All Creatures Great and Small recently returned to our TV screens for its sixth series and Samuel West has revealed he wasn’t convinced by one element of the show
Monde Mwitumwa TV and Celebrity Reporter
17:58, 14 Oct 2025
Samuel West has opened up on working with one particular animal(Image: CHANNEL 5)
All Creatures Great and Small star Samuel West has opened up on working with one particular animal as he admitted “I wasn’t sure if it would work.”
The Channel 5 hit show recently returned to our TV screens for its sixth series and fans welcomed back their favourite characters with Nicholas Ralph taking centre stage as James Herriot, along with Samuel West as James’ business partner Siegfried Farnon.
Samuel, 59, who has played Siegfried since 2020, has shared his excitement to work with the animals again, especially rats.
He had a storyline where his character wins a rat in a drinking contest and since then they have continued to incorporate the animal in the series.
Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) / General Beauvoir (Jonathan Hyde) / Charlotte Beauvoir (Gaia Wise)
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Away from the show, the star has a lifelong fondness for rats, having owned five pet rats previously and it’s clear that he’s pleased to see them featured in the show.
The actor went on to say: “I really do love working with them. And I’m pleased that they get more freedom. Yes, the more rats, the merrier as far as I’m concerned.”
The star admitted: “It’s nice because I wasn’t sure if it would work having them. When I first mentioned it four or five years ago, I thought they might bring one in with a tumour – which rats do, sadly, get quite often – or even just have me clip its nails.
“But now, because Siegfried won one in a poker game, it’s really worked out. It’s been brilliant.”
Elsewhere Siegfried’s godson Jimmy, who is played by Thomas Riches, is like a tiny assistant vet now as he goes out on the rounds in the new series.
Siegfried’s godson Jimmy is played by Thomas Riches
Samuel has spoken out about working with Thomas, branding the young actor, who is seven years old in real life, a “real star”.
He said: “Thomas, he’s terrific. He’s a real star. Jimmy has always been Siegfried’s favourite person in the house – much the most intelligent – and I’ve always enjoyed my conversations with him. He’s delightful.
“He’s a really special actor, and he particularly works well with Andy (Hay, director) in the later episodes. I think he really comes into his own then.”
The actor added: “The great difficulty is that in the past, with the babies being very small, every time we got used to one of them, we’ve had to recast because we want to jump forward. So let’s hope we get to stick with Thomas for a bit, because we like him very much.”
All Creatures Great and Small is available to stream on Channel 5
