All Creatures Great and Small Season 5 Answers Fans' Prayers With Tristan's Return

With its feel-good storylines and delightful banter, All Creatures Great and Small remains the TV equivalent of comfort food, but after four seasons, the days of stability in Skeldale House are long gone.

In Season 4, the characters experienced a series of major life transitions, including the birth of James (Nicholas Ralph) and Helen Herriot's (Rachel Shenton) first child and housekeeper Mrs. Hall's (Anna Madeley) divorce, all while navigating the realities of World War II — namely, the absence of Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse), who's serving on the front lines with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, and James' imminent departure for the Royal Air Force. Tensions were high as headstrong veterinary surgeon Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) struggled to control his emotions, but with the help of Mrs. Hall and new vet student Richard Carmody (James Anthony-Rose), he pushed through, and the Skeldale family emerged from the season-ending Christmas special stronger than ever.

Still, WWII has become an unavoidable part of life in the Yorkshire Dales, and it will continue to loom large moving forward. On February 23, U.S. broadcaster Masterpiece and Channel 5 (which airs the show in the U.K.) renewed the hit drama for Seasons 5 and 6, each of which will consist of six episodes and a Christmas special.

But World War II or not, executive producer Sir Colin Callender, CBE, promises that upcoming seasons will continue to find heartwarming moments amid the darkness. "Kindness and decency are increasingly rare qualities these days, so it is a blessing to be able to return to the sanctuary of Skeldale House and James Herriot's beloved characters who represent all that is the best in us," Callender said in a statement. "There are no villains in All Creatures — just everyday folk trying to get through the day with dignity with the help of a supportive community, family and friends. It's a lesson for modern times."

Now that All Creatures has finally been renewed for Season 5, here's what to expect when the British drama returns to the screen:

What Is Season 5 of All Creatures Great and Small About?

There's no shortage of potential storylines for All Creatures to explore in Season 5. The upcoming season is expected to pick up in Spring 1941, a time of great anxiety for British citizens. With the Nazis escalating their aerial bombing campaign on towns across the country, basic survival will likely become top of mind, but that doesn't mean the vets are willing to ignore the animals of the Dales. There will always be sick pets to treat and calves to deliver, and it's up to Siegfried and Carmody, who's taking on a larger role in the practice after he was invited to stay permanently, to honor their obligation to their patients.

Last season also set up a series of conflicts for Helen and Mrs. Hall, who have grown incredibly close in recent years. While Helen adjusts to motherhood and life without James, Mrs. Hall begins a new chapter as a single woman, unfettered by her marriage to her estranged ex-husband or her relationship with Gerald (Will Thorp). Finally, the path is clear for romance between Mrs. Hall and Siegfried, Skeldale House's matriarch and patriarch — could we finally see Siegfried act on his obvious feelings for his closest confidante?

Additional details about All Creatures Great and Small's Season 5 plot remain under wraps, but the cast is confident in the creative team's ability to mine Alf Wight's book series for inspiration. "There's loads of stories that are still fantastic to tell," Madeley told reporters in early January 2024.

West is particularly keen to have more screen time with Shenton. "My dream is to have a scene in series five with Rachel, where we both get to ride together," he said. "I think we are all still having a very nice time. There are lots of things we would still love to film. We seem to have made our home in the Dales now."

Who's in the All Creatures Great and Small Season 5 Cast?

Much of the core All Creatures cast will return for Season 5, including Samuel West, Nicholas Ralph, Anna Madeley, Rachel Shenton, and James Anthony-Rose. In addition, Patricia Hodge is back as Mrs. Pumphrey (with Derek by her side as spoiled Pekingese Tricki Woo), while Tony Pitts and Imogene Clawson are expected to reprise their roles as Helen's father and sister, Richard and Jenny Alderson. With James serving in the RAF, it's possible that the Aldersons will take on a greater role as Helen leans on them for help looking after her newborn son.

Is James Leaving All Creatures for Good?

While Ralph's character will appear in Season 5, he won't be saving any cows from brucellosis for the time being. Last season, James finally reported for RAF service, but because his training camp was just a short drive from Darrowby, he was able to make it back immediately after the birth of his son. However, in the Christmas special, he learned that he's been assigned to fly bombers, a job that will not only pull him away from home for weeks (if not months) at a time, but put him directly in harm's way.

When All Creatures was renewed, Masterpiece was clear that Ralph is returning, so the challenge becomes figuring out how to involve James in the action, even if he's hundreds of miles away fulfilling his military duties. Wight's books offer a workable model for series creator Ben Vanstone, as James continues to narrate the story even after he enlists, combatting his loneliness by flashing back to happier days in Darrowby. Plus, James' military career is short-lived: In the third book, All Things Wise and Wonderful, he's discharged for medical reasons and returns to the veterinary practice with a newfound appreciation for the peace and quiet of the Dales.

Will Tristan Return to All Creatures Great and Small?

Good news, All Creatures fans: Callum Woodhouse's Tristan Farnon is making his grand return in Season 5. Tristan was absent for the entirety of Season 4 (he didn't even appear in the Christmas special, sadly), but an unexpected homecoming is in store "later in the season," Masterpiece revealed in its renewal announcement. It may not be as much Woodhouse as fans would like, but it's better than nothing.

When Does the Next Season of All Creatures Great and Small Come Out?

Masterpiece and Channel 5 have not yet set a release date, but All Creatures Great and Small Season 5 is expected to premiere later this year in the U.K., and in early 2025 in the States. According to the Film & Television Industry Alliance, filming on Season 5 began in early February in the Yorkshire Dales and will run throughout the spring, giving the production team plenty of time to put the finishing touches on what's sure to be another delightful installment.

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Claire Spellberg Lustig is the Senior Editor at Primetimer and a scholar of The View. Follow her on Twitter at @c_spellberg.