FILM crews are set to return to Grassington in the spring for the filming of another series of All Creatures Great and Small.

Channel 5 has announced that a third and fourth series of the hit television show, based on the best selling books of James Herriot, about the life of a Dales vet, will be made. As with the first two series, the last of which attracted an average 4.1 million viewers per episode, there will be six episodes and a Christmas special included in each new series.

Much of the programme, which became a huge hit for Channel 5 both at home and abroad, is filmed in Grassington, Arncliffe, Yockenthwaite and at Broughton Hall, Skipton.

Grassington is transformed into 1930s Darrowby for the series, with The Devonshire used as The Drovers Arms; The Stripey Badger book shop, GF Endleby's greengrocers, and The Rustic Rabbit gift shop, Higgins Bakery.

Yockenthwaite Farm is used as the family home of Helen Alderson, wife to be of James Herriot; while Broughton Hall is the stately home of Mrs Pumphrey, played by Patricia Hodge, and her pampered Pekingese, Tricky- Woo.

Returning for the third series is Nicholas Ralph as vet James Herriot, and Samuel West as his mentor Siegfried Farnon. Anna Madeley returns as Mrs Hall, the matriarch of Skeldale House, home of the veterinary practice, while Callum Woodhouse is Siegfried’s slowly maturing brother Tristan. Rachel Shenton returns as farmer Helen Alderson.

Series two ended with the leading characters celebrating Christmas, 1938, while a war plane flew over head - an indication of what was to come. The new series kicks off in the following spring with the prospect of another world war looming over the Dales.

Change is afoot for all Darrowby residents, especially James and Helen, who are embarking on the next chapter of their lives as the wider world around them heads toward a period of great uncertainty.

The series will once again be made by London and New York based Playground. Its chief executive officer, Sir Colin Callender, said: "It is a joy to produce the show but an even bigger joy to know that there is an audience all over the world hungry to revisit the world of Darrowby in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales and to spend more time with the wonderful inhabitants of Skeldale House.”

Sebastian Cardwell, of Channel 5 said: “It is clear that our viewers adore James Herriot’s adventures in Darrowby and so do we at Channel 5. I am looking forward to us all being reunited with the Skeldale House family when series three arrives on our screens this year.”

Jim Wight and Rosie Page, the children of James Wight (James Herriot) added: “For many years the books of James Herriot have provided a source of comfort to tens of thousands of people worldwide at difficult times in their lives. With this recent adaptation of his books, a new generation has been introduced to the joys of the Herriot stories.

"We are delighted that there are to be at least two more series of All Creatures Great and Small, and we are especially pleased that the same excellent actors and producers are to be involved.”