The real people behind All Creatures Great and Small

All Creatures Great and Small has officially become a Channel 5 autumn staple.

Since the comforting drama debuted in September 2020, fans have become hooked on the lives of veterinary surgeon James Herriot, his wife Helen and their pals at Skeldale House.

With its positive outlook and warming tales, the series is loosely inspired by the popular novel series which is written by real-life vet James Herriot.

And while some of the plot lines are fictional, the characters are based on real people, with the sixth series currently being broadcast.

Here, MailOnline took a deep dive into the real-life animal heroes that inspired the characters that have become so beloved...

James Herriot 

All Creatures Great and Small viewers will be familiar with the series lead, James Herriot, who comes to rescue when the village animals are in peril.

But the titular vet's name was actually just the pen name of the real surgeon, James Alfred Wight.

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The doctor, who was nicknamed Akf, was born in Sunderland in 1916 and relocated to Scotland at age three.

He then trained to be vet at Glasgow Veterinary College until he returned to Sunderland in 1940,

A year later, he accepted a position at the practice of Donald Sinclair, aka Siegfried Farnon, and moved to Thirsk.

Similar to the period drama, the medical professional lived and worked with his employer.

The family and the employer were so close that Donald was James's best man at his wedding.

James practiced as a vet for almost five decades while solidifying himself as a successful author.

His book series, which debuted with the 1970's If Only They Could Talk, sold 60 million copies worldwide.

He retired in 1989 and was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years later but passed in aged 78 in 1995.

His two children, Jim and Rosie, have been supportive of the TV adaption and believed their father would very much approve.

Jim Wright previously said: 'I hope and believe this could be a breath of fresh air to the population at the moment. Would my father have approved of it? Oh, I think so.'

James's daughter Rosie Page added: 'We feel that there is a very big generation gap between those brought up with Herriot and those who have never heard of him and we think there is a whole new generation who has never read those wonderful books.

James's pen name was put in place because it is believed that the author did not want the fame or attention.

But his writing was allegedly so accurate in character representations that his locals immediately knew who the writer was.

Actor Nicholas Ralph currently plays James.

Helen Alderson

Helen Alderson, later married as Herriot, was based on James's real-life wife, Joan Danbury.

Unlike her character, Joan worked as a secretary in a Thirsk corn mill, and was far from the stereotype of a farmer's daughter.

Considered to be a very private woman, it's believed that only five people attended her wedding to James, including themselves.

They tied the knot at Thirk's St Mary's Church in 1941 before they welcomed son Jim in 1943 and daughter Rosie in 1947.

Joan was a huge supporter of her husband's ambitions and was the one who encouraged him to start writing when he was just 50 years old.

She died four years after James in 1999.

Actress Rachel Shenton currently plays Helen.

Siegfried Farnon 

Siegfried Farnon was based on James's real-life employer, Donald Sinclair.

Donal was a rural vet in Thirsk and trained at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

He employed James to manage his practice at 23 Kirkgate while serving in the RAF.

When Siegfried returned four months later, James had done so well that he kept him on as permanent staff.

He became a widower in 1936 after his first wife, Evelyn, who he married in 1930, died of tuberculosis.

Siegfried was considered a pillar of the community as he became the resident horse vet at the local racecourse for 50 years.

He was considered a workaholic as he worked until the age of 80 when a stroke sidelined him.

Seven years after his first wife passed away, Siegfried then married Audrey.

Audrey then died in 1995 after 53 years of marriage.

Shortly after, Siegfried then took his own life at their home in Southwoods Hall, aged 84, after spending five days in a coma.

He was survived by his two children, Jan and Alan.

Siegfried is currently played by actor Samuel West.

Tristan Farnon

Tristan Farnon was the character based on Siegfried's brother, Brian.

Similar to the books, the sibling duo truly did have a love/hate relationship and Brian had a rocky journey through his veterinary studies.

He entered the Royal Veterinary College at Edinburgh at the age of 17 before transferring to Glasgow after flunking his exams.

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He spent one year at Glasgow before he retreated back to Edinburgh for the remainder of his studies.

Soon after, Brian served in the Royal Army Veterinarian Corps during the Second World War.

After demobilization, he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture at Inverness for three years.

He then transferred to Yorkshire, where he worked in the diagnostic laboratory in Leeds.

He soon became the head of the Veterinary Investigation Center.

In 1944, Brian married Sheila Rose Seaton, with who he welcomed three daughters.

He and his wife, Sheila, lived in Harrogate after his retirement in 1977.

In 1980, his health began to plummet because of a suspected pituitary disorder.

Thankfully, his treatment was successful, and he recovered enough to give interviews about his alter ego in Herriott's books.

He passed away aged 73 in December 1988.

Tristan is currently played by actor Callum Woodhouse.

Mrs Pumphrey

Mrs Pumphrey is a bubbly character based on the local socialite Mrs Marjorie Warner of Sowerby.

Much like her fictional counterpart, Marjorie famously cherished her beloved Pekingese pooch, Bambi.

The live wire was openly thankful of James Herriot's services in the community and to her well-groom pet.

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She was known to often gift him lavish Fortnum And Mason hampers bursting with caviar and other fine delicacies.

Marjorie often hosted decadent parties at her huge country manor, Thorpe House.

In 1996 the house was bought by Trustees of the Centre for Health and Pastoral Care - a retreat and Christian therapeutic centre.

PBS Masterpiece offered some insight, adding: 'According to Jim Wight's biography of his father, this character of a rich older woman was based on a Mrs. Marjorie Warner of Sowerby, a local socialite.'

'She doted on her pet, a charming Pekingese dog she called Bambi. Warner did, in fact, dispatch hampers of gourmet delicacies- sent by Bambi -to the vets in Thirsk.'

'She caught on that she was the model for Mrs Pumphrey, but apparently harboured no resentment about being included in the stories.'

Mrs Pumphrey, as we know her today, is brought to life by the talented actress Patricia Hodge, who has left her mark on the character.