All Creatures Great and Small star begged Channel 5 bosses for a role – but they refused

All Creatures Great and Small star Carol Drinkwater has revealed Channel 5 bosses snubbed her for a role in the new remake. The TV star, who played Helen Herriot in all three series of the charming sitcom, was once one of the highest-paid actresses at the BBC. The 77-year-old actress is now a thriving author living in the heart of France with her filmmaker husband, Michel Noll.

Despite her success, Carol admitted that it was a “mistake” leaving the show and was shunned by producers who brought the show back to the airwaves. Speaking to MailOnline, she said: “I’d love to have played Mrs Pumphrey in the All Creatures reboot but they wouldn’t give it to me.

“Leaving All Creatures was also a mistake financially. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’, my father asked at the time. ‘You’re giving away the best card in your hand!’ But I don’t go in for regrets – it's a waste of energy.”

Carol and Michel live on a ten-acre olive farm in the south of France, where she writes now writes her Mediterranean travel books, some of which have inspired a series of TV documentary film.

The beloved drama returned to the airwaves back in 2020 and quickly recaptured the hearts of the nation with the quaint tales from the Yorkshire Dales.

Following five successful series, viewers have been eagerly awaiting news on whether James Herriot and the gang would be returning for another instalment. The beloved cast have since been given the green light to start filming for the highly anticipated sixth series.

Earlier this year, Samuel West – who plays Siegfried Farnon – took to social media where he unveiled a snapshot of a clapperboard confirming the news to fans online.

Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter – he teased: “Thanks for your kind comments about #AllCreaturesGreatAndSmall Season Five. “Never long enough... Sad that it’s over, but we hope this will raise spirits; we started filming Season Six today. More news later.”

The show’s official Twitter account also shared the clapperboard in their own announcement. They teased: “Attention #ACGAS fans. Exciting news, the cast and crew have officially kicked off filming for Season 6 in beautiful Yorkshire today! We can’t wait to return to Darrowby with all of you soon.”

It didn’t take long before fans flooded to the comments section to share their excitement online, with one user writing: “It’s that time of year again, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

Another added: “You don’t understand how excited I am about this” as a third gushed: “Fabulous! Love this programme, cannot wait.” A fourth echoed: “So exciting, [it’s been] such a long wait!” as a fifth branded it “the best show on TV.”

Although the release date has not yet been confirmed, new episodes are expected to hit the airwaves on Channel 5 this autumn.