FILMING in the Yorkshire Dales for the latest TV series of All Creatures Great and Small has been completed and is due to be screened in the autumn.

Following the sad death of star Diana Rigg who played Mrs Pomphrey, one of author James Herriot’s most famous characters and the eccentric owner of pampered Pekingese Tricki Woo, it has been revealed that renowned actress Patricia Hodge will take over the role.

The first Channel 5 series was one of the major TV hits of the pandemic year in 2020 with over 4.7million viewers weekly.

The stories are based on the iconic All Creatures Great and Small books by Thirsk author Alf Wight who became one of the worlds most famous writers under his pen name James Herriot.

Written in the 1970’s they were largely based on Mr Wight’s experiences of life as a country vet from the 1930’s.

Filming was carried out in and around North Yorkshire with Grassington used as the fictional town of Darrowby – which was largely based on Mr Wight’s hometown of Thirsk.

A spokeswoman for Playrgound, the production company behind the series, confirmed that Patricia Hodge, who has previously starred in Miranda and A Very English Scandal has joined the cast as Mrs Pumphrey.

The spokeswoman added: “Viewers can expect more heart-warming adventures of young country vet James Herriot, played by Nicholas Ralph as he joins his unconventional mentor Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) matriarch of Skeldale House Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley), Siegfried’s errant brother Tristan (Callum Woodhouse), and independent local farmer’s daughter Helen Alderson (Rachel Shenton), alongside a characterful ensemble of farmers, animals and townsfolk living in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s.

“As Series Two opens, three months have passed since the events of Series One. A trip back home to Glasgow presents James with a dilemma that will mean choosing between the people he loves. Siegfried, Tristan, and Mrs Hall are forced to consider their places in the world, while James must ultimately decide between duty and love.

“All Creatures Great and Small is a timeless classic that continues to be much loved by generations. The books have become a global cultural phenomenon with devoted fans around the world.

“With a sharp focus on community and its importance in our lives, Herriot’s world and spirit is a very much needed antidote to the challenges of modernity and reminds us all that belonging to a community makes us part of something greater than ourselves.”

The series, which had an 18 per cent share of ratings, was at the time the channel’s highest rating launch for a drama commission ever. It also became a major hit in America and was exported around the world. It has not yet been revealed when the latest series of will be broadcast.

Alf Wight died in 1995, but his books have never been out of print, with over 60 million copies sold worldwide and translated into 20 languages, as well as being adapted for film and television.