All creatures great and small.

I too prefer the original series.

We love the new series. BBC did a prequel a few years ago and it died a death but this one is lovely. It needed to be different to be acceptable. DH has been smitten right from the start. He’s the one that discovered it. It fits in well with all the other Yorkshire programmes.

Do we ever learn why the lead characters are called after Wagner operas? Siegfried and Tristan aren’t exactly everyday British names.

I seem to remember in the original TV series Siegfried telling James that his father had been a big Wagner fan, hence the names.

I am enjoying this new series but I have to force myself to not keep thinking "Helen didn't have a sister" etc. I too love the house but I am sure that in the original there was a pack of dogs charging about in it. Oh, sorry there I go again!!

Helen did have a little sister I believe DannieRae and there might have been another sibling...can't recall wthout looking at the books. Also 'Aunt Lucy' ran the house with Helen's help.

I found myself shouting at James and Helen ‘Oh, get on with it !

ginny

I found myself shouting at James and Helen ‘Oh, get on with it !

I agree about that. Same thing happens in films. Bit Jane Austen’ish. Just blurt it out will you, I feel like saying. At least ACGAS won’t have the obligatory drive to the airport to prevent the beloved person flying away forever.

DanniRae

I am enjoying this new series but I have to force myself to not keep thinking "Helen didn't have a sister" etc. I too love the house but I am sure that in the original there was a pack of dogs charging about in it. Oh, sorry there I go again!!

"Helen" aka Joan wasn't a farmer's daughter either, as far as I know.

Hi Callistermon - You are right, Helen was a secretary. I think they met at a dance.

It’s very different from the books and the 1970s tv series,but I am still enjoying it,makes a change from all the thrillers and police drama’s that are usually on.

I agree Maggymay

DanniRae

I am enjoying this new series but I have to force myself to not keep thinking "Helen didn't have a sister" etc. I too love the house but I am sure that in the original there was a pack of dogs charging about in it. Oh, sorry there I go again!!

I miss that pack of dogs. They would charge at the front door every time the doorbell rang, closely followed by a bustling Mrs Hall.

Whenever Siegfried came in he would bellow, 'Hello dogs!'

I also miss him ending any controversial conversation with, 'That's it and all about it.'

Oh I loved the old series. I used to watch it with my mum and the music can almost reduce me to tears thinking of her.

Boz

Much better than the old version, which was good but seems dated now. The new James Herriot is believable unlike the suave Christopher Timothy with the wrong accent for a Scot!
Helen seems real not a "bisto" mum like all the other characterisations in the past.
The script is well-written and the scenery shots wonderful.

A 5 star hit.

I could not agree more especially Mrs. Hall . she would never have sat down at meals with the family her role is all wrong. I have read the books and read James Herriot's biography of his dad and this is not ringing true.I would not watch it but DH likes it and that does not happen often. Even if you take it as fiction it is too predictable.

My message has got attatched to the wrong quote, sorry folk pity you cannot change your message like you can on facebook .

I absolutely love it! It the best programme on TV and it's even better than the first series. All the characters are well drawn and my favourites are James and Mrs Hall. Can't wait for next Thursday. My only criticism is that it should be on a Sunday, not Thursday.

Floradora9. you're right, Mrs Hall is completely wrong. She would certainly never have had her meals with them and is much too young and too familliar. She was a proper housekeeper aged mid to late fifties? It was hard to tell! and very set in her ways and always faintly disaproving, a real character! Although She was a lovely, excellent actress I didn't like Diana Rigg as Mrs Pumphrey. She was just too over the top and rather silly.

Margaretta Scott was lovely as the original Mrs. Pumphrey. I agree about Mrs Hall, there would have been a huge social gap between a housekeeper and a group of university educated men in those days. she would have been well aware of their short comings but would have kept them to herself.

I find it very gentle viewing. Lovely pre dropping off time.

Of course Margatetta Scott, I couldn't think of her name and was too lazy to look it up! She was fantastic as Mrs Pumphrey.

And you are right about the huge social divide in that era. There is no way that there would have been any personal familiarity between the Vets and the housekeeper. Had there been, both sides would have felt extremely uuncomfortable.

Well, back in the 50s our housekeeper always ate with us. A doctor's household.

I do think that, in a household of bachelors, a housekeeper could very well take charge!

I loved the original series and read the books. This is a different interpretation, with some dramatic licence. Not as true to the books, but perhaps more appropriate dramatically for current tastes. It's watchable as an enjoyable drama if you don't try to compare - because it doesn't!

I love it. It's such a good programme. I loved the books and the original BBC version too. It's not a documentary or a straight copy of previous versions. I think the writer has made a good job of tales from a Yorkshire vets. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I would have enjoyed it more had I not seen the original series, as for me it couldn't be topped.
Didn’t like Tris at all, the original Tris had charm, the new one has none.