5 COMMISSIONS TWO MORE SERIES OF BELOVED YORKSHIRE FAVOURITE ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

5 has today confirmed that treasured series All Creatures Great and Small will return with a double commission announced for series 7 and 8, each comprising of six episodes (6 x 60’’) plus Christmas Specials. The series, based on James Herriot’s cherished books, is produced by BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning company Playground (Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, The Hardacres, The Undeclared War) and MASTERPIECE on PBS, in association with global partner All3Media International. 

All Creatures Great and Small remains 5’s most successful drama series to date, having reached over 14 million individuals across the first 5 series, and it continues to be the top programme across the channel year after year.   Series 5, which aired in autumn 2024, reached a total of 6.2 million viewers. During its broadcast, 5 was the number one channel and the series also became 5 Streaming’s top drama commission of 2024, driving more new users to the platform than any other show. 

Series 6 of All Creatures Great and Small returned to the channel this September, taking us back to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales for more heartwarming human and animal tales. The series jumps forward in time to 1945. The intervening years have seen our cherished Skeldale gang somewhat scattered with James and Helen now living at Heston Grange farm, Tristan serving overseas, Mrs Hall away and Siegfried struggling to cope on his own at Skeldale, but they gladly reunite as the war in Europe comes to a close and look forward to a peaceful future. The series brings its usual soothing warmth, humour and sense of community alongside a host of animals great and small. 

In the US, MASTERPIECE on PBS will air series 6 from Sunday 11th January 2026.

All Creatures Great and Small is a Playground production for 5 and MASTERPIECE in association with All3Media International. Series 7 and 8 was commissioned by Deputy Director of Programmes, Paramount, Sebastian Cardwell, alongside Paul Testar and Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editors, 5. Executive Producers for series 7 are Colin Callender, Melissa Gallant and Sharon Moran for Playground, writer Neil Jones, Susanne Simpson for MASTERPIECE, Louise Pedersen and David Swetman for All3Media International and Sebastian Cardwell, Paul Testar and Greg Barnett for 5. Yvonne Francas returns as Producer. 

Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor, 5 said “All Creatures Great and Small is a jewel in 5’s drama crown and continues to delight viewers year after year. Its warmth, humour and heart, set against the beauty of Yorkshire, have made it a firm audience favourite. We’re thrilled to extend its future with two more series, with many new stories still to tell and more unforgettable adventures ahead for our Skeldale family.”

Melissa Gallant and Sharon Moran, joint Executive Producers for Playground commented: “We frequently receive letters from viewers about how the show has brought joy, comfort and relief in challenging times. Making television that has that effect and is beloved around the world year after year is the greatest privilege, and we're thrilled to be continuing the All Creatures journey with 5, Masterpiece on PBS and All3Media International into series 7 and 8. It's a show which people love to watch and love to make and we can't wait for more adventures in beautiful Yorkshire with our wonderful cast and crew.” 

Susanne Simpson, Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE added: “All Creatures Great and Small has found its way into the hearts of American audiences and is one of our most watched series on MASTERPIECE. I’m thrilled to bring more seasons of the warmth, hope and humor that make this series so special to MASTERPIECE PBS.”

Lauren Jackson, VP Scripted at All3Media International commented “Audiences around the world will be thrilled to hear the news of two further series of this heartwarming and enduringly popular series, produced impeccably by Playground for 5 and MASTERPIECE PBS.” 

The series is inspired by Herriot’s timeless books, which have sold over 60 million copies globally and remain a cherished part of literary and television heritage. 

Further details for S7 and 8 will be announced in due course. Series 1 – 6 are currently available to stream on 5, with the 2025 Christmas Special due to air on 5 later this year.  

About 5 

5 is the home of award-winning content from the UK’s third largest commercial PSB, a culmination of the creative transformation of Channel 5 over more than a decade. 5 is part of the Paramount Skydance Corporation. Through a mix of live TV channels and bingeable boxsets, the free-to-air service allows UK audiences to watch or stream the breadth of programming from the 5-branded portfolio, the dedicated preschool brand Milkshake!, and a wide selection from the wider Paramount family of brands, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV Entertainment Studios, Paramount+ and more. In keeping with its PSB remit, 5 tells the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the UK, featuring well-known faces and fresh new talent. Its programme roster spans original UK drama, premium factual, true crime, science, news & current affairs and kids’ content, which continue to attract critical acclaim. Recent wins include ‘Channel of the Year’ at the 2025 Edinburgh TV Awards, BAFTA Television and RTS Awards for the documentary White Nanny, Black Child in 2024, along with a BAFTA nomination for Endurance Race to the Pole. Factual hit The Yorkshire Vet and the broadcaster’s series on air fryers also won RTS Yorkshire awards, while Michael Palin received the Radio Times Special Judges Award for his Channel 5 documentaries. 

About Playground 

Playground is the production company based in New York and London founded by award-winning producer Sir Colin Callender CBE. With a dynamic and innovative creative team, deep talent relations on both sides of the Atlantic, and a reputation for editorial rigour, the company is known for its consistent track record producing distinctive high-end scripted drama that’s smart & entertaining.     Taking advantage of the creative opportunities in the ever-changing entertainment landscape, the company’s recent television credits include films and limited-series such THE DRESSER, HOWARDS END, CHIMERICA, LITTLE WOMEN, KING LEAR, the Golden Globe and Bafta winning WOLF HALL starring Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, and Claire Foy, and most recently its acclaimed sequel THE MIRROR AND THE LIGHT. Recent returning series include six seasons of ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, THE HARDACRES, LYNLEY, MAIGRET, THE UNDECLARED WAR, and it’s first comedy, SMALL TOWN, BIG STORY.

About MASTERPIECE

With 83 Primetime Emmys® and 20 Peabody Awards, MASTERPIECE programs have been essential Sunday night viewing for millions of fans for over 50 years. Susanne Simpson is the executive producer. Series funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking Cruises, Raymond James, The MASTERPIECE Trust, and public television viewers. Produced for PBS by GBH Boston, MASTERPIECE is known for hits such as All Creatures Great and Small, Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Wolf Hall, and beloved classics such as Upstairs Downstairs, Prime Suspect and Poldark. For more information, please visit pbs.org/masterpiece and follow us on social media @masterpiecepbs.  

About All3Media International 

All3Media International distributes popular, award-winning TV programmes to over 1,000 broadcasters and media platforms around the world and manages FAST and AVOD channels. The company has been celebrated for producing, marketing and distributing high-quality, ground-breaking and pioneering shows to a global audience from All3Media Group producers and leading third-party producers. All3Media International has consistently topped the Broadcast and Televisual annual Indies Surveys and received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its growth – twice. Its catalogue contains over 35,000 hours of content across all genres.   As well as one of Britain’s top-selling drama series MIDSOMER MURDERS, All3Media International’s quality scripted content includes returning favorites such as ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL and TRIGGER POINT, celebrated classics SKINS, FLEABAG and IT’S A SIN and star-studded dramas such as THE ENGLISH, THE TOURIST in addition to upcoming series THE ASSASSIN starring Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore, TRESPASSES featuring Gillian Anderson and SECRET SERVICE led by Gemma Arterton. The distributor’s expansive format slate includes global phenomenon THE TRAITORS. Named K7’s format of the year in 2024, over 30 territories have commissioned local versions, over 50 territories have broadcast episodes via tape sales and All3Media International also handles ancillary rights. Other celebrated formats include RACE ACROSS THE WORLD, LINGO and CASH CAB. Scripted formats from All3Media International’s catalogue include LIAR, the global hit thrillers commissioned in 15 territories, INFORMER, BLOOD and CHEAT as well as more lighthearted series such as QUEER AS FOLK, LAID and STEP DAVE.