All Creatures Great And Small Christmas Special 2023 Review

Well, we are well into December now. And the festive films and TV shows are filling our television screens, much to our delight. Our most anticipated show being Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special which aired tonight. Just a few months ago, we were left with the cliffhanger of James leaving to help in the WWII effort – and a pregnant Helen at home at Skeldale House.

Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small series four hit our screens this autumn and left us wanting more. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long for the Christmas Special for 2023 (named On a Wing and a Prayer) which aired on Channel 5 tonight and can be found on Channel 5’s streaming platform My5. And my oh my did it live up to the high expectation.

Based on the novels by James Herriot, pen name to veterinary surgeon James Alfred Wight, the big question was whether or not James would be back from the RAF training base for Christmas, as a heavily pregnant Helen dealt with life without her husband in Darrowby.

FYI Expect spoilers in this review if you’ve not watched the All Creatures Great and Small Christmas Special 2023…

Well, what can we say? Tears, laughter, heartwarming moments and of course a whole heap of cute animals – everything we wanted from an All Creatures Great and Small Crimbo special. But, did James Herriot make it home in time for the birth of his child?

We are greeted with tension in Skeldale as the episode opens – with everyone fussing about Helen driving to see James. A heavily pregnant Helen struggles to get around as she comes ever nearer to labour. James and Helen struggle with the distance and hopes of him making it home for Christmas seem slim, especially with his strict commander (who has a few tough lessons he has to pass on to Herriott as he becomes a student of war).

It is, in fact, the biggest plot line for the special, with writers keeping us on will-he-won’t-he tenterhooks throughout the emotional episode. James isn’t one to let people down, after all.

Now, of course, this is something the writers tend to do well already in a typical episode, but as we explore the deeper depths of James and Helen’s relationship, the distance feels tougher than ever before. Even for the audience. And as a viewer, I can’t help but get frustrated with James for choosing to go to war.

But it’s when James attempts to sneak home via hitchhiking that we’re gifted with that hefty dose of hope the writers do usually gift us with. And at Christmas, of all times. It wouldn’t be in All Creatures DNA to starve us of that, after all. And I think that’s one thing the episode gives us more of than ever before. While the writer’s talents typically lie in giving us an ever-lasting ‘warming hug’ feeling, this Christmas special was just that. Extra special. With bags of hope to hold on to for almost one whole hour.

That is, until Helen begins to go into labour. And this is where they really had us.

After the Skeldale Household comes together to help pull of a Christmas dinner at The Drover’s Arms, Helen finally finds herself ready to give birth, with Mrs Hall jumping straight into action to assist her closest friend.

The event unfolded alongside more heartwarming action, including Carmody enjoying his first Darrowby Christmas with new BFF’s Mrs Pumphrey and Tricki-Woo, while also admitting his gift that day was his first ever Christmas gift after a good few wines. It’s then that, in the festive spirit, a typically frosty Siegfried melts a little and decides to offer Tristan’s old room to the new team member. Hearts melting everywhere.

Meanwhile, after weaving his veterinary magic at the barracks, James at the last minute gets taken home by his commander, just when you think he missed his opportunity – resulting in an emotional tear jerking reunion (just what the vet ordered) between man and wife. Especially more emotional when James finally comes face to face with his new son. James is handed his son by Helen remarking “You gave me a little boy.” Just when we thought the wedding wasn’t the most beautiful moment on the show, we were quickly proven wrong.

Now, as viewers will know already, James did, unfortunately miss the birth of his son by a good few hours, but don’t feel too down about this development, because actually, it’s in true Helen style to kick off the birth this way – and the perfect way to show off just how strong, independent and hard-headed the new Mrs Herriot really is.

Other highlights included Seigfried and Carmody’s tête-à-tête. The new character has really made his mark in series four of All Creatures and this has continued into the festive special. And, a hilarious run in with a dog which leaves him a little incapacitated on Christmas day. It also wouldn’t be a Christmas special without Mrs Pumphrey and Tricki Woo. All of the makings of the perfect All Creatures Christmas special. The only thing that was missing? An appearance from fan-favourite Tristan.

Overall, the All Creatures special had all the emotion, anticipation and pathos that we’ve come to expect. With community spirit in droves, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house at The Yorkshireman household. If we all took a leaf out of the All Creatures Great and Small playbook, life would be a little bit merrier.

Here’s to All Creatures Great and Small series five – now hurry up an announce it Channel 5!