The Yorkshire Vet

Channel 5’s Award-Winning Documentary Series – Season 19 Now Airing

The Yorkshire Vet continues to captivate audiences as one of Channel 5’s most successful programs, currently airing Season 19 which began in August 2024. This beloved documentary series follows dedicated veterinarians as they care for animals across the stunning Yorkshire countryside, maintaining the compassionate legacy established by James Herriot at the original Skeldale Veterinary Centre.

From Literary Classic to Television Success

James Herriot’s beloved books first came to life on television through the BBC series “All Creatures Great and Small” in the 1980s, starring Christopher Timothy as the iconic Yorkshire vet. Today, Christopher Timothy lends his distinctive voice as narrator to “The Yorkshire Vet,” creating a meaningful bridge between Herriot’s literary world and this contemporary documentary series.

The Yorkshire Vet captures the essence of traditional veterinary care that James Herriot made famous—a holistic approach that has become increasingly rare as modern practices often specialize in either companion animals or livestock exclusively.

Meet The Yorkshire Vet Stars: Peter Wright and Julian Norton

Peter Wright, now 64 years old and specializing in large farm animals, particularly cattle, brings a unique connection to the Herriot legacy as a former trainee of Alf Wight (the real James Herriot). Wright joined Skeldale Veterinary Centre in 1996, rising from junior vet to partner before moving to Grace Lane Vets in Kirbymoorside in 2021.

Julian Norton continues as Wright’s colleague and fellow star of The Yorkshire Vet. Norton has opened his own practice in Thirsk with his wife Anne while maintaining his partnership at Sandbeck Veterinary Centre in Wetherby. Both vets exemplify the traditional mixed-practice approach that defined James Herriot’s career.

The Yorkshire Vet’s Modern Legacy

While The Yorkshire Vet operates from state-of-the-art facilities equipped with cutting-edge veterinary technology, the heart of James Herriot’s compassionate approach remains unchanged. The series showcases how modern veterinarians combine advanced medical techniques with traditional Yorkshire values of dedication, hard work, and genuine care for both animals and their owners.

The Yorkshire Vet documents the full spectrum of veterinary practice, from tiny companion animals to massive farm livestock. The dedicated team at Skeldale maintains the mixed-practice tradition, ensuring no creature is too large or too small to receive expert care—truly embodying Herriot’s philosophy of caring for “all creatures great and small.”

Experience Yorkshire Through The Yorkshire Vet

Produced by Daisybeck Studios in Leeds, The Yorkshire Vet has achieved remarkable success with viewing figures exceeding 2 million, making it one of Channel 5’s most popular programs. The series offers viewers authentic glimpses into rural veterinary medicine while showcasing the spectacular countryside of North Yorkshire.

Set in the picturesque landscape between the North York Moors National Park and the Yorkshire Dales National Park, The Yorkshire Vet treats audiences to ever-changing vistas of England’s most beautiful countryside as cameras follow the veterinarians to remote farmsteads and rural communities.

The Yorkshire Vet: Continuing the Herriot Tradition

The Yorkshire Vet honours James Herriot’s timeless legacy while documenting the realities of contemporary veterinary practice. Through all seasons and challenges, the series continues to capture hearts by showcasing the special relationships between animals, their owners, and the skilled professionals who dedicate their lives to animal care.

The program demonstrates how the values James Herriot championed—compassion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to animal welfare—continue to thrive in modern Yorkshire veterinary practice.

Experience the world that inspired James Herriot’s beloved stories by visiting The World of James Herriot museum at the original Skeldale House, 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, where Alf Wight lived and worked as a country veterinarian.

Skeldale Veterinary Centre remains a RCVS Accredited mixed animal practice, continuing to treat all creatures great and small in the heart of Yorkshire.