ALL Creatures Great and Small is to return to television screens later this month, it has been announced today.

The third series of the hit Channel 5 will return on Thursday, September 15 with six weekly episodes plus a Christmas special.

Largely filmed in and around Grassington, the series is based on the books of best-selling author and Yorkshire vet, James Herriot.

The new series kicks off in the Dales of 1939 at the beginning of the Second World War. James enters into a new stage of his life with Helen and the veterinary practice, where Tristan is now a qualified vet.

After being made joint business partner by Siegfried, James pushes to take on more responsibility via the Ministry of Agriculture’s new bovine TB testing scheme, but its unexpected challenges risk pushing him to breaking point.

As a potential Second World War looms, all of the Skeldale family have to consider their purpose in Darrowby and beyond.

Nicholas Ralph returns as James Herriot, and Samuel West as his mercurial mentor Siegfried Farnon.

Anna Madeley stays as the matriarch of Skeldale House, Mrs Hall, while Callum Woodhouse is Siegfried’s slowly maturing brother Tristan.

Rachel Shenton returns as local farmer Helen Alderson.

All Creatures Great and Small is made by Golden Globe-winning production company Playground, which also produced Howards End and Wolf Hall; Masterpiece and All3Media International.

All Creatures Great and Small will be screened at 9pm on Thursdays and at all other times on My5.