List of All Creatures Great and Small (1978–1990 TV series) characters

This is a list of characters—and the actor(s) who played them—featured in the BBC television series All Creatures Great and Small. Over 600 characters were used over ninety episodes, with several actors playing multiple characters during the course of the series.^[1]

James Herriot and Siegfried Farnon are the only two characters to appear in all ninety episodes. Tristan Farnon appears in sixty-five episodes.

Characters[]

A[]

• Abbot, Mr —
• Adamson, Nathaniel —
• Adderley — Michael Sheard
• Agnes —
• Ainsworth, Mrs — Gillian Barge
• Alderson, Mr — John Collin
• Allan, Fred — Tony Capstick
• Alec —
• Allen, Mr —
• Allen, Mrs —
• Allenby, Mrs — Mary Wimbush
• Allinson, Dr Harry — John Grieve
• Almond, Jack — Bernard Atha
• Alton, Jennie —
• Alton, Mrs — Jean Heywood
• Alton, Sylvia — Debbie Arnold
• Alton, Tim —
• Anderson, Josh — Bobby Knutt
• Angela — Chloë Annett
• Appleby, Alison —
• Appleby, Brian —
• Appleby, Colin —
• Arkwright, Daphne —
• Atkinson, Mr — Gordon Wharmby
• Auctioneer — Gordon Duffy
• Aunt Lucy —

B[]

• Bailie, Alice —
• Bailie, Richard — Steve Delaney
• Bailes, Mr — Joby Blanshard
• Bailey, Mr (dog owner) —
• Bailey, Mr —
• Bailey, Mrs —
• Bagley, Eli —
• Bannister, Willie — Derek Hicks
• Bantock, Mr — Roger Sloman
• Barge, Aloysius — James Cossins
• Barker, Mrs — Constance Chapman
• Barman ("The Beauty of the Beast") —
• Barman ("Judgement Day") —
• Barnett, Walt —
• Barraclough, Geoffrey —
• Barraclough, Prudence —
• Barraclough, Verity —
• Barratt, George — David Daker
• Barratt, Mrs — Fiona Walker
• Bartle, Bert —
• Bartram, Mrs —
• Baxter, Mrs —
• Beamish, Ralph — Tony Steedman
• Beck, Mrs — Peggy Ann Wood
• Beckwith, Mr — Timothy Bateson
• Bedford, Miss —
• Bell, Mrs — Sandra Gough
• Bellerby, Bob —
• Bellerby, Mr — Joby Blanshard
• Bellerby, Mrs — June Ellis
• Bellerby, Ruth —
• Bennett, Granville — James Grout
• Bennett, Zoe — Pamela Salem
• Benson, Luke — John Junkin
• Benson, Rob — Norman Bird
• Bentley, Joe — Finetime Fontayne
• Beresford, Ronald — Kenneth Waller
• Beresford, Mrs —
• Berrydale, Mr (radiogram salesman) —
• Bert —
• Bert — ("The Nelson Touch") and ("Hampered")
• Beryl —
• Betty ("Advice & Consent") —
• Betty ("Ways and Means") —
• Biggins, Ezra — John Sharp
• Biggins, Hilda— ("Every Dog His Day") and ("Cheques and Balances" and "If Music Be the Food of Love")
• Billings, Ken — Barry Jackson
• Bilton, Kit — Gorden Kaye ("Pups, Pigs and Pickle") and ("For Richer, For Poorer")
• Bilton, Mrs —
• Binks, Mrs — Maggie Ollerenshaw
• Binks, Wesley —
• Binns, Mr —
• Binns, Tony —
• Birse, Mrs — Diana Davies
• Birtwhistle, Len —
• Birtwhistle, Mr — Norman Mitchell
• Birtwhistle, Mrs — Ina Clough
• Blackburn, Mr — Peter Ivatts
• Blackwood, Mr —
• Blackwood, Mrs —
• Blenkinsopp, Mr — William Hoyland
• Blundell, David —
• Boddy, Mr —
• Boggs, Mr —
• Bond, Mr — Michael Lees & Kenneth Cranham
• Bond, Mrs — Sonia Graham
• Bootland, Malcolm —
• Bootland, Seth —
• Bosworth, Colonel (Charlie) — Michael Lees
• Bosworth, Rachael —
• Bourbon Ensemble, The — Harvey Brough, , , , Nick Barraclough
• Bowling — Ray Ashcroft
• Boy ("Tricks of the Trade") —
• Boy ("Puppy Love") —
• Bradbury, Mr —
• Bradley, David —
• Bradley, Jonathan —
• Bradley, Mrs — Megs Jenkins
• Braithwaite, Arnie —
• Braithwaite, David — Ian Bleasdale
• Bramley, Ruth —
• Brannan, Stewie — Ronald Lacey ("The Last Furlong") and Dinsdale Landen ("Food For Thought")
• Bravington, Mrs —
• Brawton, Lord —
• Brawton, Lady —
• Brenda (double-date partner of Tristan) —
• Briggs, Barbara —
• Briggs, Nat — Joe McGann
• Broadbent, Sam —
• Broadwith, Mrs —
• Brocklehurst, Rosemary —
• Brompton, Diana —
• Brough, Lionel — Johnny Leeze
• Brown, Cliff — David Hargreaves
• Bruce, Andrew — David Quilter
• Buchanan, Calum — John McGlynn
• Buckle, Billy —
• Buckle, Mr —
• Bull Farmer ("A Cat in Hull's Chance") —
• Bullen, Major — Norman Shelley ("A Dog's Life") and Mark Kingston ("Cheques and Balances")
• Buller, Colonel — Morris Barry
• Bullivant, Major ("The Bull with the Bowler Hat") — Uncredited
• Bullock, Mr — Roger Walker
• Burns, Mrs — Molly Weir
• Busby, Mr — Harold Goodwin
• Bush, Mr —
• Bushell, Mr —
• Butler, Mrs —
• Butterfield, Lenny —
• Buttermere, Lord —
• Butterworth, Mrs — Kay Mellor
• Butterworth, Wendy —

C[]

• Calvert, Mrs —
• Calvert, Phineas — ("Horse Sense") and ("The Healing Touch" and "For Richer, For Poorer")
• Carmody, Richard — Christopher Brown (as Chris Brown)
• Carter, Harold — Ted Moult
• Carter, Mr ("One of Nature's Little Miracles") —
• Carter, Mr ("Spring Fever") —
• Cartwright, Mrs —
• Casling, Mr —
• Chandler, Mr — Ivan Beavis
• Chapman, Bert — Brian Osborne
• Chapman, Mrs —
• Charlie —
• Charlie ("Matters of Life and Death") —
• Charlie ("The Nelson Touch" and "Hampered") — James Garbutt
• Clark, Mr —
• Clark, Suzie —
• Clarke, Mary —
• Clarke, Mrs — Thora Hird
• Clayton —
• Clifford, Joan — Suzanne Neve
• Clintock, Henry — Ian Collier
• Clinton — Peter Duncan
• Close, Albert —
• Coach Driver ("Hail Caesar!") —
• Coates, Mr —
• Coates, Mrs — Ruth Kettlewell
• Cobb, Humphrey — James Bree
• Coker, Mr —
• Collins, Mr —
• Connie (double-date partner of James) —
• Cooper, Dan (farmer) —
• Corner, Robert —
• Cotterell, Paul — Nicholas Courtney
• Courtenay, Basil —
• Cranford, Isaac (farmer) — Jack Watson
• Crawford, Captain — Paul Brooke
• Crawford, Hugh —
• Crawford, Mr —
• Crony —
• Cropper, Harry —
• Crossley, Jim —
• Crump, Albert (farmer) — George A. Cooper
• Crump, Mrs — Pearl Hackney
• Cundall, Ron —
• Cundall, Mrs —
• Curate ("Every Dog His Day") —
• Cyril —

D[]

• D’Arcy, Brigadier/Colonel — Eric Dodson
• Dakin, Mr —
• Dalby, Billy (farmer) — Cyril Appleton
• Dalby, Mrs — Janet Davies
• Dalby, William —
• Dance Band ("Out of Practice") — , ,
• Darnley, Edie —
• Darnley, Sybil — Annette Badland
• Davey, Mrs — Kathleen Worth
• David —
• Dawson, Horace (farmer) —
• Dawson, Mr (farmer) — Brian Glover
• Dean, Mr (client) —
• Denham, Harold —
• Dent, Charlie (farmer) — Stan Richards
• Dent, Mr — John Barrett
• Derrick, Bob — Freddie Fletcher
• Derrick, Jean —
• Dibble, Mr —
• Dickson, Henry — Bernard Atha
• Dimmock, Mr — John Comer and Harry Goodier
• Dimmock, Mrs —
• Dimmock, Nellie/Eleanor — and
• Dinsdale, Mr —
• Dinsdale's brother — Wilfrid Brambell
• Dixon (farmer) —
• Dixon, Jonathan —
• Dobbs — Edward Peel
• Dobson, Ted — Ken Kitson
• Dodson, Mr —
• Donovan, Mrs — Sheila Reid
• Dooley, Miss — Avril Angers
• Downs —
• Dowson, Mr — John Ronane ("Breath of Life") and Barry Jackson ("Blood and Water")
• Dryden, Mrs —
• Dugdale, Mr —
• Duggleby —
• Duke of Mannerton — Ernest Clark
• Dumbleby, Mr —
• Dunn, Matilda — Ann Way
• Dunn, Muriel — Rosamund Greenwood
• Dunning, Dick —

E[]

• Earnshaw —
• Edgeworth, Mr —
• Edmundson, Richard (friend of Helen's) —
• Edmundson, Mr (Richard's father) —
• Edna (Mrs Pumphrey's housekeeper) —
• Edwards, Mr — Ken Farrington
• Egerton, Margery — Lois Baxter
• Elder, John — Martin Potter
• Emma —

F[]

• Fairburn, Mr —
• Farmer ("Brink of Disaster") —
• Farmhand ("Attendant Problems") —
• Farmhand ("Pride of Possession") —
• Farmhand ("Pups, Pigs and Pickle") —
• Farmer, Angela — Madeline Smith
• Farnon, Siegfried (owner of Skeldale House surgery) — Robert Hardy
• Farnon, Tristan (younger brother of Siegfried) — Peter Davison
• Fawcett, Dick — James Ottaway
• Felicity ("Calf Love") — Uncredited
• Fellowes, Mr —
• Fenton, Con — Henry Livings
• Finch, Ned — Robin Parkinson
• First Nurse —
• First Owner ("Home and Away") —
• Fisher, Caroline — Annie Lambert
• Flaxton, Mr — John Alkin
• Flaxton, Mrs —
• Forsyth, George — Finetime Fontayne
• Francois (Mrs Pumphrey's butler) —
• Fred (barman in "Tricks of the Trade") –
• Fred —
• Fred ("Big Steps and Little 'Uns") —
• Fred (1985 Christmas Special) —
• Freddy —
• Fu Manchu —

G[]

• Garrett, Mr —
• Garston, Jenny — Dorothy Tutin
• George —
• George (postman in "Place of Honour") — Uncredited
• George ("Plenty to Grouse About") —
• George (barman in "Alarms and Excursions") —
• George ("The Call of the Wild") —
• Gibbons, Sep — Duncan Preston
• Gibson —
• Gillard, Angela —
• Gillard, Frank —
• Gillard, Mary —
• Gilling, Mr —
• Gipsy boy ("Out of Practice") —
• Gipsy girl ("Out of Practice") —
• Gillard, Marjorie — Sandra Payne
• Gillard, Peter —
• Goodman, Dan —
• Grantley, Anne — Madeline Smith
• Greenlaw, Mrs — Judy Wilson
• Gregson, Mr —
• Grier, Angus — Andrew Crawford
• Grier, Mrs — Lucy Griffiths
• Griffiths, Mr —
• Grimes, Bert —
• Grimsdale, Ted — Bryan Pringle

H[]

• Hall, Edna (Skeldale House housekeeper) — Mary Hignett
• Hall, Sam —
• Hammond, Mr —
• Hammond, Mrs — Patsy Byrne
• Hamson, Elijah —
• Hamson, Len — Joe Gladwin
• Handshaw, Arthur (farmer) — Peter Martin
• Handshaw, Eric (farmer) —
• Harbottle, Miss (Winifred) (Skeldale's first secretary) — Madge Ryan
• Harcourt, Charles — John Ringham
• Hardacre, Ted —
• Hardwicke, Arthur —
• Hardwicke, Ben —
• Harker, Mrs —
• Harker, Vernon —
• Harris, Joe —
• Harris, Simon —
• Harry —
• Hart, Mr — Michael Bilton
• Hart, Mrs —
• Hartley, Bill — Peter Martin
• Hatfield, Geoff — Geoffrey Bayldon
• Hawden, Lord — William Fox
• Hawkins, Mary —
• Hawley, Mr —
• Hazlitt, Barbara — Christine Kavanagh
• Headingley, Deirdre —
• Headingley, Major — Hilary Wontner
• Head Lad ("The Last Furlong") – Gordon Reid
• Head Waiter ("Out of Practice") — David Davenport
• Henderson, Wilf — Arnold Peters
• Herriot, Helen (James' wife) — Carol Drinkwater and Lynda Bellingham
• Herriot, James (business partner of Siegfried) — Christopher Timothy
• Herriot, Jimmy — , and
• Herriot, Rosie — and Alison Lewis
• Herron, Mrs —
• Hewison, Mr — Robert Brown
• Hewison, Mrs —
• Hill —
• Hinchcliffe, Herbie —
• Hindley, George — Keith Marsh
• Hird, Tagger — Stephen Mallatratt
• Hird, Mrs — Pearl Hackney
• Hodgekin, William (Mrs Pumphrey's gardener-servant-chauffeur) — Teddy Turner
• Holroyd, Mrs — Peggy Sinclair
• Hopgood, Jess —
• Hopps, Mr —
• Horace — Jack Haig
• Horner, Mr — Colin Douglas
• Horner, Mrs —
• Howell, Mr — Keith Marsh
• Howell, Mrs —
• Hubbard, Mrs —
• Hucknall, Jack —
• Hudson, Clem — Tony Capstick
• Hudson, Dick —
• Hudson, Herbert —
• Hugill, Fenwick —
• Hugill, Thomas —
• Hugill, Walter —
• Hugill, William —
• Hughie —
• Hulton, Lady — Joanna McCallum
• Hulton, Lord — Frederick Treves

I[]

• Ingledew, Harold — Frank Mills
• Ingram, Kate —
• Inspector Green —
• Inspector Halliday —

J[]

• Jacques — André Maranne
• Jenkins, Colonel — Bert Parnaby
• Jenkins, Mr — Raymond Witch
• Jeweller —
• Judith —

K[]

• Katharine — Caroline Webster
• Kealey, Bert —
• Kealey, Mrs —
• Kendall, Joe (farmer) —
• Kenning, Albert — Malcolm Hebden
• Kirby, Mr —
• Kitson — John Barrett

L[]

• Landlord ("A Friend for Life") —
• Landlord (1983 Christmas Special) —
• Landlord (1985 Christmas Special) —
• Landlord of Pub ("Old Dogs, New Tricks") —
• Lawrence, Angela —
• Lawrence, Keith —
• Len —
• Little Boy ("Cats and Dogs") —
• Little Boy ("Alarms and Excursions") —
• Little Girl ("Cats and Dogs") —
• Little Girl ("Alarms and Excursions") —
• Livingstone, Miss —
• Longshaw, Bert — Dave Hill
• Lumsden, Mr —
• Lupton, Mr —
• Lydia — Sue Bond

M[]

• Mallaby —
• Mallard, Mrs —
• Mallock, Jeff (knackerman) — Frank Birch (from seasons 1 to 3) and Fred Feast (from series 4 to 7)
• Mallock, Winston —
• Man in car ("A Dog's Life") —
• Man on bus ("Horse Sense") —
• Manton, Joe —
• Mariner, Tom —
• Marion —
• Marston, Linda —
• Marston, Mrs — Sheila Raynor
• Marston, Peter —
• Massingham, Sir William — Kevin Stoney
• Mason, George —
• Mason, Mr — Geoffrey Bayldon
• Mason, Mrs — June Ellis
• Mavis —
• Maxwell, Tom — Peter Ivatts
• Maxwell, Tess —
• McEwan, Deirdre — Andrea Gibb
• McFeely, Molly — Sharon Twomey
• McTavish, Alice —
• Meeker, Mr — Michael Brennan
• Mercer, Jane —
• Mercer, Mr —
• Merrick, Hubert — Alan Rothwell
• Metcalfe, Frank —
• Metcalfe, Mary — Rachel Davies
• Meynell, Mr —
• Meynell, Mrs —
• Minikin, Mollie —
• Miranda —
• Morton, Mr —
• Mottram, Hilary — Jack Watson
• Mount, Deborah (Debbie) —
• Mount, Caleb — ("If Wishes Were Horses") and John Woodvine (1985 Christmas Special)
• Moverley — Stuart Golland
• Mulligan, Joe (client) —
• Murray — Andrew Robertson
• Murray, Mrs —
• Muriel — Uncredited (bar woman in "Plenty to Grouse About")
• Myatt, Margie — Uncredited
• Myatt, Jess —

N[]

• Nellist, Rupe —
• Newhouse, Gobber (farmer) — Ivor Salter
• Noakes, Mrs —
• Norman (barman in "Blood and Water") —
• Nurse Duggan —
• Nurse Brown — Marlene Sidaway

O[]

• O'Brian, Nick —
• Oakley, Percy —
• Ogilvie, Bill —
• Ormonroyd, Charlie —

P[]

• Parker, Susie —
• Partridge, Roland — Geoffrey Bayldon
• Pattison, Kitty —
• Paul — Nick Timothy
• Pavlechenko, Ludmilla —
• P.C. Claude Blenkiron —
• P.C. Goole —
• P.C. Hicks — Mark Jordon
• P.C. Leach —
• P.C. Smith —
• Pearson, Jacob —
• Peart, Harold —
• Pedretti, Franco —
• Pendlebury, Leslie — Hugh Walters
• Penn, Albert —
• Perowne, Roderick — William Squire
• Peter —
• Pettinger, Mrs —
• Phil — Tim Dantay
• Pianist ("Alarms and Excursions") — Ena Baga
• Pickersgill, Mr —
• Pickersgill, Olive —
• Pickles, Edge —
• Pilling, Mrs —
• Pilling, Seth — Malcolm Terris
• Pinkerton, Mr —
• Plenderleith, Mr — James Bree
• Plenderleith, Mrs — Gabrielle Daye
• Plumb, Miss — Jenny Jay
• Polenov, Captain —
• Potts, Jim —
• Potts, Mrs — Gabrielle Blunt
• Pounder, Mrs —
• Pratt, Dennis —
• Professor Norton — Edward Burnham
• Pub customers ("Horse Sense") — Leslie Sarony, James Ottaway
• Punter ("Home and Away") —
• Pymm, Mr —
• Pumphrey, Mrs (aristocratic client of the surgery) — Margaretta Scott
  • Mrs Pumphrey's maid —

R[]

• Raczinski, Dr —
• Ramsey, Bill —
• Randall, Tom — Rodney Litchfield
• Ransom, Major General — Geoffrey Toone
• Ransom, Mrs — Jeanne Mockford
• Raven, Trooper — Steve Hodson
• Raworth, Sarah —
• Ray —
• Rayner, David — Frank Windsor
• Rayner, Elizabeth — Amanda Waring
• Rayner, Geoffrey —
• Reed, Mr —
• Restaurant Diner ("Here and There") —
• Reverend Henty — Jack May
• Reynolds —
• Ridge, Mrs — Wanda Ventham
• Rigby, Bob — Michael Graham Cox
• Ripley, Mr —
• Ripley, Mrs —
• Roper, Mr —
• Ross, Ewan — Alex McCrindle ("Fair Means and Fowl") and David Ashton ("Old Dogs, New Tricks")
• Ross, Virginia —
• Rudd, Charlie — Gerald James
• Rudd, Maurice —
• Rupe — Danny O'Dea

S[]

• Sally ("If Music Be The Food of Love") — Uncredited
• Sam —
• Sam (1990 Christmas Special) —
• Sanders, Betty — Gillian Hanna
• Sanders, Jack —
• Scargill, Mr — Tom Mennard
• Scott, Jack — Philip Martin Brown
• Scott, Sheila —
• Scott, Tony —
• Seaton, Mrs (farmer's wife) —
• Second Nurse —
• Second Owner ("Home and Away") —
• Sergeant Bannister — Graham Hamilton
• Shadwell, Bill — Howard Goorney
• Shadwell, Joanna —
• Shadwell, Louise —
• Shadwell, Molly — Avril Angers
• Shadwell, Peter — Dominic Guard
• Sharpe, Bert (farmer) — Paul Luty
• Shop assistant ("Be Prepared") —
• Sidlow — William Abney
• Sidney —
• Simmons, Mr —
• Simon —
• Simpson, Marjorie —
• Sir Robert — Donald Pickering
• Sister Louise Rose — ("Out of Practice") and Irene Sutcliffe ("The New World" and 1985 Christmas Special)
• Skelton, Cornelius —
• Skelton, Marmaduke — Edward Peel
• Skerry, Albert — William Moore
• Skipton —
• Skipton, Mr — Tony Melody
• Small boy with puppy ("Judgement Day") —
• Smedley —
• Smethurst, Mr —
• Smethick, Mr —
• Smith —
• Smithers, Mr —
• Smithers (Young) —
• Soames (Lord Hulton's stable master) — George Selway
• Soldier ("Alarms and Excursions") — Graham Hamilton
• Sowden, Mr — Larry Noble
• St. John — Peter Alexander
• Stallholder (1983 Christmas Special) —
• Steven —
• Stockdale, Adam —
• Stockdale, Bob — Tim Wylton
• Stokes, Barry —
• Stokill, Mr —
• Stott, Mr —
• Strong, Oliver — Gordon Gostelow
• Strong, Roland — Walter Sparrow
• Stubbs, Miss —
• Stubbs, Sammy —
• Summergill, Arnold —
• Sumner, Harry (farmer) —
• Sutcliffe, Mr — Warren Clarke
• Sweetman, Mr —
• Sweetman, Myra —
• Sykes, Mr —

T[]

• Tamworth-Brown, Mrs —
• Tanner, Emma —
• Tanner, Simon —
• Tansy, Jack —
• Tansy, Mr —
• Taverner, Dick — Glyn Owen
• Taverner, Julia —
• Taverner, Beatrice —
• Taylor, Bob —
• Trueman, Freddie — Bill Cashmore
• Rachel Taylor —
• Teasdale, Mr —
• Ted (first barman of the Drovers Arms) —
• Temple, Alice — Mollie Maureen
• Thompson, Miss —
• Thornton, Susie — Judy Brooke
• Thwaite, Tommy — John Rutland
• Thwaites, Mr —
• Tibbett, Mrs —
• Tilson, Mrs —
• Tolly —
• Tom ("The Beauty of the Beast") —
• Tom ("Faint Hearts") — Danny O'Dea
• Tommy —
• Tompkins, Mrs —
• Travers, Roddy — Patrick Troughton ("Hair of the Dog") and James Ellis ("In Whom We Trust")
• Trenholm, Mary —
• Trenholm, Peter —
• Tremayne, Colonel — Anthony Dawes
• Tremayne, Mrs — Jean Fergusson
• Truscott, Glenys —
• Tyreman, Cliff — Tony Sympson

U[]

• Umpire ("The Name of the Game") —
• Umpire ("Big Fish, Little Fish") — George Tunstall^[2]
• Unwin, Gordon —

V[]

• Van driver ("Plenty to Grouse About") —
• Vaughan, Susan — Sabina Franklyn
• Vera —
• Vicar ("A Friend for Life") —
• Vicar (1990 Christmas Special) —
• Vine, Andrew —

W[]

• Wain, Bernard — Peter Benson
• Wain, Mary-Jane — Ruth Holden
• Waiter ("Knowin' How to Do It") —
• Waiter (1985 Christmas Special) —
• Wakeman, Major — Roger Brierley
• Warrington, Bill —
• Watson, Terry —
• Watson, Mrs —
• Weeting, Brian — Paul Clayton
• Weeting, Dennis —
• Weeting, Mr —
• Wellerby, Mr —
• Wenlow, Silas — Richard Cole
• Westby, Jane —
• Westby, Mrs —
• Westby, Sarah —
• Westerman, Miss —
• Wheatley, Mrs —
• White, Mr (farmer) —
• Whitehead, George —
• Whithorn, Mr — Edwin Richfield
• Whithorn, Mrs — Jenny Laird
• Wiggins, Mr —
• Wiggs, Albert —
• Wilf ("Puppy Love") —
• Wilf ("The Playing Field") —
• Wilkey, Reg —
• Wilkin, Seb —
• Wilkinson, Mr —
• Willis, Mr —
• Willis, Tom —
• Wilson, Mr — Jeff Nuttall
• Wireless announcer (voice, 1990 Christmas Special) — Frank Windsor
• Witchell, Sam — Preston Lockwood
• Woman with pony ("Judgement Day") —
• Woodley, David —
• Worley, Mr (barman) —
• Worrall, Sally —

Y[]

• Young Man —
• Young Woman —
• Youth ("Home and Away") —

Recurring characters[]

Several farmers make recurring appearances throughout the series. Mr Biggins (John Sharp) is a notorious payment-dodger who regularly attempts to procure free service out of the practice, as well as decrying the cost of the vets' visits. In one episode he calls Herriot out to question a bill charge from 18 months earlier. On another occasion, in exchange for Herriot's assistance with a puncture on his car, Biggins agrees to settle his account. Little does Herriot know that Biggins post-dated the cheque. Biggins' first name is revealed to be Ezra in the series 7 episode "If Music Be the Food of Love". "John Sharp was just like you see him," recalled Peter Davison. "He was a wonderful raconteur and would tell you these long stories."^[1] Christopher Timothy added: "I found myself getting quite moved when I watched an episode recently, not because of what we were doing, but because all those lovely people are no longer with us. John Sharp was a lovely, lovely man."^[1]

Bill Hartley (Peter Martin, who also plays Arthur Handshaw in series 1 and 2), meanwhile, is a relatively good-natured client, compared to the perpetually disgruntled Ted Grimsdale (Bryan Pringle). "Peter Martin was fantastic," remembered Peter Davison. "He was mainly known then for the Jewson commercials. He was just very funny. He played two parts for us over the years."^[1]

Knackerman Jeff Mallock (Frank Birch from series 1 to 3 and Fred Feast from series 4 to 7) is regularly waiting in the wings to take ailing livestock to his knacker's yard. Whatever the vets' diagnosis, Mallock always thinks the real reason is "stagnation o' t'lung".

Fellow vet Granville Bennett (James Grout), a cat and dog specialist, is often on hand to help out with the more severe small animal cases. His enjoyment of alcohol is always of a concern for James, however, who regularly ends up inebriated and making a fool of himself in front of Bennett's wife, Zoe (Pamela Salem), whom he always thought considered him a dipsomaniac. "One of the guest characters we both adored was Granville Bennett, from whom James never escaped without being utterly plastered," recalled Sandy Byrne, the widow of writer Johnny Byrne. "He was played by James Grout, who was wonderful! He very much enjoyed writing for Mrs Pumphrey and Hodgekin too."^[1]

As evidenced by Peter Martin above, several actors played more than one character throughout the course of the series; none more so than Bill Lund, who played four people: Mr Sykes in "Fair Means and Fowl", a farmhand in "Pups, Pigs and Pickle", Mr Edgeworth in the 1985 Christmas Special and Mr Bushell in "Hail Caesar!".

Geoffrey Bayldon played three characters: Roland Partridge in "Pride of Possession", Mr Mason in the 1983 Christmas Special and confectioner Geoff Hatfield in "Where Sheep May Safely Graze".

Anna Turner also played three characters: Miss Thompson in "Big Steps and Little 'Uns", a stall holder in the 1983 Christmas Special and Mrs Pettinger in "A Cat in Hull's Chance".

Jack Watson played two cantankerous characters: farmer Isaac Cranford in "Nothing Like Experience" and vet Hilary Mottram in "One of Nature's Little Miracles". He reprised the role of Cranford in the 1990 Christmas Special.

Others who played two or more characters:^[1]

• Alan Hockey: Duggleby in "Brink of Disaster" and Mr.Pinkerton in "Barks and Bites"
• Ashley Barker: Eric Handshaw in "Dog Days", Sam Broadbent in "Practice Makes Perfect" and Len Birtwhistle in "A Present From Dublin" and "The New World"
• Joby Blanshard: Mr Bailes in "Pig in the Middle" and Mr Bellerby in "Faint Hearts"
• Anthea Holloway plays Mrs Tompkins in "Faint Hearts". Three series later, she plays Mrs Pumphrey's housemaid, Edna
• George Malpas: Mr Dean in "Dog Days" and Mr Dakin in "The Bull with the Bowler Hat"
• Joe Belcher: Dan Cooper in "Dog Days" and Mr Thwaites in "Only One Woof"
• Enid Irvin: Mrs Allen in "Sleeping Partners" and Mrs Wheatley in "For Richer, For Poorer"
• Alan Hulse: Mr Willis in "Hair of the Dog" and Mr Stott in "The Pig Man Cometh"
• Pearl Hackney: Mrs Crump in "Calf Love" and Mrs Hird in "Choose a Bright Morning"
• Avril Angers: Miss Dooley in "Pups, Pigs and Pickle" and Molly Shadwell in "A Friend for Life"
• Barry Jackson: Ken Billings in "Matters of Life and Death" and Mr Dowson in "Blood and Water"
• Madeline Smith: Angela Farmer in "Pride of Possession" and Anne Grantley in the 1983 Christmas Special
• Katharine Page: Aunt Lucy in "Golden Lads and Girls" and Mollie Minikin in "Only One Woof"
• Fine Time Fontayne: George Forsyth in the 1985 Christmas Special and Joe Bentley in "A New Chapter"
• Tony Capstick: Fred Allan in "In Whom We Trust" and Clem Hudson in the 1985 Christmas Special
• June Ellis: Mrs Bellerby in "Faint Hearts" and Mrs Mason in "The New World"
• Michael Lees: Mr Bond in "Cats and Dogs" and Colonel Bosworth in "The Healing Touch"
• Peter Ivatts: Mr Blackburn in "A Dying Breed" and Tom Maxwell in "The Bull With the Bowler Hat" and "Against the Odds"
• James Bree: Mr Plenderleith in "Out of Practice" and Humphrey Cobb in "The Bull With the Bowler Hat"
• Danny O'Dea: Tom in "Faint Hearts" and Rupe in "The Pig Man Cometh"
• Graham Hamilton: a soldier in "Alarms and Excursions" and Sergeant Bannister in the 1983 Christmas Special
• Danny James: Smedley in "Dog Days" and Mr Meynell in "The Jackpot"
• John Barrett: Kitson in "Breath of Life" and Mr Dent in "Every Dog His Day"
• Keith Marsh: George Hindley in "Will to Live" and Mr Howell in "The Prodigal Returns"
• Dickie Arnold: Joe Kendall in "Nothing Like Experience" and "A Dog's Life" and Will in "The Pig Man Cometh"
• Tom Harrison: Reynolds in "Dog Days", Eli Bagley in "Bulldog Breed" and Mr. Buckle in "One of Nature's Little Miracles"
• Edward Peel: Dobbs in "Barks and Bites" and Marmaduke'Duke'Skelton in "Fair Means and Fowl"
• Martin Matthews: Mr.Denham in "Ways and Means" and Keith Lawrence in "A Cat in Hull's Chance"

"They used some genuine Yorkshire characters to play the farmers," recalled Sandy Byrne, "so [Johnny] relished writing for them because they were so quirky and funny."^[1] Robert Hardy concurs: "What I think made the thing a success was those Yorkshire and Lancashire actors we had playing the farmers. They were wonderful. They lent a real authenticity to their stuff, farmers complaining about their bills and all that."^[1]

Ted Moult, who played Harold Carter, was a real farmer in the 1940s but became a radio and television personality in the mid-1960s. He committed suicide in 1986, aged 60, after a period of depression after several weeks of wet weather that worried arable farmers.^[3]

In addition to the roles of Helen Herriot, her children and Jeff Mallock, a few characters were played by more than one actor:^[1]

• Dr.Harry Allinson: John Grieve in "Bulldog Breed" & Richard Butler (uncredited) in "The Nelson Touch"
• Charlie (Lord Hulton's estate worker) Mike Kelly in "Matters of Life and Death" and James Garbutt in "The Nelson Touch" & "Hampered"
• Hilda Biggins: Kathleen Helme and Margaret Jackman
• Kit Bilton: Gorden Kaye and Bill Croasdale
• Mr Bond: Michael Lees in "Cats and Dogs" & Kenneth Cranham in "Call of the Wild" (mute & uncredited)
• Stewie Brannan: Ronald Lacey and Dinsdale Landen
• Major Bullen: Norman Shelley and Mark Kingston
• Phineas Calvert: Johnny Allan and Alan Partington
• Mr Dimmock: John Comer and Harry Goodier
• Eleanor "Nellie" Dimmock: Georgina Eastwood and Jane Clifford
• Mr Dowson: John Ronane and Barry Jackson
• Caleb Mount: Dave King (actor) and John Woodvine
• Ewan Ross: Alex McCrindle and David Ashton. The character was based on Frank Bingham, Brian Sinclair's first assistant. Bingham died "like many good vets, in a cow byre doing a tough job."^[4]
• Sister Rose: Jessica Spencer and Irene Sutcliffe
• Roddy Travers: Patrick Troughton and James Ellis (actor)

References[]

Specific

General

• All Creatures Great and Small full cast and crew at IMDb