(bright piano and string theme) - [Narrator] The Yorkshire Dales are as timeless as they are magical.

It's a place where the four seasons sometimes arrive in the span of just one day.

That could be now, or in the 1940s stories of James Herriot.

Sunshine, rain, fog, snow-- it's all part of the unique character at the center of "All Creatures Great and Small" on MASTERPIECE.

- Up in the Dales, surrounded by those hills... there's no place on Earth like it.

- Careful.

Once it gets in your bones it's hard to get out.

- I'm not sure I want it to.

- Good.

(both chuckling) - [Narrator] It's the kind of place where family recipes span generations, and where family farms span centuries.

The stories of James Herriot place the villagers, farmers, and animals of the Dales at the center of the narrative, but we're always aware that those stories take place in a unique part of the world.

- I've done some unusual things in my time as a vet, but- - Ten more minutes.

- Ten?

If I stay in this position a moment longer, I'll never get up again!

(soaring orchestral music) - [Narrator] In today's special, bring along your coat, a sweater, an umbrella, and your wellies as we visit the Dales of today, while we harken back to the time of James Herriot's timeless stories.

We'll go behind the scenes with the cast and creators of "All Creatures," and we'll even visit some very special seasonal festivals in the Dales with actor Nicholas Ralph.

And be sure to join us in the Skeldale kitchen to make some shortbread cookies with Anna Madeley, and the real chef from "All Creatures."

- Hello, I'm Nicholas Ralph.

I play James Herriot in "All Creatures Great and Small."

Join us for "All Creatures Great and Small: Seasons of the Dales."

(orchestral music concluding) - Excuse me, is this Darrowby?

- Aye.

Aye, it is.

(uplifting orchestral music) (door folding) (orchestral music swelling) - [Nicholas] Over the course of filming one season, ironically, you can have four seasons in one day.

There could be snow on the ground, then you'll get a bit of rain, it will be windy, then the clouds will part and the sun will come through.

(laughing) So you just don't know.

- [Callum] If you watched a scene where the weather changed several times throughout one scene-- especially people in America would be like, "That was clearly filmed over, like, three weeks."

It was like, no, no, it's filmed in one day.

Come to the Dales, trust me, you'll know exactly that this is accurate.

It's actually less accurate that weather stays the same.

- [James] When the weather comes in, it's a brutal place.

Snow 10 foot deep-- fog so thick you can barely see your hand in front of your face.

- [Samuel] The other thing to say about the Dales, of course, is they're incredibly unpredictable.

One year where we did have snow, it stayed for about 20 minutes, and literally 20 minutes later there was no sign of it.

- [Siegfried] There's not a flake of snow in Darrowby.

- [Slavens] Aye, it's like the North Pole up here.

You get three seasons in one day.

- [Rachel] There was a scene that I remember, it was in Yockenthwaite, actually, and it was the farmer, actually, that, that owns that farm, Stewart, who I've become quite pally with.

I'd been filming there two months before and I said to him, "Oh, the next time I'm back up here is not 'til May."

I was like, "So at least it'll be warmer then."

And he just laughed and he went, "No, it'll snow this year in May."

And sure enough, it did.

I can remember like sideways snow, you know, you c- It was really visible.

We all had to stand down for a while in nearby cottages, eating lots of biscuits, which is always quite fun 'cause you get that feeling of like snow day at school.

(rain pouring) - [Callum] I'm sure it's maddening for... the crew and the director, but I sort of enjoy it, really.

I quite like the rain, I quite like the sunshine, I quite like the snow, so I'm, I'm very happy to have them all.

(horn honking) (sheep bleating) - [Rachel] I like spring, just when things are coming to life.

- [Helen] Right, then-- are we ready?

- [Children] Yeah!

- So, the first duck under that bridge wins.

(mischievous string music) - [Narrator] Anna Madeley remembers one scene in Season Two when the weather was especially unpredictable.

- [Anna] The funeral's always a day that comes to mind because we all had to put up umbrellas, and then we shot the scene all without umbrellas 'cause the sun came out, and then a rainbow will appear, or something, (laughing) so you have to do it again.

- [Nicholas] Sometimes you just have to stop because it is just driving rain.

You can get away with light rain-- doesn't really show on camera-- but you have these days where it's just driving, driving rain.

(thunder rumbling) (sighing) - [Anna] Hats off to our crew, because they all have gear for every weather with them at all times.

And I will always have a fond memory of sitting in our very old cars, watching them try and dry the vehicle ready for a take.

And then try and get us to (laughing) roll quickly enough that we can do it before the car's too wet again.

It's like the endless battle against the elements.

Everyone's always ready for that fight.

(rain pouring) - I missed it.

- Oh, did you ever.

(rain pouring) (melancholy piano music) - [Nicholas] It can be really atmospheric, as well, you know, when you've got the brooding cloud.

Because you can have the sun pouring in one side of a Dale, and then the other side, it's brooding dark cloud.

Visually, it's stunning.

- [Samuel] I did a scene where I was sitting in front of a wood-burning stove in a three-piece tweed suit pretending to be freezing.

I had ice packs, in fact, in all the places where in February you have heat packs.

- Siegfried- - We've snow due today!

If she were to go into labor, she could find herself stuck in the middle of nowhere.

- [Nicholas] Filming can be long, cold days, but it feels like you've earned something.

You've done something, it's... tiny taste of what it might have actually been like to be a vet in the 1940s up in the high Dales.

(serene orchestral music fading) (whooshing sound) (jazzy piano music) - [Narrator] Of course, the weather in every season of the Dales has challenged vets, farmers, and villagers for generations.

But the era in which our stories are set was a special time in history.

A time that the community revisits with festivals and celebrations.

(jazzy music continuing) The annual Grassington 1940s Weekend was held in late September.

Thousands came to the village to celebrate 1940s culture, fashion, and activities.

And one of them was our very own Nicholas Ralph.

(jazzy music continuing) - Julia, thanks so much for the invite to this-- Grassington's 1940s Weekend.

You are the organizer, you're the event runner.

14 years, you've been doing it.

- [Julia] 14 years, yeah.

- [Nicholas] Tell me a little bit about it.

- [Julia] So today, we've got the Spitfire in the square, we've got the Yorkshire volunteer drummers.

We've also got the tea dances running in the town hall from 2:00 to 4:00, which is a sellout.

We've got vintage vehicles around the village everywhere.

- [Nicholas] So it seems like just so much jovialness and- - [Julia] Oh, everybody's happy!

- And fun, and- - Yeah, yeah.

You'll notice that everybody all day will be smiling.

- [Nicholas] Yeah.

- [Julia] They just love it.

- [Nicholas] Come rain or shine.

- [Julia] Yeah.

(upbeat orchestral music) We can't forget what happened in the 40s.

- No, absolutely-- and we've- - Uh, you know... - we've touched on it, as well, that James Herriot did go to the RAF-- - [Julia] Yes!

- [Nicholas] he trained up to be a bomber pilot.

It's very much about the lives and the people of Darrowby- - [Julia] Yeah it is.

- [Nicholas] but you have the bigger thing that's going on - [Julia] Yeah, yeah, - [Nicholas] in the background.

- [Julia] And we can't forget what everybody went through for us.

You know, w- our country probably wouldn't be what it was if it wasn't for them going out - [Nicholas] Abs- absolutely - to war in the 40s.

- Yeah.

- [Siegfried] Where are you from - Hulme... Manchester.

- So, a fish out of water, then?

- Don't see too many fields as a plumber's apprentice, sir.

(lively background chattering) - Well, you're welcome here-- of course you are.

- You can see why people want to come back.

- We're very lucky.

- Time and time again.

We're very lucky-- I've lived here all my life, and I won't want to go anywhere else.

- Yeah.

- No, I love it.

- Thanks, Julia, I can't wait- - Alright.

- to get stuck in!

- Thank you!

- Cheers.

- Enjoy your day.

- Thank you.

- Alright.

- [Alkaseltzer Sisters] (singing) If you ever go down Trinidad, They make you feel so very glad, (tank whirring) Calypso sing and make up rhyme, Guarantee you one real- - Normally, I'm all decked out in 19- I'm normally in 1940s gear.

- [Female Fan] I watch you all the time.

- (laughing) Your birthday?

Happy birthday!

- [Narrator] A major highlight of the festival was the York Vintage Dance Group who kept the party going-- even in the rain.

- [Alkaseltzer Sisters] (singing) In old Trinidad, I also fear, The situation is mighty queer Like the Yankee girl, the native swoon, When she hear "Der Bingle" croon.

- So, we are outside somewhere very familiar.

There's no pillars, but this is the front of Skeldale House here in Grassington, and I'm with Tina, who's gonna tell me all about the dancers and the singers.

- Right, well, the singers are the Alkaseltzer Sisters and Mick, and we are York Vintage Dance Group.

So you'll have our people dancing on the street over there having a wonderful time... (laughing) in the rain!

- It's raining- - Look, see- - but what, how do you deal with it in Yorkshire?

You dance in the rain!

- Absolutely brilliant.

- We do it in all weather.

- Fantastic.

- [Mick] (singing) Seven-- that's the time we leave at seven, I'll be waiting up for heaven - [Tina] We've been dancing at Grassington 40s event ever since it started.

So this is our 14th year.

- 14th year?

- 14th year.

- Wow!

It- has it just grown in size over the years?

- [Tina] It has, it's-- just snowballed.

It's wonderful.

- [Nicholas] Yeah.

So what do you think it is about the 1940s, and that era, that brings people time and time again, year after year-- not only that, but to travel the country, to go to other events that are similar?

- It's, it's... somewhat the nostalgia, the music, the camaraderie of the, the time, - Music.

- the, yeah, music!

Yeah.

(both laughing) It's, it's just a mixture of everything, really.

And all our dancers and the people that go to these things are all really lovely people.

- [Nicholas] It's all about community and family, - [Tina] Yeah, it is!

- [Nicholas] and everyone coming together.

- [Alkaseltzer Sisters] (singing) G.I.

romance with native peach, All night long, make tropic love Next day, sit in hot sun and cool off... - And do you watch the show, yourself?

- Oh, yes!

- Yeah?

- Yeah, big fans.

(both laughing) - Who's your favorite character, is it James?

- Oh, well... (both laughing) - I'll give you a tenner later.

(both laughing) - Well, more than that.

(both laughing) - [Alkaseltzer Sisters] (singing) ...treat her nice, Make Trinidad like paradise (song concluding) (crowd cheering and applauding) (cheerful string music) - [Narrator] Our next stop at the 1940s Grassington Weekend was The Devonshire.

This pub serves as the exterior for The Drovers Arms, and we met with manager Kirsty Wilson, who gave us a tour of their "All Creatures" pub room.

(peppy guitar music) - It just gets bigger and bigger every time I see it, Kirsty, it is absolutely fabulous this "All Creatures Great and Small" room.

Can you tell me a little bit about it?

- Absolutely, so... what we decided to do was to put everything "All Creatures" in one space, so that the guests that come specifically to see these kind of things have got the ability to be able to see things from each season because we add to it each time.

- Yeah, it's wonderful.

I mean, even these quotes that have been added here, above-- I see, like Siegfried Farnon, "I am fun.

I'm perfectly bloody fun."

It's absolutely brilliant.

- And what's the point of it all - Fun.

I understand that's a very alien concept to you.

- I am fun.

I'm perfectly bloody fun.

- [Nicholas] "Whatever you've heard, it's not true, I didn't do it."

-- Tristan Farnon.

That, I think is when I pick him up- - from the train.

- Yeah, from the train.

- [James] Tristan Farnon?

- Whatever you've heard, it's not true, I didn't do it.

- Ah, no, no-- Siegfried sent me.

- [Nicholas] I don't think we've managed to get this into the show yet, but I love this quote.

"The great value of a dog is that you can make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, he will make a fool of himself too"-- James Herriot.

I think that's beautiful.

You have the rooms that are named after some of the... characters from the books.

- [Kirsty] We do, indeed.

They are probably the most photographed room names in the UK right now.

(Nicholas laughing) - [Nicholas] Is there a James Herriot Suite, or a Herriot Suite?

- [Kirsty] There is a Herriot Suite.

- [Nicholas] Uh-huh.

- [Kirsty] There is.

It's quite popular, but it's not the most popular.

I'm so sorry.

- What is the most popular?

- It is the Siegfried Farnon room.

- [Siegfried] It may not always seem like it, but I do, in fact, still run this place.

- [Nicholas] Thanks so much for the tour.

And, uh... I just, I can't wait to see this get populated more and more.

- [Narrator] Later in the day, we met with the Yorkshire Volunteer Corps of Drums who showed off their incredible uniforms and then entertained the festivalgoers with a procession through Grassington.

- [David] Hello, mate!

- Hiya.

- Pleased to meet you.

- Lovely to meet you.

- How are you?

- Yeah, good, thanks.

- How's the job going, alright?

- Yeah, yeah, not bad.

You look... amazing.

- It's these things that... pull it off.

- I mean the whole, the whole getup.

The whole getup, the, th... the j- well, everything, every part of it.

- It's all traditional.

- [Nicholas] Yeah.

- [David] Goes back... Our regiment goes back to 1865.

- And your regiment- - I was there-- I was.

- You were?

(David laughing) - [David] I've designed this, and we have the history of the regiment and then we have the Canadian maple leaf, which was awarded to us in the Second World War.

- [Nicholas] Yeah, and the Yorkshire Rose is, we were talking about- - Correct.

- before, here.

- Correct.

And the Queen's crown.

- Queen's crown.

- We have what's called the dress cords, which goes back to Napoleonic, uh, drummers.

- [Nicholas] Wow.

And this?

- Yeah, this goes back to before the days of Queen Victoria.

- This is gonna be incredible.

We're gonna do a procession down the street.

- Well, we do the procession down the street, and then we do a drumming display, - Hmm.

- we do a bugle display.

- The weather's been against us slightly- - Yeah!

- but everyone's still got a smile on their face.

There was dancing going on in the street.

- [David] Of course.

- [Nicholas] You know, everyone's just, uh, like getting on with it and having a good time as well.

- Grassington is unique.

It really is.

It's lovely.

- Right.

I think we're ready to... - Okey dokey.

- Let's do it.

- We'll form up downstairs.

(military drums beating) - [Narrator] When the procession began, Nicholas Ralph was invited to join in on the fun as an ambassador of "All Creatures Great and Small."

(drums beating) The corps then performed a drum and bugle display that left the crowd speechless.

(triumphant bugle and drum music) (drums beating) (sticks clacking and drums beating) (drumming intensifying) (crowd applauding and cheering) (whooshing sound) We'll spend some more time at the 1940s festival a little later.

In the meantime, even though they might not be dancing in the rain, let's hear how the seasons of the Dales help the cast get into character.

(bright piano and string theme) - [Rachel] The drive to work in the morning never gets old.

I look out the window like, "I can't believe we get to shoot in this beautiful place."

And as actors, you really feel that.

- [Helen] Alright there, Tris!

I didn't know you were back.

- And I assume you've missed me terribly.

- [Callum] We go to the most amazing remote locations while you're dressed in these clothes and other people are dressed in these clothes, so you just feel like you're in the 40s.

- If he obeys your command, give him a treat.

(animal bleating) Tristan.

- Mm?

Oh, sorry, Jenny.

I was feeling a bit peckish.

- [Nicholas] The period costume as much as anything really does help you get into character because once you're in the clothes you walk differently as well.

(soft footsteps) - [James] Ah, honestly, d... I- I'll be fine.

- [Jenny] Are they're not to your liking, James?

(newspaper rustling) - No, no.

No, these are... they're perfect.

- I think Helen's got the best wardrobe.

I absolutely love all her stuff.

Ros and the costume team are just brilliant.

Attention to detail is second to none, and because it's all quite practical, it's all comfortable.

So I really enjoy wearing it.

(distant bird calls) - [Helen] Look all right?

(bird calls and water rushing) (poignant string music intensifying) - Aye... Middling.

(poignant music fading) (lively string music) - I'm currently debating whether or not I buy my first Fairisle tank top, but I just worry that people will sort of be like, "Why are you dressing like your character from the show?"

(laughing) - [Samuel] The only thing that is sometimes troublesome taking Siegfried home with you is the beard, because it takes me quite a long time to grow it.

Weirdly, I wore it to the read-through in Series One and they went, "Keep that, it's good."

I said, "Not many people in 1937 had beards."

And they said, "Yeah, but he's eccentric, isn't he?"

And I went, "Yeah, fair point."

So we get the beard.

- [Siegfried] You need to take a chance.

Lash out a little.

Carpe some diem!

- [Narrator] We also asked the cast if they had ever struggled to stay in character.

- [Callum] We had Vic Reeves playing the knacker's yard man, which is basically the owner of the abattoir.

And his performance was absolutely wild.

I've never seen anything like it, and I, I don't think I got through a single take without laughing.

- You mean that isn't the cow from Rudd's?

- [Mallock] No, that's right, I had to do another'n first.

Uh, Rudd's cow's still in wagon.

- I remember it's the wrong cow because of the way Vic Reeves said the wrong cow.

"Wrong cooooow!"

He sort of did it like that every single time.

- [James] Look, ah-- she's no goner!

Jeff, you've got the wrong cow there.

- Wrong cow?

- No, it is, it is easy to stay in character unless you're laughing-- if you get the giggles, which... I confess I sometimes have done.

- I don't think I've struggled to stay in character so much.

But there has been times where you break ultimately because something is very funny, but it's also other people breaking, then make you laugh.

So like Anna is just notorious and that is just extremely, extremely infectious.

- [Narrator] Yet despite the challenges of on-set giggles, the stunning locations of the Dales inspire the cast and constantly transport them to the 1940s.

- [James] Flocks of sheep grazed these hills for hundreds of years.

And the sheep, they know to stay in the same place.

- Away!

- [James] They know where they belong.

(sheep bleating) It's in their bones-- passed from one generation to the next.

- [Anna] People are enjoying that kind of escapism.

And I think this gives people some head space and some joy and some beautiful landscapes.

- I love the fact that you can look out onto a hill and think that that farm's been there for 300 years.

- [Siegfried] Ah, you are a grand fella.

That's a fine example of a scuffling horse, if I'm not mistaken.

(cow mooing distantly) - [Dobson] He's a good 'un all right.

- It's very easy to sort of lose yourself and get into the role because it's just beautiful everywhere you look.

- I can't do it.

(birds chirping softly) I can't go.

- Jenny.

- [Jenny] I'm not a nurse.

I'm not a city girl.

This is my home.

(birds chirping) (cow mooing) I can't leave.

(bittersweet orchestral music) - Oh!

You daft thing.

(bittersweet music continuing) (bright piano and string theme) - [Narrator] When we return, we'll spend more time at the 1940s festival and we'll also travel to an agricultural show and talk to farmers from the Dales.

We'll visit the Skeldale kitchen and learn how to make Mrs.

Hall's shortbread.

And of course we'll spend more time hearing from the entire cast in "All Creatures Great and Small: Seasons of the Dales."

(theme music fading) (bright piano and string theme) - Welcome back to “All Creatures Great and Small: Seasons of the Dales” (piano and string theme continuing) - [Narrator] Today we are taking a look at everything that makes the four seasons in the Yorkshire Dales so very special.

We are joined by James Herriot himself-- Nicholas Ralph-- as our guide to a local 1940s festival, and also, to an agricultural festival, where we will meet some local farmers showing their animals.

But first, let's look at how these stories take place in a simpler time.

(uplifting orchestral music) - [Anna] The Dales are... beautiful in every weather.

They're just stunning.

- [James] I didn't expect it to be so beautiful.

- [Siegfried] One of the wildest spots in England.

- We go through many, many seasons throughout one day, but, the views and the vistas of the Dales are just beautiful.

(serene orchestral music) - I can see why you like it up here.

- Mr.

Herriot.

- [Nicholas] It's about this surrogate family, in this gorgeous part of the world, in the Yorkshire Dales, which is a character unto itself, with the animals... "great and small," and these eccentric characters that you just meet day-to-day.

- [Callum] It's just about telling those stories very, very honestly, in an amazingly written way that people can empathize with and relate to.

- [Tristan] I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive, I... I just thought that- - Ugh, that's the trouble with people.

They're too busy thinking or not thinking.

Instead of just being!

- [Samuel] They try and do their best for each other, support each other through misfortunes and unhappinesses, and glory in each other's triumphs.

- [Siegfried] She's on the mend.

(Grace laughing with relief) Tom will be pleased to hear that, won't he?

- He will.

Thanks Mr.

Farnon, it means the world.

- [Nicholas] It harks back to a simpler time, you know, in the 30s and the 40s, where we didn't have various technologies and things that we do now, and things weren't happening at such an industrial scale.

And I think people like that.

- [Richard] Now then, Tommy lad!

- [Tom] How do, Richard?

- [Richard] Fair do, son.

I didn't know you were back.

- Aye.

- [Samuel] If you wanna meet somebody, you have to see them-- even the telephone is pretty unusual.

(peaceful orchestral music) - What's this?

(peaceful music continuing) - Telephone.

- Dad?

- Really?

- I thought you said they were witchcraft.

- [Rachel] The themes that "All Creatures" encompasses don't have a sell-by date.

They are always going to feel important-- togetherness, community, love.

(all laughing) - [Siegfried] Pocket money if you can hit your father.

- [James] Get Uncle Tris!

(Tristan grunting) (all laughing) - Stop it!

(lighthearted music crescendoing and concluding) (whooshing sound) (jazzy string music) - [Narrator] Let's return to the 1940s Festival in rainy Grassington.

- So I've came out of the rain to try some 1940s dancing.

We're gonna meet Maggie, who's gonna be my teacher.

Let's see how I get on.

(jazzy music continuing) - [Narrator] The dancers are organized by the husband and wife duo, Maggie and Geoff, and Maggie was kind enough to show us the Chicago stroll.

- [Maggie] Geoff and I met on the dance floor.

- Did you?

- Yeah.

- That is so cool.

- I know.

- [Nicholas] Have you been running these for a while?

- [Maggie] We've been doing this for about... I think it's about the 11th, 12th year we've done it.

- [Nicholas] I can tell anyway, because you're a, like a natural.

- Aw!

- A star.

- You're sweet.

- [James] I apologize in advance for the absolute shambles this will inevitably be... but would you like to dance?

(Helen snorting and laughing) - [Nicholas] It's absolutely brilliant.

It's taken me right back, as well-- Series Two, we did the Daffodil Ball.

It's when James and Helen, you know, g- get a moment t- to, be close and things like, d- like much similar to you and your husband.

You know, that sort of thing.

- Yeah, yeah.

- It's an excuse to be close to someone.

- [James] I have no idea what I'm doing.

- Don't worry, you're doing fine.

(upbeat Big Band music) - [Helen] Oh!

- [James] Sorry.

- It's all right, I've got another one.

Look, try and loosen up-- let yourself go with it.

- [Geoff] Mr.

Herriot's gonna be dancing with my wife, which should be interesting.

(crowd laughing) Claims he's never danced before.

(crowd laughing) - I've two left feet.

- [Geoff] So the dance looks like this-- step, step, step... down.

And then it's out, in, out, in.

And we do two lock steps.

Right, step... (heels clicking) Right... and we'll break it down.

- [Maggie] Come on, dear.

(laughing) (crowd clapping) - [Geoff] Step is... step, step, step.

- [Maggie] Stop-- outside foot.

- [Geoff] ...in, out, in.

- [Maggie] Two lock steps... Clap!

(all clapping once) Clap... yes!

He's got it.

(both laughing) You've done it!

You're a very quick learner.

- [Geoff] Clap, quarter turn... - [Maggie] Yes!

(upbeat Big Band music) - Forward, tap.

Back, tap-- that's it, well done!

Got it!

- [Helen] That's better!

Oh!

(Big Band music continuing) (clapping) - Do ya like-- you got that bit.

- (laughing) I like that bit.

(Big Band music continuing) I like this piece.

- [Maggie] You like the music?

- Yeah, it's great.

- Tap.

That's it, got it!

- Ahh!

That wasn't any better.

(both laughing) (all clapping once) - Yay!

(all applauding) - [James] Sorry again about your toes.

- [Helen] Oh, it was great.

You were great.

- [Nicholas] Maggie, that was absolutely brilliant.

First of all, did I get pass marks?

- You did indeed.

- Yeah!

- You really got pass marks, yeah.

- You heard it here first.

Thank you so much for the lesson.

- [Maggie] No, it's been a privilege.

- [Nicholas] That was so much fun.

- Aw!

- And, uh, yeah, just wonderful to be a part of it, so thank you very much.

- [Maggie] Thank you, thank you, aww.

- [Nicholas] Thank you, thank you, thank you.

- [Geoff] A round of applause for... Mr.

Nick Ralph down there.

(all applauding) Mr.

Herriot-- you've a wonderful job there.

You had a very good teacher, man.

(all laughing) - Thank you.

- Thank you, thank you.

(whooshing sound) - [Narrator] Sometimes in the Dales you go from dancing to baking.

Let's spend some time in the kitchen with Mrs.

Hall and the real chef who makes all the seasonal shortbread biscuits featured in the show.

- Mrs.

Hall, have you been baking that shortbread I like?

- I have a couple to spare.

- [Anna] You're gonna show me how to make some shortbread?

- Yes.

- ...today, and, um... Truth is, you're our real Mrs.

Hall, aren't you?

'Cause I don't actually cook anything... ...spoiler.

- You mean you don't create all of the meals that they're eating?

We've got flour and rice flour.

Rice flour gives it a bit of crunch and that's quite an authentic recipe.

So that gets sieved and butter added.

- [Anna] If we're using all of that butter, how much of the weekly rations is that- - You've nailed... pretty much the whole rations in the shortbreads.

- So, shall I sieve that?

- Yeah.

- I've just started... - Yeah, go for it.

(both laughing) No, go for it.

And then we'll do about four tablespoons.

Again, you've nailed your rations of sugar.

So that-- that's love in your shortbread.

And then, butter.

- So just chuck that in?

- Yeah, if you chop it-- and then it'll be easier to mix.

(scraping sounds) And then, it's basically a game of mixing until we get to a dough.

- [Anna] She talks brilliantly about the seasonality of food, 'cause of course, everything was about what was in season and then particularly during the war, it was what was in season in, in the UK of what you could get hold of.

So bringing all that knowledge to us, as actors, has been amazing.

And then also, delicious to eat.

- So shortbread's quite meaningful to you, Mrs.

Hall.

- [Anna] It is, it is really meaningful.

I sort of imagine it's something that she maybe cooked with Edward when he was little, and it's become their favorite food.

It's that little code of love between the two of them.

- [Mrs.

Hall] Look inside.

Go on, open it up.

(tin opening) - [Anna] We saw it appear when we first meet Edward.

Whether or not he would accept it, umm... was - Right.

- the sort of gesture that we were telling the story with.

- They look just how they used to.

(soft background chatter) - Well... you didn't see all the burnt bits and the... misshapen offcuts.

- Dad always liked them burnt, didn't he?

- Oh my word, he used to ask me to burn them.

- [Anna] This tin, I took to the station.

- [Bethany] Is that the one that dropped?

- Conor-- Edward-- yeah, that's why it's a bit bashed up, 'cause we did drop it.

- I'll make room for the tin.

(Mrs.

Hall sobbing) (train chugging) - [Anna] I like that, though, when we have these props that kind of stay with us - Yeah.

- through seasons.

- [Edward] A pal of mine, Paddy Grainger has just been invalided back home.

He lives in Skipton, 10 Millpark Street.

Could you take him a bottle of rum, and some of your shortbread, if you have the sugar?

- [Anna] I make it for his friend Paddy, - Right.

- while he's still away.

- I don't see where it goes!

I, I make it- - [Anna] I dunno where that went - [Bethany] I drop it off and I- - I took a load home with.

(both laughing) (poignant orchestral music) - [Mrs.

Hall] These are for you.

It's just a few biscuits I made.

- [Anna] Mrs.

Hall wants to hear from him, uh... the truth of the situation.

- Right.

- So, um, so... - So you're buttering him up.

- It's a bit of a currency... Quite literally.

(both laughing) - [Mrs.

Hall] I need you to be honest with me.

- Please, Mrs.

Hall, I don't know any more than you do.

- I've been checking in the papers every day.

- So have I.

(poignant music continuing) - If you dust a bit of flour on here and give it a rollout.

(plucky string music) (rubbing rolling pin) (plucky music continuing) - [Bethany] That's lovely.

- Thick enough, thin enough?

- Yeah.

- Beautiful.

- [Bethany] I think we can make... you see we can't waste anything.

- [Anna] No... - [Bethany] I think we can make a couple more out of that.

- So, how long will you cook them for?

- [Bethany] Probably about 15 minutes.

So traditionally, you would cook these, um... at the end of the day, when the oven's cooling down.

- Ah!

- [Bethany] So, um... if the Aga-- if it was a wood-fired Aga-- and you would just have the, um, the last heat of the day, you would put them in, and... - [Anna] So it's not too strong?

- It would cook quite gently, because you don't want them to color and brown.

- Mm.

- [Narrator] Bake for 15 minutes.

(gentle string music) - So these cook for about 15, 15 minutes depending on the thickness.

- Yeah.

- So, um... - Now they're nice and crisp.

- Have yourself a cup of tea!

- Who would like cup of tea?

Come on, then.

(both laughing) - [Narrator] At the end of the baking lesson, even the crew enjoyed the wonderful shortbread.

- There you go.

- [Crew Member] They look good, thank you very much.

- [Bethany] It does.

(background chattering) - I did really well, didn't I?

- Yes, you did.

(both chuckling) - Cheers.

- Cheers!

(whooshing sound) (jazzy piano music) - [Narrator] Next stop on our tour is in a Dales village named Nidderdale.

Seasonal agricultural shows are almost the English version of an American county fair.

(vigorous marching music) - Hello, we are here at the Nidderdale Agricultural Show in Yorkshire.

The sun is shining, the animals have all been dropped off and we can't wait to see who becomes "Best in Show."

There's gonna be prizes given, there's gonna be a terrier race, great community vibes.

There's kids running around everywhere, lots of families down here and lots of fun.

There's a real buzz of excitement you can feel between the farmers.

They've all chipped in and everyone's here.

A lot of the owners here are asking me for advice.

But I am here not to give, but to learn today from the owners, a lot about the grooming, about the upkeep of the animals and perhaps even learn something that I can take back to "All Creatures" for next year.

And we're ready to get started.

So come with me as we experience some of the show.

(jazzy piano music) David, we're here with your gorgeous Jersey cows.

These are all yours here.

And these are milkers, are they?

- [David] These are dairy cows.

- [Nicholas] Dairy cows, yeah.

- [David] Pure dairy cows, yeah.

- On "All Creatures Great and Small," we've had lots of Jerseys throughout the different, uh, seasons.

And you've supplied a few of those cows.

- [David] Yes, we have supplied some of the cows and we, we do recognize them when they're, when they're in the program.

(Nicholas laughing) - [James] Nice, wide pelvis... level udder.

She's a lovely pedigree specimen.

- [Nicholas] You groom the animals in different ways for the show as well, get them show ready.

- [David] Oh yeah, that cow- - [Nicholas] Fresh haircut, fresh trim.

- [David] Fresh trim, yeah.

Do the tails, you know.

- [Nicholas] Fantastic.

Thanks very much, David.

- You're very welcome.

- Appreciate it.

- And we love your program!

- (laughing) Thank you.

- [Narrator] Inspired by seeing all of the owners getting their animals ready, Nicholas decided to try his hand at fluffing a cow's tail.

- Harry, tell me a bit about these heifers and then what you're gonna have me try and help you out with.

- So, so, so here we have two pedigree line heifers.

- [Nicholas] So you do a bit of grooming on the body- - [Harry] ...the tail.

- [Nicholas] I'm gonna have a look at that... - [Harry] Back to back, comb the tail.

- [Nicholas] Right.

- [Harry] And it fills the gap in between the legs.

- [Nicholas] Ah!

So show me a little bit and then I'll- - So what we do is- - I'll see if I can- - Comb out- - I don't wanna let you down, Harry, you see-- I don- I want you to win.

(laughing) - [Harry] See, we just comb out any knots, and you just get a strand of hair at a time.

Just back comb it.

- [Nicholas] I'll give it a go.

So, you brush it out.

And then what do they all look at, the judges?

What, what's the kind of things the criteria are, that they- (cow mooing) - [Harry] You want a good square body.

Good topline.

(measuring tape extending) (cow mooing) - [Nicholas] I'm getting the hang of it now.

(chuckling) That's pretty.

(jazzy music continuing) Hey!

(all laughing) (sheathing sound) (Nicholas laughing) - [Harry] Ten outta ten.

- [Nicholas] (laughing) Yes!

Professional.

Long way to go.

(jazzy music continuing) - [Narrator] Next up, we visited the adorable pygmy goat tent, and spoke with Dawn, who has been a goat owner for 30 years.

- Dawn, we're here in the pygmy goat tent, which must be one of my favorite tents so far, because look at these little guys.

- [Dawn] Yeah.

- [Nicholas] They are the cutest.

- [Dawn] We've been showing over 10 years now, but I've had pygmy goats for 30 years.

- [Nicholas] 30 years?

- [Dawn] Yeah, yeah, a long time I've had goats since I was little.

I'm just goat obsessed.

- [Nicholas] How many goats in total do you have?

- [Dawn] So I have 86 entered.

- [Nicholas] 86?

- [Dawn] 86, yeah.

Yeah, which is fantastic.

(goats bleating) - [Nicholas] We had a story with a pygmy goat.

- [Dawn] Yes.

- [Nicholas] With Siegfried and, uh, Richard Carmody.

- Yeah?

- They get into a bit of a scrape with pygmy goats, - Yeah?

- and it's hilarious.

- [Siegfried] There you are-- hold on.

- Looks like you chaps are making progress.

- [Carmody] Indeed we are.

- Are these mischievous?

- Yes.

- Are they quite mischievous?

- Very mischievous.

- Bit cheeky, a bit naughty.

- Yes, yeah.

(Nicholas laughing) They-- no, they definitely are.

And they're all, they're all characters.

- [Nicholas] Which one's the cheekiest of these ones?

- Probably Moana.

- Moana.

- Koda Bear's a close second, to be honest.

- [Nicholas] (laughing) I could... yeah.

- [Dawn] Yeah, you know she... yeah.

A pygmy goat is quite round.

- Yes.

- So the, the judge is looking for like a nice, square... - Which makes it even more adorable.

- (laughing) Yeah.

- Because he's like a little bit round, with little legs.

- [Dawn] Yes.

(Nicholas laughing) - [Nicholas] You, yourself, are down with your husband and your daughters.

- [Dawn] Yes-- We've all got our own goats.

- Yeah.

- So the girls have got theirs.

We've all got our own.

So we are competing against other people, but we're also-- it's a little competition between us as well.

- Ah, a little bit between, okay - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But it's nice, and we're all really into it.

Everybody's showing goats and stuff.

It is a great community.

We're all good friends.

Nidderdale Show is a proper traditional show, and it's all like the farming community.

It's local people getting together.

It's, like, the atmosphere.

It's fab.

(audience clapping) It's like, the best show of the year.

(audience clapping) (serene orchestral music concluding) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] After so many seasons of filming, we decided to ask the cast about their favorite locations from the show.

(rousing orchestral music) (hoofbeats) (townsperson calling out) - [Postwoman] Morning!

- [Narrator] One location that everyone recognizes and loves is Grassington, which is transformed into Darrowby Square.

- [Nicholas] We have Darrowby-- our square-- and then we have Arncliffe, which is one of my favorites.

And it looks like time has just stopped there.

It's just this little village.

It takes so little dressing to make it look legitimate.

- [Carmody] Mr.

Farnon, my diagnosis is that I'm developing romantic feelings for Doris.

- [Siegfried] That would also be my diagnosis.

- [Rachel] I think my favorite's unpopular, but it's Yockenthwaite, which is where Heston Grange is.

And it's unpopular for the reasons, just logistics really.

It's kind of in the middle of nowhere.

And it's got no signal, but I absolutely love it.

It's where all of Helen's most important scenes are shot, and it's so remote and beautiful.

(romantic orchestral music) - Who said I couldn't do romantic gestures?

(birds chirping) (romantic music continuing) - Get up, you daft beggar.

(romantic music continuing) - [Anna] Going for lovely walks with Gerald the day his dog decided to disappear (laughing) off into the river.

- [Gerald] You could be a woman of leisure.

Travel the world, sail the high seas.

- [Mrs.

Hall] (laughing) I'm just happy if I can hang up me pinny or an hour or two.

- [Nicholas] Something else that's just sprung to mind.

It was me and Rach and the Chapmans.

And we're up in this desolate, little dilapidated place in the middle of nowhere.

- Love don't see with the eyes.

It comes from in here.

- We were up there for a couple of days, and it was freezing and it was pouring with rain.

And we're working in this room.

Everyone was like cracking jokes, lifting each other's spirits.

So it did feel quite cozy as well against the elements.

- [Helen] Oh my goodness!

(laughing) - Hello, little fella!

Eyyy!

- [Anna] We once filmed up on a farm.

It was when Jeremy Swift was with us, playing my fellow air warden.

And we went up to this farm.

It was amazing.

It was miles up, and there was literally nothing.

- We can't say for certain.

- What's got into you?

Anybody'd think you want Darrowby to be in danger.

Come on now.

Got a busy day.

- [Narrator] Another Yorkshire National Park that was used as a filming location is Brimham Rocks.

- [Callum] Brimham Rocks is amazing.

I was a little bit scared on that day 'cause we were up and sat on this sort of precarious rock with a crane sort of coming in and out of us.

And that view of us looking out over across the Dales was absolutely stunning.

- This is a beautiful spot.

(captivating orchestral music) - I've actually never brought anyone here before.

- Is that right?

- I remember walking up the hill to Dobson's and just seeing Malham Cove in the background and just being so knocked out that I got to do this as a job.

(laughing) - [Dobson] All the way to Egypt.

And now here you are helping out your brother.

You must be glad to have him home.

- [Siegfried] Yes, it's a rare treat.

- [Tristan] Aw!

(patting back) - [Nicholas] You have these wonderful, wonderful locations.

So it is a real treat, a real joy to be up here filming.

- [James] I want to spend the rest of my life with you... here in the Dales.

(tender piano and string music) - I am not afraid either.

(birds chirping) (tender music continuing) - You're not?

(tender music continuing) - No.

(music swelling) (tender music fading) - [Narrator] When we return, we'll spend more time with the cast as they share with us how they would fare in the 1940s as farmers or villagers.

We'll also spend more time at the seasonal agricultural show and learn what a sheepdog competition looks like.

All that and more, in "All Creatures Great and Small: Seasons of the Dales."

(piano and string theme fading) - Welcome back to "All Creatures Great and Small: Seasons of the Dales."

(bright piano and string theme) - [Narrator] Today we are spending more time in the Dales, celebrating everything we love about "All Creatures, Great and Small" on MASTERPIECE.

Coming up, we'll hear from the cast about how they would do in the 1940s.

But first, let's return to the Nidderdale Agricultural Show.

(peaceful string music) Our next stop at the Nidderdale Show was at the pigeon tent where we met John and Paul, two pigeon owners with some of the most interesting animals in the entire show.

- John.

- Yeah.

- Thanks so much for having us, we're here- - My pleasure.

- with the fancy pigeons.

These are, these are incredible birds.

- [John] These are what we call, generically, fancy pigeons.

- [Nicholas] Ah, I've not seen pigeons like this in my life, I don't think.

What would you even call that?

- [John] Capuchines.

- [Nicholas] Capuchines.

- [John] Now that's after the order of Capuchin monks.

These are called magpies, and you can see the magpie marking.

- [Nicholas] So for a layman like myself, what are some of the things that the judges will be looking for when they're placing pigeons?

- Would you like me to take one out and show you?

(crowd chattering in background) (fluttering wings) - First prize.

- What we do, well, they- we look at the head, and you turn over, they're absolutely spotless.

- You can look, but don't you touch it.

- [Tristan] You know, they really are beautiful, I can see why you're so proud of them.

- [Nicholas] We had a story in the show as well to do with Tristan.

- [Paul] Oh yeah.

- [Nicholas] About homing pigeons during World War II, because they obviously, they played a big part as well - [Paul] They did.

- [Nicholas] in World War II.

- [Paul] Yeah, they did.

They were used to transport messages.

- [Nicholas] Yeah.

- [Paul] And they were all coming back with messages.

- [Nicholas] They were vital in the war effort, weren't they?

- [Paul] Yeah, yeah, exactly.

- How many are in the colony, sir?

- [Robertson] At present, around 500.

That's just locally.

There must be at least 100,000 in service across the country.

And you'll have to keep the numbers up, because they keep on getting shot down.

Bloody warriors.

- [Narrator] We then visited a farmer named Martyn, who showed us his sheep.

- Martyn, these are fantastic animals.

These are your sheep.

- These are all mine here, uh, all 11 of them.

- [Nicholas] And you've taken them-- you haven't just taken them from across the road.

You've taken them from the high Dales.

- [Martyn] Yes.

Yes.

Yeah.

- [Nicholas] There are-- how do you even, you know, gather them, collect them together to bring them down to the show?

- Eh, just plenty of dogs, (Nicholas chuckling) hard-working dogs.

- Yeah, of course.

- Set 'em, get 'em moving, and get 'em, get 'em in, yeah.

- [Nicholas] Now to bring you back to a very busy time for yourself-- lambing season.

That must be crazy, is it, for those, those months in the springtime?

- [Martyn] Yeah, yeah.

- [Nicholas] And they don't all give birth on a Tuesday at 12 o'clock, it's, you know, 4:00 in the morning, 5:00 in the whatever time.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

4:00, 5:00, yeah, you might not even go to bed sometimes.

- How much sleep did you get, James?

Hour, hour and a half.

- None.

- Well, better get used to it.

- [Nicholas] It's the prize everyone's after, is it?

"Best in Show," is that... - [Martyn] That's the one, yeah.

- [Nicholas] Brilliant, that's absolutely brilliant.

(Martyn laughing) I'm loving it.

Really a great day so far.

- [Narrator] A fan favorite of the Nidderdale Show is the terrier racing, where the first dog to run through the opening of the hay bale wins.

And viewers may recognize this exact racetrack as a location from Season Six of "All Creatures," as it was the setting for the Hensfield dog race.

- [James] Good lad.

- Thank you.

- [James] Which dog's next for inspection?

- Blackpool Rock.

He's sweet, but he's hard as nails.

- Elsie's racing against Pip!

Pip-- Elsie and Pip!

- [Announcer] Five... - [Crowd] Four, three, two... ...one, go!

(inspiring orchestral music) (crowd cheering) (fair crowd cheering) - [Narrator] But some dogs don't run through the bale, they jump on it.

(crowd laughing) (dogs barking) (jazzy string music) - I did that.

(cow mooing) (jazzy music continuing) - [Narrator] As we moved through the day, we came across the cutest calf named Fergus, and we had to stop to meet him.

- So, Gabbie, we are here with Fergus.

- Yep.

- One of your Highland cows.

Uh, what is it we're about to do?

And I've now got a white coat on, which I didn't have before.

(Gabbie chuckling) So what is it we're about to do?

- So, we're gonna take him in the ring and show him off, basically.

- Okay.

- Um... - I've never done that before.

- That's absolutely fine.

- Okay.

- You just wanna hold (Fergus mooing) quite tight here.

- Yes.

- Head up high to show him off.

- You keep an eye on me, make sure, because he looks amazing.

I don't want to muck it up by- - No, no, I think we're ready for the ring now.

Are you ready?

- Yeah, I'm ready.

- Brilliant.

(jazzy music continuing) - Come on, Fergus.

(Fergus mooing) That's it-- Best in Show!

(cows mooing) Best in Show!

(Fergus mooing) That's it.

(jazzy music continuing) He's a good lad.

(Fergus mooing and snorting) (jazzy music continuing) - [Nicholas] Am I taking you for a walk, or are you taking me for a walk?

I'm not sure.

(jazzy music continuing) - [Narrator] Next up, the judges review all the animals.

(jazzy music continuing) (Fergus mooing) - [Judge] Good lad.

- [Nicholas] How could you say no to that face?

(Judge laughing) Little Fergus.

(Nicholas chuckling) - [Narrator] And sure enough, Fergus won second place.

(Fergus mooing) - Fergus!

Well done, Fergus.

(jazzy music continuing) It's not first, but it's pretty good.

(jazzy music fading) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] We decided to have a little fun and have a quick quiz with the cast.

(balletic orchestral music) (page flipping) Would you be a better farmer or villager?

- I don't know, maybe a villager.

I prefer the buzz of a city over the countryside.

- [Anna] A bit of me would like to experiment with the idea of being on a farm and see what it was like.

- Oh, I'd be a better farmer, 'cause I like getting up early and I like growing things.

- [Slavens] Kind of you to drop in.

- I was just passing.

- I'd be all right at both I think.

I don't think I'd excel at either, but I'd be all right at both.

- [Helen] Oh, James, I'm so sorry.

I didn't see you there.

- Eh, I've probably had worse flung at me.

(Helen chuckling) - I think I'd be a good farmer, but I've got allergies, (laughing) so I'd have to be a villager, I think.

I'd work behind the bar with Maggie.

- [Tristan] Five pints of your finest please, barmaid.

(Jenny clearing throat) Oh, uh, make that six.

- [Narrator] Who would thrive in 1940s Darrowby?

- Me.

I probably would.

Would I?

- It's a tricky one, that.

I feel like, I feel like Sam is my answer for both of them, because I think he'd be amazing in the time, but if he couldn't get on the Internet, I dunno what he would do.

- Me and Tr- Cal.

I was gonna say, "Me and Tris."

(laughing) Me and Cal.

We certainly could settle into the way James and Tristan are, you know, hanging out, going to The Drovers, having a couple of beers, eating well.

We wouldn't have a problem.

- [Samuel] There are lots of reasons why 2025 is better, but there's also stuff in 1945 that makes life easier.

And it's some of the stuff that makes the series good.

- There's a simplicity to the life, and there's a richness in that, and I would love that.

So maybe me.

- [Samuel] Probably Rach is the most useful.

She can turn her hand to most things.

She'd be a survivor.

- Well, it's hardly putting you in a romantic mood.

- I'd rather keep myself busy.

- To keep your mind off it.

(dog barking) - [Helen] 'Cause I like to be busy.

- [Narrator] Who would struggle in 1940s Darrowby?

- Who would struggle?

Nick, probably.

He'd have to get up really early in the mornings.

- Cal would miss Netflix.

- Maybe if we went there together, we'd be all right.

(chuckling) - I think we'd all be okay as long as we were together, we'd thrive as a group.

- It's nice to see those two getting on so well.

(dog barking) - [Mrs.

Hall] Isn't it just?

(all chuckling) (Tristan sighing) - [Narrator] Our day at Nidderdale ended with even more fun activities.

A highlight of the show was the sheepdog competition, where we learned how farmers work firsthand with these incredible animals.

- [Nicholas] So, Shirley, what's happening out here?

Well, it's the annual Sheepdog Trial that they have here.

We're given four sheep at the top of the field, and our dogs have to nicely and kindly, if they will, take the sheep around the field.

There will be hurdles, and there will be a course that we have to complete.

- Alright!

- Within a certain length of time.

- [Narrator] The Sheepdog Trial course runs the length of this field, and each Border Collie has to safely navigate the sheep into their pen as accurately as possible.

The judges watch from their car directly in front of the field.

- [Shirley] Bring the sheep through these hurdles.

- [Nicholas] Oh, yes.

- [Shirley] Turn the sheep around you.

- [Nicholas] Uh-huh.

- [Shirley] Send the sheep up to those hurdles.

- [Nicholas] Right.

- [Shirley] Through the middle.

- [Nicholas] Yep.

- [Shirley] And then across, right across through to those two hurdles.

- [Nicholas] Oh yeah, I see them, yeah, yeah, yeah.

(whistle blowing) And you can hear the whistling-- it's just different variations in whistling and some, uh, some vocal commands as well.

- Commands, that's right.

- And the dogs completely follow it and, - Yeah.

- and know what to do, so... just tell us a little bit about that because to me, I have no idea.

It's like, like wizardry, I don't know how it works.

- [Shirley] You do train your dogs at home and you do train them on their left hand command and the right hand command.

And the left hand command is "come by" and the right hand command is "away here."

And then there's a "stop," where you want your dog to lie down and stop.

- [Nicholas] Okay, yeah.

- [Shirley] And then there's a "walk on" where you want your dog to walk on up to the sheep.

- Is that when it kinda creeps forward?

- Yeah, yeah.

- Yeah, it's the-- yeah... I've seen that as well.

- [Shirley] So after you've give them the verbal commands, when you're training, you put a whistle to it.

- [Nicholas] Uh-huh.

- So you go, "come by."

(whistling twice) - Ahh, and then?

- "Away."

(whistling continuously) - I see.

- Different whistles.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- So then instead of using the full words, you can just go by the whistle?

- Yeah.

- To instruct the dog.

- Yeah.

(soaring orchestral music) - Come by!

(whistling) (sheep bleating) Away, Fly!

Away!

(whistling) - [Nicholas] So your dog obviously is here today.

- [Shirley] I've got two dogs.

I've got one, he's three year old.

- [Nicholas] Right.

- [Shirley] So he's-- this is his first Autumn trial.

- First one?

- Yeah.

- Oh, I hope it goes well for him.

- Yeah, so do I.

(laughing) - Sure it will-- what's his name?

- [Shirley] Sweep.

- [Nicholas] Sweep.

- [Shirley] Sweep, and then I've got Dale, he's five year old.

- [Nicholas] Have you ever had the perfect 100?

- No.

(laughing) - Maybe today.

- Not yet.

- Maybe today, I think today, yeah.

(both laughing) - [Narrator] When it was Shirley and Dale's turn to compete in the trials, we stood close by and watched as they navigated the sheep safely into their pen.

(Shirley whistling) (plucky string music) (hoofbeats) (sharp whistling) (plucky music continuing) (audience applauding) (dog barking) - We've just had Team Shirley and Dale in their, in their sheepdog trial.

The judge is over here in the truck and ultimately the sheep got penned in the end.

So I think, well done, Shirley and Dale.

(heartwarming orchestral music) - [Narrator] At the end of the day was the annual vintage tractor contest where locals show off their most impressive tractors.

(tractor engines humming) And a familiar face was there to hand out the trophies.

- [Christine] (over loudspeaker) He is James Herriot in “All Creatures Great and Small" I am delighted to have you here.

Wonder if you'd just like to say a few words about being here at Nidderdale Show.

- Thanks very much for the welcome.

First of all, hello, everybody!

It is been a fantastic day, absolutely brilliant.

I can see why thousands of people come down every year.

We've seen cattle, we've seen sheep, all prize winners, lovely, lovely people.

The community spirit around here is just fantastic, really enjoyed it.

- Cheers.

- Cheers.

- Cheers.

(audience clapping) - [Christine] Great time to win when we've got uh, a celebrity here to make the presentation.

So, uh, congratulations to him.

(gentle piano music) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] As we continued our conversation about the seasons with the cast, we always returned to the beauty of the Dales.

(engine puttering) (tranquil string music) - One of the wildest spots in England.

You never get tired of it.

- [Rachel] The Dales is like another character.

It's such an integral part of James Herriot's world.

- Hello, Mr.

Herriot.

- [James] Hello, Tom.

(hands smacking) Good of you to help out the Dalbys like this.

- They've always been good friends to my grandparents.

Mrs.

Dalby's up in field.

I'll take you.

- [Samuel] The Dales are the real star.

The Dales and the animals go above the title.

- [Siegfried] That's Hodden Hill ahead.

You need to keep your speed up, or you won't make it up the other side.

(tranquil music fading) - [James] One of our directors, Andy, he loves getting his drone out.

And you see it in the show these sweeping, drone shots.

They're stunning.

- [Andy] I bought a drone a couple of years ago and I started taking the drone shots 'cause I'd know where I want to go with driving around-- I thought, "That's a great shot."

- [Callum] Looking out across the Dales sometimes, like you really are struck by how beautiful the Dales is.

Just these endless fields of green with the hill going over the top.

It is absolutely beautiful to look at.

- [Tristan] Hello, who's this little chap?

- [Rob] Herbert.

Poor little lamb's mother won't have him at any price.

She took spite to him at birth, (lamb bleating) though she thinks the world of her other lamb.

- Sounds very reminiscent of my upbringing.

- [Nicholas] We get dropped off in these locations and it can be in the middle of nowhere.

And you can film in 360 degrees, because it's just beautiful every which way you look.

You can be in the middle of a dale with a sprinkling of sheep and then this wonderful dry stone walling everywhere.

- I thought you wanted help with the wall?

- [Richard] Aye, not with the putting.

Sorting's all you're good for.

- Sorting?

- [Helen] Big.

- [Jenny] Small.

- [Helen] Middle 'uns.

- [Jenny] Funny shaped ones.

- [Rachel] Alf Wight talks about his love for the Dales as though it was a person and it shaped his day.

(lamb bleating) - That's it.

Good lad.

- I'll never grow tired of seeing it.

(lamb bleating) - [Anna] The Dales are always beautiful and always in charge and dictate your day.

- [Samuel] I live for spring, walking in a wood half an hour before sunrise on an early May morning.

I'm never happier.

May in the Dales is like nothing else on earth.

And the bird song is deafening.

(birds chirping) Good afternoon Mr.

Farnon.

- [Siegfried] Isn't it, Rob?

(sheep bleating) - [Nicholas] Seasonally, I would be summer.

Because I love the long nights, sun streaming in your window in the morning and the bright days.

- [Samuel] It's impossible not to be excited by going to work.

You get to be in this amazing scenery.

- [Siegfried] Yes, Molly, bring him back, would you?

I'd like to administer a few more drops.

(cheeky orchestral music) Thank you.

- [Rachel] It's one of the few places that you go and honestly, you can point a camera in any direction and it looks absolutely beautiful.

It's like a postcard all the time.

- He walked miles, he did.

Just to tell Sid he were steering tractor wrong.

- That's good-- means you've been accepted.

- You what?

- Farmers won't interfere if they can't stick you.

Judging's their version of a welcome mat.

(Elsie sighing with relief) - And I thought it were cows that we had to learn.

- [Nicholas] The Dales are certainly a character themselves.

It's the ruralness, the ruggedness of it, and also the stunning beauty.

- [Archie] There's six, seven of 'em?

- [James] I count 12!

- [Tristan] No, there's 30, at least.

- By God, they're mine.

(sheep bleating) It's the whole flock.

They're all here.

(all laughing) (whooshing sound) - [Narrator] As we sign off, we wanted to share our love letter to the Dales read by Nicholas Ralph.

(ethereal orchestral music) - [Nicholas] There is so much to enjoy in every season.

The new growth and endless green of spring, the sunshine and warmth of summer, the golden colors of autumn and the cover of snow in the winter.

Some things are constant.

Ancient dry stone walls, farms that have passed from one generation to the next, sprawling views of the countryside and always the presence of animals.

And there are days when it feels like each of the seasons comes to visit.

Rain at one time, warming sunshine later, the need for a sweater and then back to shirt sleeves.

But an umbrella and a pair of boots come in handy more often than not.

And it's never a bad day to spend some time by the hearth and share a pint.

Every season in the Dales has its own beauty, its own weather, its own tales, and its own challenges.

You don't make a life here if you want every day to be the same.

Where's the fun in that?

If it rains, put on your wellies and grab your umbrella.

If it's chilly, you can wear a sweater, that someone who cares about you knitted by hand.

If it's warm, cool off in a waterfall or a stream.

If you're lucky, you can do it all in the same week, sometimes the same day.

(ethereal music fading) - [Narrator] And just as our celebration of “All Creatures Great and Small" on MASTERPIECE began, it is time for us to move on.

- Thank you for joining us.

I hope you enjoyed our adventures around the Dales and learnt a little bit more about what a special place this is.

This has been "All Creatures Great and Small: Seasons of the Dales."

(piano and string theme fading) (bright piano and string theme) (piano and string theme fading)