seasons, with only minor additions and one recast (Mrs. Pumphrey).
The original 1978 series underwent a major recast of Helen (from Carol Drinkwater to Lynda Bellingham) after series 3.
No actor from the original series appears in the 2020 reboot, but the character names are the same.
The search for ‘Charlotte’ likely stems from a misremembered name (e.g., the character ‘Helen’ or ‘Dorothy’).

Fact	Detail
2020 Series Premiere	September 2020 (UK) / January 2021 (US PBS)
2020 Main Lead	Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot
Original Series Lead	Christopher Timothy as James Herriot
Character with most cast changes	Helen Alderson: 2 actresses in original (Drinkwater, Bellingham); 1 in new series (Shenton)
Notable Death	Diana Rigg (Mrs. Pumphrey) – season 1 of new series; role later played by Patricia Hodge
Most recent season cast	Season 5 (2024) – all main actors returned; Patricia Hodge as Mrs. Pumphrey
Season 6 (2025) cast	Not yet officially announced

What is the cast of All Creatures Great and Small for each season?

Season 1 (2020)

Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot, Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon, Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon, Anna Madeley as Mrs. Hall, Rachel Shenton as Helen Alderson. Diana Rigg appeared as Mrs. Pumphrey in a guest role.

Season 2 (2021)

The main cast remained unchanged. Following Diana Rigg’s death, Patricia Hodge took over the role of Mrs. Pumphrey from this season onward.

Season 3 (2022/2023)

Core cast continued: Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Callum Woodhouse, Anna Madeley, Rachel Shenton. Additional supporting characters were introduced, but no lead changes occurred.

Season 4 (2023/2024)

All main actors returned. Will Thorp joined as Richard Carmody, a new veterinary assistant.

Season 5 (2024)

The same principal cast remained. Patricia Hodge continued as Mrs. Pumphrey. The ensemble remained stable with no further recasts.

Cast consistency

Across the first five seasons of the 2020 series, the five lead roles were played by the same actors. The only recast was Mrs. Pumphrey after Diana Rigg’s death.

What happened to the original cast of All Creatures Great and Small?

Christopher Timothy (James Herriot, original series)

Timothy played the lead role in all 90 episodes from 1978 to 1990. He later appeared in other television projects but did not return for the 2020 adaptation.

Robert Hardy (Siegfried Farnon, original series)

Hardy portrayed Siegfried across the entire original run. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 91.

Peter Davison (Tristan Farnon, original series)

Davison played Tristan in the original series and later became known for his role in Doctor Who. He is still alive and has commented publicly on the new series but does not appear in it.

Carol Drinkwater and Lynda Bellingham (Helen Alderson/Herriot, original series)

Carol Drinkwater played Helen in the first three series. Lynda Bellingham took over the role from series 4 onward. Drinkwater is alive; Bellingham died in 2014.

Mary Hignett (Mrs. Hall, original series)

Hignett appeared in the early series. The character was later replaced by other housekeeper roles. Hignett died in 1984.

No member of the original cast appears in the 2020 revival, though the character names remain identical. The original actors are now either retired, deceased, or pursuing other work.

Original series run

The 1978–1990 series produced 7 series (seasons) totaling 90 episodes. The most significant cast change was the recasting of Helen after series 3.

Who is Charlotte in All Creatures Great and Small?

No character named Charlotte appears in either the original or the 2020 series of All Creatures Great and Small. The search query likely arises from a misremembered name. Possible confusions include the character Helen (the love interest), Dorothy (a minor character in the books), or an actress named Charlotte who played a different role in another period drama.

According to official cast lists on IMDb and Wikipedia, no Charlotte appears among the credited actors or characters.

How has the cast changed over the seasons (2020 series)?

The 2020 series has maintained a very stable core cast. The only notable cast change occurred after season 1, when Patricia Hodge replaced Diana Rigg as Mrs. Pumphrey due to Rigg’s death. Will Thorp joined in season 4 as a recurring character, but no lead has been recast or removed.

The original series, by contrast, saw a major recast of the female lead and the removal of Mrs. Hall after series 3. Several child roles were recast over time.

Recast alert

In the 2020 series, the only recast so far is Mrs. Pumphrey. In the original series, the role of Helen was recast after series 3, and Mrs. Hall was written out.

Cast Timeline: Original and 2020 Series

1978–1980 – Original series begins with Christopher Timothy, Robert Hardy, Peter Davison, Carol Drinkwater, Mary Hignett.
1981 – Carol Drinkwater leaves; Lynda Bellingham takes over as Helen.
1990 – Original series ends after 7 series.
2020 – New series premieres with Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Callum Woodhouse, Rachel Shenton, Diana Rigg.
2021 – Diana Rigg dies; Patricia Hodge cast as Mrs. Pumphrey from season 2.
2022–2024 – Seasons 2–5 air; cast remains stable with occasional new characters.
2025 (projected) – Season 6 expected; cast likely unchanged, but not officially confirmed.

Sources: PBS Masterpiece, IMDb (1978), Wikipedia (1978).

What is known and what remains unclear about the cast?

Established information	Information that remains unclear
Main cast of seasons 1–5 for the 2020 series are confirmed.	Cast for season 6 (2025) has not been officially announced.
Original series cast is well-documented in archives.	The exact reason for the ‘Charlotte’ query is speculative; it may refer to a fan nickname or a secondary character in a different adaption.

Why are there two different casts for the same story?

All Creatures Great and Small has been adapted twice for television. The 1978 series followed James Herriot’s books closely in its early years and later developed original storylines. The 2020 version is a new adaptation, not a continuation. It uses the same source material but features a separate cast and creative team. Both series are set in the Yorkshire Dales, and the core characters carry the same names, which often leads to search confusion.

The dual nature of the show creates significant search ambiguity. Users searching for “cast of All Creatures Great and Small” may be seeking either version, and season-specific queries are especially common when a new season airs.

Where to find official cast information?

Official cast listings are maintained by the production partners:

“Meet the Cast of All Creatures Great and Small” – PBS Masterpiece official feature page providing character descriptions and actor biographies.

PBS Masterpiece

Final overview

The cast of All Creatures Great and Small spans two distinct television eras. The 2020 revival features a stable ensemble led by Nicholas Ralph and Samuel West, while the original 1978 series underwent key recasts, particularly the role of Helen. No character named Charlotte exists in either version. For further reading about other television casts, see the Cast of Black Bird and Innocent (TV Series) – Cast, Plot and Where to Watch.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Cast of All Creatures Great and Small

Is the cast of the 1978 series the same as the 2020 series?

No. The 2020 series features an entirely new cast. The original cast from 1978 did not reprise their roles.

Who played James Herriot in the original series?

Christopher Timothy portrayed James Herriot in the 1978–1990 series.

Who played Siegfried Farnon in the 2020 series?

Samuel West plays Siegfried Farnon in the current series.

Why did the cast change from season 1 to season 2 in the new series?

The main cast did not change; however, after Diana Rigg’s death, Patricia Hodge took over the role of Mrs. Pumphrey from season 2.

Will there be a season 6 of All Creatures Great and Small?

Yes, a sixth season has been announced for 2025, but the full cast has not been officially confirmed as of early 2025.

Is the ‘Charlotte’ search related to a real person?

There is no character or prominent cast member named Charlotte in the series. The query likely misremembers the name Helen or another character.