All Creatures Great and Small's Nicholas Ralph calls co-star 'brilliant' in sweet tribute

The beloved TV showAll Creatures Great and Small has made a triumphant return to our screens with a fresh series on Channel 5, marking the sixth season of the popular programme.

All the main stars have once again reprised their roles, with Nicholas Ralph taking the lead as James Herriot, and Samuel West playing James' business partner Siegfried Farnon.

Rachel Shenton returns as Helen Herriot, while Thomas Riches plays Helen and James' four-year-old son Jimmy.

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Nicholas has shared his experiences of working with young actor Thomas on All Creatures Great and Small, describing the seven year old as a "little ball of energy".

"He's a brilliant, brilliant little guy. Like with any actor on set, it takes a minute to build up a rapport. He plays a four-year-old, but he's actually seven – he told me, 'I'm second smallest in my class!' He's just this little ball of energy, going 100 miles an hour – and brilliant with it," Nicholas disclosed.

Nicholas went on to heap praise on his young co-star Thomas, revealing what it's like to work with him on set, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The actor continued: "Some of the directors would even give him extra lines on the day, he took direction so well. They'd even tweak dialogue on set: 'That line's not quite right – can you say this instead?' And almost every time, he nailed it. He was so good."

Nicholas also revealed: "He was really funny, and, in the way only a seven-year-old can be, just delightfully silly. Like I said, it takes a minute to build that rapport, but over the course of the three filming blocks, you could see the difference.

"It was his first time on set too, so he was getting used to the environment, the cameras, the whole thing, while I'm playing his pretend dad. But by the end, he'd be running in and giving hugs."

All Creatures Great and Small series six features six hour-long episodes, broadcasting weekly on Channel 5.

The complete synopsis states: "We return to Darrowby in May 1945 to find Skeldale House at sixes and sevens. As victory in Europe is declared, there is the promise of peace at last, but James is wishing for a greater sense of peace at the surgery as he juggles vet work with a busy family life and an exceptionally challenging Siegfried.

"Helen's enjoying time with young Jimmy and Rosie but has big changes afoot at Heston to contend with. Tristan returns from several years at war and will have to re-adjust to life back home in Darrowby.

"Meanwhile, Mrs Hall works hard to bring everybody back together and restore harmony at the surgery! We watch as our characters re-connect with each other and find their renewed purpose, looking to a brighter future as the world around them starts to breathe again."

All Creatures Great and Small continues on Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 5.