BAFTA winner Dame Diana Rigg, Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis and Coronation Street actor Nigel Havers are the latest cast members to be announced for a new adaptation of James Herriot's beloved stories.

The six-part series, with an additional Christmas episode, of All Creatures Great and Small, featuring dales vet James Herriot, was commissioned by Channel 5 and is being made by production company Playground.

Dame Diana, a previous Bafta, Emmy and Tony award-winner, joins as Mrs Pumphrey, the eccentric owner of indulged Pekingese Tricki Woo.

Lewis, best known for playing Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter franchise, joins as Hugh Hulton, a wealthy landowner and rival to James for Helen’s affections. Havers joins as General Ransom, the fastidious manager of the local racecourse.

The series is currently in production on location in Yorkshire.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original publication of the books.

The cast also included previously announced Samuel West (Mr Selfridge, On Chesil Beach) as Siegfried Farnon, the wonderfully capricious veterinary surgeon and proprietor of Skeldale House, Anna Madeley (The Child in Time, Patrick Melrose) as Mrs Hall, the resident housekeeper and matriarch of Skeldale House, Callum Woodhouse (The Durrells) as Siegfried’s errant and charismatic younger brother, Tristan, Rachel Shenton (Switched at Birth, White Gold) as Helen Alderson, an independent local farmer’s daughter who helps her father manage the family farm, and newcomer Nicholas Ralph, who will make his television debut as James Herriot, who became renowned for his inspiring compassion, humour and love of life.