All Creatures Great and Small star Rachel Shenton has responded to suggestions that the relationship between Helen and James is “boring”.
The series is due to return on Channel 5 next week, and will continue to explore the marriage between her and Nicholas Ralph’s characters – notably following the arrival of baby Jimmy.
Shenton explained in a new interview with Radio Times that Helen and James’s pairing is "a really sort of rare love story" where two people are "totally devoted to each other and on each other’s teams throughout".
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“It’s something that we don’t see very often,” she added.
"People make mistakes along the way throughout the series. We see that a couple of times, yet even in those moments, you fully know that each party will do the right thing to bring it back together, right? It’s just so lovely, always so refreshing to play.
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"I know that – I think I’ve had a question before which was like ‘Oh, is that a bit boring? That they always [come back together]’,” she continued. “And I’m like ‘No, it’s the opposite of that’.”
Shenton noted that such a portrayal is “wonderful and truthful” and “there’s colour and nuance within that”.
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“It isn’t one stroke, we definitely see them going through difficulties but they always manage to get back on the same page and this season’s no different.”
A first trailer for the new season was released last week, showing events in 1941 as Helen and James enjoy an emotional reunion after his previous return to RAF Abingdon.
All Creatures Great and Small is based on the books of the same name by James Herriot and follows a trio of vets working in the Yorkshire Dales in the early 20th century.
The show was previously renewed for seasons 5 and 6, with Netflix recently releasing the first on its platform.
All Creatures Great and Small will return on Channel 5 and My5 on Thursday, September 19 at 9pm.
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
