New All Creatures Great and Small Channel 5

[icelolly99]

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

Does it count as 'originalist' to think it a shame they didn't take the opportunity to correct one massive solecism of the 70s series - filming in the Dales, not the Moors? At least Siegfried specifically mentions Swaledale and Wensleydale in episode 1 so they're not trying to do a cover up!

I've nothing against the Dales at all - far from it! - but Alf Wight's favourite walk was the one on top of Sutton Bank, t'other side of the A1 from the Dales. It would have been so great to see it filmed against a back-drop of Helmsley, Revaulx, Coxwold, Lastingham, Rosedale, Hutton-le-hole, Blakey Ridge, the (ahem) Hole of Horcum etc etc etc.

@footchewer got to agree with you there. I suppose it was easier to film in Grassington because it's relatively undeveloped but it would have been lovely to see the moors. I live near the Hole of Horcum and never fail to be amused that it couldn't have been given a more romantic name.

Anyway, I am still enjoying it and, having no special attachment to Peter Davison, I like the new Tristan as well. The friendship he's developing with James is really nice to see. It's perfect warm-bath viewing for me, and I am quite old enough to remember the 70s version. Surely it's possible to be fond of both for different reasons?

I loved the old Tristan, but Callum Woodhouse is funny and quirky so pretty good casting. Nicholas Ralph is perfect as James, because I never found Chris Timothy remotely attractive. But Mrs Hall is about twenty years younger than the old one!!

@Badbadbunny no. Me neither. He's got quite a nasty school bully look about him. Tristan is meant fo be very good looking and charming. He's neither.

No one could have lived up to Peter Davison as Tristan for me but I much prefer this James.

I like this new Tristan. I liked the actor in The Durrells.
I didn’t like Christopher Timothy much and I’m not keen on this new James. He seems a bit wishy washy (a wetwipe as my daughter would say 😂)
However I am quite enjoying the new adaptation overall and enjoying the scenery so will definitely keep watching

@JaneJeffer

No one could have lived up to Peter Davison as Tristan for me but I much prefer this James.

Same here. I like this James but this Tristan does not have the joie de vivre and bounce that Peter Davison injected into the character.

I still haven't watched any more, so haven't seen Tristan, but from the books I'd say he's certainly meant to be boyishly charming, not look like a bully.

I've just seen Diana Rigg has died, which is sad.

I imagined Tristan smaller across the shoulders (which I know is an incredibly specific gripe). I'll just have to imagine that all the wrestling with cows has bulked him up a bit.

Diana Rigg! Oh, that is sad.

Yes, just read that too.
ACGAS must have been her last work. At least she worked until the end

She also did a TV adaptation of Black Narcissus. Don't know when it's coming out but can't wait!

Seigfried grew on me a lot in this episode.

I think I might be developing a little crush on him .

@Pelleas

Seigfried grew on me a lot in this episode.

I think I might be developing a little crush on him .

Not on me, he didn't. His "rant" to Tristan re the exam results was pathetic - he was supposed to be explosive, but barely raised his voice.

That's probably why he's growing on me, user - I hate shouty men!

I took it that Siegfried was sad and disappointed - beyond ranty anger - which Tristan would probably see as worse as he was already feeling guilty.

Yes, I agree, Captain.

I wonder if the actor was thinking of the real vet Siegfried was based on, who by all accounts was much less of an extreme character than the fictionalised version. I read somewhere that the real one (Donald?) wasn't exactly enamoured of the 'Siegfried' character!

Hmm, what I'd read was that Donald Sinclair wasn't just eccentric, he was mad! The reason he hated Robert Hardy's portrayal of him was that it hit too close to home.

Hardy got to know Sinclair personally; this quote is from wikipedia (so caveat!!): "Bill Sellars said, 'Now, these characters are all based on real people. None of you are to meet these people until we have made at least three episodes.' So I immediately got into my car and fled up to Yorkshire to meet my man, Donald Sinclair. I was intrigued beyond measure by him. He was a true eccentric and, like all true eccentrics, he had no idea himself how odd he was! He absolutely hated what I did, because he had no idea he was at all like that, but when we'd really got into it and were producing them at high speed, his friends used to come to me and say, 'You've got him, that's him.'""

The interview is on as well.

@Badbadbunny another one agreeing about the actor playing Tristan. I really didn't like him in the Durrells either, I'm afraid his default mode to me appears to be petulant bully at a posh boy's school.

The real Brian Sinclair was by all accounts even nicer than James Herriot and Peter Davison’s portrayal. Generous of spirit and not a petty bone in his body.

@EasilyDeleted

This is from the book, I think the new Siegfried looks nothing like this (and he should look like the fictional Siegfried not Donald Sinclair)

I don't understand why they keep casting stout frumpy men as Siegfried.

Haven't seen it yet but the new Tristan appears annoying and smirky.

Viewing the trailer it comes across as trite and Disneyfied; a grittier approach played less for kid-friendly laughs would have been refreshing.

Tristan did look petulant rather than charming.

I'm really enjoying it. I loved the books and was disappointed with the two films and the first tv series. I was frustrated that they never portrayed James as a Scot, or Helen as a young Yorkshire woman. They were also far too old, at least these two look twentyish. It seems more authentic. I know that the family were a bit disappointed with Christopher Timothy, as Alf was always very neat and smart. The actress playing the housekeeper is 44, which is probably about right. I loved the Tricky Woo scenes!

Watched first episode and part of second. Enjoying it.

But probably preferred original. Siegfried is too young. He's supposed to be old and cantankerous.

He is supposed to be a young eccentric.