All Creatures Great and Small - the 1970s version.

[BlueEyedBogWitch]

I’m obsessed.

I started watching it out of nostalgia for simpler times, and the childhood memories of being allowed to stay up to watch it in my nightie and dressing gown.

But I’ve stayed for the straightforward storytelling, the cute animals, the fabulous accents, the beautiful landscapes, and the sheer joy of watching a drama without a deluge of intrusive music drowning out the dialogue.

I’ve also developed quite a crush on…Siegfried, of all people. If that’s not a sign of encroaching old age, I don’t know what is 😳

Has anyone else found themselves lured into watching nostalgic telly and ended up loving it? I’ve been through similar with To The Manor Born, but All Creatures is the ultimate comfort watch.

The new one? I thought that whereas the original was bbc, the new one wasn’t?
I’d happily watch the original series again but DH doesn’t like old low resolution stuff.

Heretic here! I prefer the new one, with James as a young Scotsman and Helen as a Yorkshire woman.
I couldn't cope with Christopher Timothy as a young Scottish vet starting out? He looked as if he'd been up all night with 5 kids. I also think Sam West is a better Siegfried. (dons hard hat)
They're lovely stories, though and the books stand the test of time.

70’s James Herriot was my first crush!

We have the DVD box set of the 70s version. I can also recommend the original books - perfect winter bedtime reading.

We have quite few vintage TV series on DVD - The Onedin Line, I Claudius, Hi-de-Hi, Tenko - and we also watch old things on I-player etc. We recently watched the 1983 BBC 'Mansfield Park' series which was satisfyingly faithful to the book, unlike more recent versions which seem unable to grasp that Fanny can be a strong character without being loud and abrasive.

Robert Hardy lived in the village next to ours, I met him a few times.

He did know a lot about dogs - he used to judge the local dog show, and not as ‘a celebrity ‘. He was also an expert on the English Longbow.

A very rounded, intelligent and pleasant man.

I remember thinking that Robert Hardy was too old to play Siegfried, but he was actually only in his 50s, as is Samuel West.

My other comfort nostalgia show is The Good Life. Imagine being able to buy a detached house in Surbiton (and presumably pay your mortgage off by your early 40s) on one, seemingly very average, salary!

I can't believe how wonderfully crap and flimsy some of the sets are.
So nostalgic of a 70's Sunday eating 70's tea.

I have the Good Life Xmas episode recorded.

Classic 😁

I too loved Siegfried.

I was the same, didn't like them because the characters seemed totally different to how I imagined them from reading the books. I started watching the new version and it was better because it was 40 years since I had read the books by then but only watched the first season. Not sure whether I'd enjoy the older one any better now. However the books came out again on audio to coincide with the new version and I enjoyed those.

You might be onto something here.

I don’t usually mind that, either, but it’s not something I notice with All Creatures. Maybe I’m distracted by Siegfried.

Tricky woo and Mrs pumprey started my life long love of pekes just joyful watching. When Sigfried is rushing to answer the phone with all the dogs ❤️❤️❤️

The new series isn’t BBC, it’s Channel 5 I think - to whoever asked the question earlier.

He's excellent in anything I've seen him in.

I have just bought a set of the books to reread them. They used to make me laugh and cry at times . Great writing .

Loved the old series but also love the new one, I think they've done an amazing job with it. I've read the books many many times so was a bit afraid of the reboot, worried they wouldn't do it justice. However I've really enjoyed it, especially love the casting of Tristan - just a perfect actor for the character, cheeky and likeable.

I feel the same, for me the new version is far closer to the books. Although I do remember enjoying the old series and having a bit of a crush on Tristan!

I should watch the new one to see if I can spot my best friend’s BIL.

He renovates vintage cars and hires them to TV companies, and gets to drive them around as an extra onset. It takes a specialist to drive them, so he gets kitted out with a costume and everything. He’s a regular on the new All Creatures.

Up all night with Carol Drinkwater, more like…they had an affair.

You can tell. The kissing is very full-on for the 1930s.

Robert Hardy, an excellent and widely admired actor, was a leading expert in the history and use of the longbow. A fact which I found so incongruous and surprising that I've never forgotten it.

Apparently he got into it when playing Henry V.

I love both incarnations of Siegfried.
I remember having an enormous crush on Peter Davison as Tristan as a teenager.

Again, Siegfried should be bloody annoying, but he isn’t. Robert Hardy just twinkles and all is forgiven.

Actors at the top of their game. Lovely.

Yes, plus it made the headlines and was a distraction. I didn't think either of them were particularly good in the role..