CONFLICT of interest

NICHOLAS RALPH tells TV Times about the dilemmas facing vet James Herriot in the season finale...

- CAREN CLARK

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL THU, 9PM, CHANNEL 5 DRAMA

After marrying his sweetheart Helen and being promoted to junior partner at the Skeldale House veterinary practice, life for James Herriot should be blissful in All Creatures Great and Small. However, in this week’s poignant season-three finale, the newly-wed is in turmoil…

During the current run of Channel 5’s heart-warming period drama, the vet, played by Nicholas Ralph, has been involved in the Government’s vital but controversial bovine tuberculosis testing scheme. But when James discovers a positive case on a farm, he is torn over where his loyalties lie.

Meanwhile, as World War Two looms, he has tough choices to make about the future.

TV Times caught up with the always-lovely Nicholas, 32, for an exclusive interview to find out what lies ahead for his character…

It sounds like there’s a lot going on in the finale…

There really is! A lot of things come to a head. James is coming to a breaking point and the heat has really turned up for him. But it feels like all the characters are being strained in different ways than we have seen before. It was interesting as an actor to play, and I hope it will be for viewers to watch.

James faces a decision over whether to abide by the rules of the TB testing scheme or to help a farmer, doesn’t he?