First aired: 1/8/1978
James Herriot, a newly qualified vet, arrives at Skeldale House, Darrowby in Yorkshire for a job interview with Siegfried Farnon, a veterinary surgeon who is building a practice in the village. After accompanying Farnon on his rounds, where he meets the notorious Mr Biggins for the very first time, he is hired as a veterinary assistant, and accompanied by Farnon he meets some of the locals at the Darrowby pub.
The next day his very first 'official' patient is a tortoise owned by a very quiet and very small girl. At evening surgery, however, things become more serious when he treats a bull with heat-stroke, and is then called out to examine Lord Halton's favourite hunter, an extremely valuable horse who has a twisted bowel, and who James humanely destroys.
Guest star:
Michael Shannon (Barman),
John Biggerstaff (Pub Customer No. 3),
James Ottaway (Pub Customer No. 2),
Leslie Sarony (Pub Customer No. 1),
Derry Jordan (Tommy),
Ted Carroll (Man On Bus),
Georgina Melville (Diana Brampton),
Johnny Maxfield (Farmer),
Lorraine Peters (Mrs. Calvert),
Johnny Allan (Phineas Calvert),
Paul Luty (Bert Sharpe),
George Selway (Soames),
John Sharp (Biggins),
Carol Drinkwater (Helen Alderson),
Mary Hignett (Mrs. Hall),
Christopher Timothy (James Herriot)
First aired: 1/15/1978
James begins to go on rounds by himself and Tristain returns from college having failed all his classes which pisses his brother off to no end.
James meets Trikie woo and become's Trikie's Uncle Herriot. Trickie is a little over weight dog who's owner Mr. Pomfrey is extremely eccentric.
Tristain plays a practicle joke on James but he is able to retaliate.
Then Tristain loses the resipt book which had all the names of the clients who had allready paid them that month in it.
First aired: 1/22/1978
Siegfried employs Mrs Harbottle to be a secretary for the practice which sets everything on its head. He then goes out of the wasy to avoid her.
James Meets Helen Alderson
First aired: 1/29/1978
James has difficulty treating Mr Dent's pig. Tristan attends a bell-ringers' evening out, and finds himself in disgrace with Siegfried, who decides to keep his brother on the straight and narrow by purchasing seven piglets for him to look after. Mrs Pumphrey has also become a pig-owner, having purchased six week old piglet Nugent.
Tristan successfully treats Mr Dent's pig, using unorthodox means.
Helen Alderson is seeing Richard Edmundson, the son of a rich farmer.
James attends a calving after a session with Mr Crump and his home-made wines.
James and Helen discover a mutual love of music through the Darrowby Music Society.
James Finally works up the courage and asks Helen out She accepts.
Writer:
Anthony Steven
Director:
Terence Dudley
Guest star:
Christopher Timothy (James Herriot),
Peter Davison (Tristan Farnon),
Carol Drinkwater (Helen Alderson),
Margaretta Scott (Mrs Pumphrey),
Madge Ryan (Miss Muriel Harbottle),
George A. Cooper (Mr Crump),
Margaret Heery (Mrs Seaton),
Norman Mann (Richard Edmundson),
Mary Hignett (Mrs Hall),
Stan Richards (Charlie Dent),
Joe Belcher (Dan Cooper),
Pearl Hackney (Mrs Crump)
First aired: 2/2/1978
The practice goes from strength to strength, but not James' love life. Tristan takes a hand and arranges a double blind date.
First aired: 2/12/1978
James makes a date, this time without Tristan's help. The practice, with Tristan's help, loses a customer.
First aired: 2/19/1978
James' luck changes for the better in his romance with Helen. But for the Dalby family there seems to be no turning of the tide.
First aired: 2/26/1978
Siegfried gives some sound advice, and James acts upon it.
First aired: 3/5/1978
First aired: 3/12/1978
First aired: 3/19/1978
First aired: 4/7/1978
First aired: 4/14/1978