I had read in the script that Helen heroically wrangles Clive … he’s a bull …and I thought ‘oh my goodness, how am I ever going to be able to do this?’ I had never been up close and personal with a bull, so I asked to meet Clive before I shot the scene. Oscar-winning Rachel Shenton talks Helen, Herriot, vintage style and a bit of ‘bull’! Every time we went to a new location, whether it be Broughton Hall or Ripon Racecourse or The Dales, we would look around and think how incredible.
I’m from the Highlands of Scotland which is picturesque, but when I got on the train and I was travelling through The Dales for the first time, much like James did, my eyes were glued to the window because it is like a beautiful painting. It is a guessing game at the start, you throw it in a direction and hope something sticks. In the Vauxhall the gear stick was like the ones on a school bus, jangling about, it was like I was never really quite sure if I’d hit a gear or not. Look out for gorgeous George, as we all called him, the Golden Retriever in the show (plays Jess) who was my buddy and just delightful.ĭriving vintage cars took a bit of getting used to, but they were fantastic and you couldn’t get me out of them. As soon as they said cut I was shivering again and wrapping up in my big, warm coat.īefore the show I thought the animals would be the challenge but because of the handlers and the people who looked after them and trained them were so incredible, for the vast majority of the time, it went off without a hitch which was pleasantly surprising. One morning in particular when it was raining and I was measuring ponies with this big stick slipping around, taking me forever, I was shivering from the cold until they shouted ‘action’ and then I had to pretend to be cool. The weather for the first weeks of filming was amazing but then the Yorkshire winter came and being outside was sometimes tricky. We were taking the cow’s heartbeat and there is a triangle that you go through from stomach to lungs to heart, you check those three points … and we did. There was no holding back, Callum (Tristan), Rachel (Helen) and myself were taken to meet cows, horses, sheep and we were straight in there in wellies and vet coats getting up close and personal with the animals. I would ask them everything, even down to the most minute details. I have huge respect for the production vet Andy Barrett and the animal handlers who worked on the show. Big shoes to fill and of course the nerves that go with it, but the overriding emotion is excitement. The world of James Herriot is absolutely massive and is still thriving today. This has been a pretty huge opportunity for me playing such an iconic role. Luckily we managed to get everything shot just before lockdown. We’d film 50/60 hours each week and then go out for dinner together because we all got on so well. Cal is a comic genius, his timing and the choices he makes are amazing, but also his physical comedy is absolutely brilliant. James and Tristan are best pals in the show and he was so much fun to be around on set. Callum (Tristan) and I hit it off straight away. I’d ask him questions all of the time, he is such a well-renowned actor, he keeps you on your toes. My first day on set was with Sam (West) who was lovely and helpful from the first second. There are similarities, in that I studied like James in Glasgow, and we both travelled to Yorkshire for our first ‘Herriot’ jobs, so it was like art imitating life. His compassion for the animals and his passion for his field and his intelligence are all traits you can’t not like. James’ character is funny, lovable, charming and slightly awkward. He was beside himself when I got the role. He lived near Alf Wight’s veterinary practice and when I told him about the audition he hit the roof (in a good way) …and that was just the audition. My parents knew of the 1970s show, but my uncle is a massive fan of the books and as a boy had read them all. When the script came through I thought the writing was incredible and felt an instant connection with the character. I’d never come across James Herriot or All Creatures Great and Small before. Talking from a film set in Bulgaria, Nicholas Ralph chats about his first screen role playing Yorkshire’s favourite and most famous vet.
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