New All Creatures Great and Small Channel 5

[icelolly99]

Anyone else looking forward to this? Starts tonight at 9pm.

[Pobblebonk]

I enjoyed it, having previously enjoyed the books and the original series.. Sam West is always easy on the eye, and I don't agree that he was being a bully any more than Robert Hardy was. Remember how he used to shout at Tristan in particular?

DH, train/old vehicle nutter gave it the seal of approval for getting the railway, the steam engine and the old bus right - and he always picks it up when they get those wrong.

[EoinMcLovesCakeJumper]

I assumed they scheduled it for Tuesday night so that it was on directly after The Yorkshire Vet.

I enjoyed it. It seemed to get the period details right and if they were just going to slavishly reproduce the 80s series, what would be the point of it? It's too early to write it off and criticise it for not being true to the books. For the record, I have read them and I'm more interested in the series reflecting the spirit of them, which I felt it achieved.

[EoinMcLovesCakeJumper]

That said, I wish the continuity announcer hadn't talked all over the music at the end 😡

[Toddlerteaplease]

@Pobblebonk but they've already changed the stories beyond recognition! I was looking forward to the Diana Brompton, falling asleep under the tree and dreaming that Siegfried was German.

[Ihaventgottimeforthis]

I haven't seen this yet but now I know that Diana Rigg is in it with Tricky Woo, I will definitely be looking it up.

[HaveYouSeenMyFriendKimberley]

In the original TV series I always thought Robert Hardy too old, Carole Drinkwater too glam and Christopher Timothy too English. None of which stopped me enjoying it as good television.

This version placed Heriot as the Glaswegian graduate finding himself in rural Yorkshire. Which is straightaway more true to the book! I thought the actors all did a good job.

[IntermittentParps]

I don't really remember the TV series but ADORED the books and they were pretty important to me in my formative years.

I have yet to watch this. I'm sceptical – I do love Sam West, but Siegfried is meant to be tall, thin and bony-faced, isn't he? And Sam West is many nice things but not those.

HOWEVER: Diana Rigg as Mrs Pumphrey?! I can put up with a lot to see that.

[AdoptedBumpkin]

I enjoyed the first episode. Did not see the original, so nothing to compare it to, which probably helps.

[Pelleas]

I thought it was OK but I'd need to see more of them to make a final judgement. I loved the books and the original series (although both get a bit samey by the time they get to the 7th or 8th book). What I've always liked about it is its cosiness, it's something you watch or read as the equivalent of having a nice warm bath. I was pleased they'd kept the original theme music although as pps said, it was annoying that they talked over it.

Helen in the books was described as quite a well built woman.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Siegfried had a moustache not a full beard.

[SerenDippitty]

In the original TV series I always thought Robert Hardy too old, Carole Drinkwater too glam and Christopher Timothy too English. None of which stopped me enjoying it as good television.

Christopher Timothy is actually Welsh!

[HaveYouSeenMyFriendKimberley]

Sorry! His accent was English to my ear.

[managedmis]

How can it ever live up to the books though? Where is Tristan?

[HaveYouSeenMyFriendKimberley]

Tristan is away at university failing his exams!

[EasilyDeleted]

It can't live up to the books, the original series came nowhere near being as good as the books, but I'm hopeful that this one will be better.

[prettybird]

Dh and I old enough to have watched the first series enjoyed it - except for the shots of "Glasgow" at the beginning. I mean, bricks . Bricks

(For those that don't know, brick was rarely used in traditional building: it was all sandstone).

[Pelleas]

Does anyone remember the film version from the 70s, starring Anthony Hopkins? That wasn't bad.

[missyB1]

@Pelleas yes I remember the film, it was very good.

[RedRiverShore]

I enjoyed it, I have read the books but I think it was when it came out in the late 70s so I can’t remember how close it was to the books. It was nice to watch something without loads of swearing and suchlike

[MaidenMotherCrone]

I loved it. I watched the original series and read the books as a child. The music took me right back to Sunday nights post bath time. The programme started a life long love affair with Yorkshire. I don't live there but did marry a Yorkshire man. 😁

[Sheknowsaboutme]

I loved it! Cant wait for the next episode!

[HaveYouSeenMyFriendKimberley]

I'm looking forward to the next episode and I've pretty much given up on TV.

[KayakingOnDown]

Ooh... Must watch this. I haven't seen the original series but I love the books. I've read them multiple times. They are some of the funniest books I've ever read.

[Clawdy]

The original dramatisation was enjoyable, but not that close to the books. The film was all wrong (Simon Ward??) plus a posh Helen. This one seems right. Great atmosphere, lovely feel-good vibe, and a main character whose face isn't a household name!

[Sewrainbow]

I loved it, havent read the books. I remember enjoying the 80s.series as a child but cant remember it as such. I was off sick one day last year and watched a few episodes but thought it looked a bit dark dreary but maybe I wasnt in to it then being unwell.