All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special 2024: everything we know

Nicholas Ralph in a blue shirt as James stands with Rachel Shenton in a beige blouse holding baby Jimmy in All Creatures Great and Small.

(Image credit: Channel 5)

The All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special 2024 is on its way, a true Christmas delight.

The highlight of last year's Christmas special was baby Jimmy being born, so we know that Jimmy will be celebrating his first birthday in the festive episode.

The main cast is all expected back with Nicholas Ralph as James, Rachel Shenton as Helen, Samuel West as Siegfried, Callum Woodhouse as Tristan and Anna Madeley as Mrs Hall.

Here’s everything we know...

All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special 2024 release date

Samuel West in a shirt and waistcoat looking dishevelled and holding a bottle as Siegfried and Callum Woodhouse in a shirt holding a jacket as Tristan in All Creatures Great and Small. — Will Siegfried and Tristan hit the booze this Christmas? (Image credit: Channel 5)

The All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special 2024 will likely air a few days before Christmas Day on Channel 5. If it followed last year’s pattern it will air on Thursday December 17 at 9 pm, but this has not been confirmed. We also don’t yet know when it will come out in the US.

All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special 2024 plot

We don't have any official plot details yet, but we do know it will be baby Jimmy's first birthday. The plot is expected to continue from the end of All Creatures season 5, with both James and Tristan back from their war effort. Tristan has so far put on a brave face about his time in Egypt but could he be hiding something?

James, though, has been traumatized by losing his aircrew and is also battling an illness that keeps returning. Luckily he and Helen have the world's easiest baby to look after in baby Jimmy who seems to just smile all the time and never cry! Might we see more of Miss Grantley, who Siegfried took a shine to, or might things finally develop between him and Mrs Hall? So far Darrowby appears to have been the place to be during World War Two. Skeldale House seems to have an ample supply of booze and food! Indeed, Mrs Hall had so many strawberries she didn’t know what to do with them all!

Cast

All the key cast are expected back. The one doubt is James Anthony-Rose as Richard Carmody. The young vet has taken a position in London, but perhaps he might make a surprise visit.

Is there a trailer?

No, not yet.

All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special 2024 behind the scenes and more

The Christmas episode has been written by James Crichton and directed by Andy Hay. Debbie O’Malley is the executive producer. The production company is Playground (Howards End, Wolf Hall, The Hardacres).

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

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