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The Best Episodes of All Creatures Great and Small

Every episode of All Creatures Great and Small ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of All Creatures Great and Small!

Binge this in 4h 0m•Peaking at 8.9/10

The trials and misadventures of the staff at a country veterinary office in Yorkshire. James Herriot, a young animal surgeon, moves to a small Yorkshire town to begin his first job.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 Episode 14 - Big Steps and Little 'Uns
    8.9/10(121 votes)

    #1 - Big Steps and Little 'Uns

    S3:E14

    England is at war and the time has come for James and Siegfried to join their military units. Their last day at the practice is a busy one and James is repeatedly called out when he had hopes to spend a last, quiet evening at home with Helen. Siegfried surprises James with a small gift. Mrs. Hall also has a surprise announcement for everyone and Tristan receives shocking news from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

    Director:Terence Dudley
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. All Creatures Great and Small Season 2 Episode 14 - Merry Gentlemen
    8.7/10(148 votes)

    #2 - Merry Gentlemen

    S2:E14

    Christmas at Skeldale House can be a formidable undertaking, what with sick foals, overfed dogs and a skeleton guarding Siegfried's secret hoard of goodies.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Anthony Steven

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  3. All Creatures Great and Small Season 7 Episode 12 - Promises to Keep
    8.6/10(71 votes)

    #3 - Promises to Keep

    S7:E12

    It's raining cats - literally - when Tristan has to face the terrors of an enormous sow, Our Gracie, and her litter of piglets, who are due to be castrated. When the farm cats take a fancy to the anesthetic-stuffed offcuts, they start to doze off in some very unlikely places. Mrs. Clarke, a very determined old lady, is struggling to keep her farm running until she can hand it over to her young granddaughter, Mary. But she is reaching the stage when she can no longer handle the pressures, even with her elder granddaughter, Katherine to help -- and Katherine is planning to pursue a nursing career in Africa...

    Director:Steve Goldie
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  4. All Creatures Great and Small Season 1 Episode 13 - Breath of Life
    8.5/10(122 votes)

    #4 - Breath of Life

    S1:E13

    Siegfried discovers that a gift given in good faith has brought the deadly foot-and-mouth disease to the dales, and James accidentally hits upon a "sleep cure" for Mrs. Flaxton's poodle.

    Director:Terence Dudley
    Writer:Anthony Steven

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  5. All Creatures Great and Small Season 7 Episode 1 - The Prodigal Returns
    8.3/10(76 votes)

    #5 - The Prodigal Returns

    S7:E1

    Life at the Yorkshire veterinary practice continues to challenge the partners, whether by neglected animals or tight-fisted farmers. There are domestic challenges for Tristan, however, when James and Helen play a practical joke with a "Welcome Home" card from an old female admirer. Life is never simple when true love or the demon drink rule Tristan's life, and he is soon in trouble with Siegfried. A new housekeeper, Mrs. Alton, has been recruited by Siegfried to keep a watchful eye on Tristan, who, dispatched to tie up the details of her employment, is delighted to discover that Mrs. Alton is a rather attractive young widow. But this is not the Mrs. Alton that Siegfried had in mind.

    Director:Michael Brayshaw
    Writer:Christopher Penfold

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  6. All Creatures Great and Small Season 7 Episode 10 - Old Dogs, New Tricks
    8.3/10(72 votes)

    #6 - Old Dogs, New Tricks

    S7:E10

    Siegfried takes a close friend to task for wasting his own talents as a veterinary surgeon. Ewan Ross -- "the best horse man north of the Humber" has let his career slide gently into the whiskey bottle after the death of his wife. But Siegfried is determined to make use of his considerable skills. A valuable racehorse with a strangulated hernia could provide Siegfried with not only a way of striking back at "vets in Bentleys", but also putting Ewan on the straight and narrow. James, meanwhile, is strangely reluctant to take on responsibility for Mrs. Pumphrey's beloved Tricky-Woo when she announces that she is off to France. But Siegfried caves in under the persuasive skills of Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricky-Woo moves into Skeldale.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of All Creatures Great and Small

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  7. All Creatures Great and Small Season 1 Episode 7 - Golden Lads and Girls
    8.2/10(126 votes)

    #7 - Golden Lads and Girls

    S1:E7

    James' temper is fraying fast -- what with two car accidents in the space of a week, an inauspicious meeting with Helen's family and his rival still lurking around Helen like a "big glossy spider".

    Director:Terence Dudley
    Writer:Brian Finch

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  8. All Creatures Great and Small Season 1 Episode 8 - Advice and Consent
    8.2/10(122 votes)

    #8 - Advice and Consent

    S1:E8

    The fortunes of the hard-working Dalby family look set to dwindle even further until almost by accident James discovers the cause of their herd's illness. However, James still needs a push start on other fronts, and Siegfried and Tristan decide to remedy matters with their own expert advice.

    Director:Peter Moffatt
    Writer:Brian Finch

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  9. All Creatures Great and Small Season 1 Episode 12 - Practice Makes Perfect
    8.2/10(118 votes)

    #9 - Practice Makes Perfect

    S1:E12

    Having failed his exams, Tristan fears his brother's wrath. In a desperate effort to reform, Tristan shuns cigarettes, alcohol and women and adopts a rigorous routine of dawn runs and hard work.

    Director:Christopher Baker
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  10. All Creatures Great and Small Season 2 Episode 3 - Fair Means and Fowl
    8.2/10(105 votes)

    #10 - Fair Means and Fowl

    S2:E3

    Nerves are frayed as Tristan's encounter with an "exploding" bullock leads to a lawsuit, and Siegfried's venture in guinea raising runs foul. Meanwhile, James is sent to assist "on of the biggest boozers in the business."

    Director:Robert Tronson
    Writer:Anthony Steven

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  11. All Creatures Great and Small Season 2 Episode 4 - Beauty of the Beast
    8.2/10(108 votes)

    #11 - Beauty of the Beast

    S2:E4

    As the tractor threatens to do away with a way of life in the Dales, James battles to save a dying shire horse.

    Director:Peter Moffatt
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  12. All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 Episode 2 - Charity Begins at Home
    8.2/10(98 votes)

    #12 - Charity Begins at Home

    S3:E2

    Siegfried bumps into Mr. Beresford, the manager of the local bank whose dog behaves badly in the car. Tristan woos the lovely Marjorie Simpson and Siegfried meets Sarah Raworth. James treats the elderly Mr. Bailey's dog who has developed a bad case of bronchitis and Siegfried criticizes James when he waives the fee. Siegfried, however, has trouble following his own advice. Tristan rescues a severely injured cat and then convinces James to treat him rather than put him down. Helen promptly adopts him and nurses him back to good health but is devastated when she learns the cat belongs to the Gibbons family. Everyone celebrates Tristan's birthday.

    Director:Richard Bramall
    Writer:Terence Dudley

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  13. All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 Episode 5 - If Wishes Were Horses
    8.2/10(99 votes)

    #13 - If Wishes Were Horses

    S3:E5

    Tristan has had a rather late night and Siegfried takes him to task over his bad habits. Tristan announces that he has a steady girlfriend, Deborah Mount and will reform his wild ways. Turns out Deborah's father doesn't know anything about the relationship and may not approve. When he does hear of it, he has serious doubts about Tristan's character. Tristan doesn't help his case with his silly pranks. James has several encounters with a street urchin, Wesley Binks, whom he'd earlier caught stealing. James nonetheless helps Wesley out when his dog contracts distemper. Siegfried reacts badly when the Weeting brothers tell him they are off to join the military.

    Director:Richard Bramall
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  14. All Creatures Great and Small Season 5 Episode 6 - A New Chapter
    8.2/10(77 votes)

    #14 - A New Chapter

    S5:E6

    The Herriots prepare to move to Rowangarth and another emergency with Granville Bennett.

    Director:Jeremy Summers
    Writer:Alfred Shaughnessy

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  15. All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 Episode 5 - Blood and Water
    8.2/10(71 votes)

    #15 - Blood and Water

    S6:E5

    James meets a pair of elderly twins. Oliver and Roland Strong, rabbit breeder and prize cabbage-grower respectively, have divided the cottage left to them by their mother and have not spoken to each other for 50 years. Now Oliver is convinced that Roland has poisoned one of his rabbits.

    Director:Michael Brayshaw
    Writer:Brian Finch

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  16. All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 Episode 12 - The Best Time
    8.2/10(73 votes)

    #16 - The Best Time

    S6:E12

    Siegfried is perplexed when the usually-caring Grandma Clarke snubs her neighbor, Franco Pedretti, who is the new shepherd on the estate where she is a tenant farmer. It soon becomes apparent that she blames Franco for the untimely death of her son in Italy during the war and the subsequent death of his wife in childbirth.

    Director:Tony Virgo
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  17. All Creatures Great and Small Season 1 Episode 3 - It Takes All Kinds
    8.1/10(148 votes)

    #17 - It Takes All Kinds

    S1:E3

    Sigfried declares that the business is in shambles financially, and his solution is Miss Harbottle, a meticulous secretary who rules the cash box with an iron hand. Amid a relentless succession of new faces - many gruff, some eccentric - James meets the lovely Helen Alderson.

    Director:Christopher Baker
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  18. All Creatures Great and Small Season 1 Episode 9 - The Last Furlong
    8.1/10(122 votes)

    #18 - The Last Furlong

    S1:E9

    The sport of kings beckons James and Siegfried to the Broughton Races — James in search of a dead cert to raise forty pounds for a Mediterranean honeymoon, and Siegfried in pursuit of a dream job at the track.

    Director:Christopher Baker
    Writer:Anthony Steven

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  19. All Creatures Great and Small Season 2 Episode 2 - Attendant Problems
    8.1/10(111 votes)

    #19 - Attendant Problems

    S2:E2

    The return of lambing season brings a boost to Siegfried's spirits, but James, laid up in the surgery, is reminded of the harsher realities of a vet's life.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  20. All Creatures Great and Small Season 2 Episode 5 - Judgment Day
    8.1/10(109 votes)

    #20 - Judgment Day

    S2:E5

    The Darrowby Show is a much-anticipated event for the whole community, except for the duty vet. This mixed honor falls to James this year.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Brian Finch

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  21. All Creatures Great and Small Season 2 Episode 8 - Pride of Possession
    8.1/10(106 votes)

    #21 - Pride of Possession

    S2:E8

    The atmosphere is tense as James prepares to perform groundbreaking surgery. Meanwhile, Siegfried wrestles with a disinterested prize bull, and Tristan's hormones run riot over Darrowby's merry widow.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Anthony Steven

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  22. All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 Episode 4 - Hair of the Dog
    8.1/10(98 votes)

    #22 - Hair of the Dog

    S3:E4

    Tristan and Siegfried meet Roddy, a hobo and his dog who are passing through the area. Mrs. Hall needs to visit sick relatives for a few days and Tristan is assigned chief cook and bottle washer. He also has to do the spring cleaning, cook the meals and put in his time in the surgery. Siegfried is less than sympathetic when Tristan complains. Granville Bennett stops in wanting the vets to care for his dog, Phoebe, who needs an minor operation. He invites James and Siegfried to lunch the next day and James once again over imbibes. Helen practices her first aid skills on James.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:William Humble

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  23. All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 Episode 6 - Pig in the Middle
    8.1/10(92 votes)

    #23 - Pig in the Middle

    S3:E6

    James and Helen are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary and Tristan suggests to James that they go to the Harlequin, a modest restaurant that opened recently. It turns out to be anything but and is in fact one of the poshest restaurants in the area. Siegfried starts seeing Margery Egerton. Tristan, now a free man since being forbidden to see Miss Mount, sets his sights on previous conquests. Siegfried and Tristan ask James to arbitrate when they both want the same evening off. James has to pay several visits to Mr. Bailes whose dog seems to take great delight in scaring the wits out of him.

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 Episode 9 - Brink of Disaster
    8.1/10(97 votes)

    #24 - Brink of Disaster

    S3:E9

    Siegfried has become a bit horse shy given his recent experience with Dolly. James has to deal with the very unpleasant Ralph Beamish, an arrogant horse owner who continually ignores his advice. Siegfried visits a local pig farmer and fears his animals may be infected with foot and mouth disease. Mrs. Beck continues to complain about her with the vets bill and is now worried about how her cat might survive a gas attack should war be declared. Germany has invaded Poland and the British government has given Germany an ultimatum to leave or they will be at war.

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 Episode 11 - Alarms and Excursions
    8.1/10(102 votes)

    #25 - Alarms and Excursions

    S3:E11

    The Darrowby Bell Ringing Society is suspending its operations for the duration of the war and they have one, final "meeting" at the local pub. James and Tristan go to the bell tower with not unexpected results. The vets have to deal with a series of dog poisonings. They soon identify the farmer responsible, but not before several more animals die. Siegfried treats Joan Clifford's dog Saxon, but the case has very specific implications for her. James treats Mr. Hanson's pigs but it's Mr. Hanson who is most entertaining in that he always speaks at the top of his lungs.

    Director:Richard Bramall
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Big Steps and Little 'Uns" is the best rated episode of "All Creatures Great and Small". It scored 8.9/10 based on 121 votes. Directed by Terence Dudley and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/5/1980. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Merry Gentlemen".