Richard Whiteley talks to veterinary surgeon and writer Alf Wight - pen name James Herriot - whose semi-autobiographical works are the basis for a new feature film called All Creatures Great and Small. Title: YORKSHIRE TELEVISION - Colour Production Colourful graphics based on various views of stylised male and female heads in profile introduce the programme. Title: CALENDAR PEOPLE From the doorway of a large building in Thirsk the local vet crosses the pavement followed by two dogs. They...

Richard Whiteley talks to veterinary surgeon and writer Alf Wight - pen name James Herriot - whose semi-autobiographical works are the basis for a new feature film called All Creatures Great and Small. Title: YORKSHIRE TELEVISION - Colour Production Colourful graphics based on various views of stylised male and female heads in profile introduce the programme. Title: CALENDAR PEOPLE From the doorway of a large building in Thirsk the local vet crosses the pavement followed by two dogs. They get into his car as a commentary outlines the different types of animals and their ailments he will encounter on his daily routine. The vet drives up a farm lane and parks his car, as the commentary lists the work he will do on a typical day. The commentary says that this busy schedule has made up the working day for James Herriot for the past 35 years. James approaches a farmer holding a lamb. He finds that the lamb has a badly swollen joint and will treat it with injections. The commentator goes on to say that this veterinary surgeon is also one of the world’s most popular authors, with a million books sold in this country and two million in America. They have been translated into twelve languages and now there is a film hugely popular at the cinema. The programme moves to the studio. Title: Richard Whiteley Richard introduces James Herriot to the studio audience. Richard asks James why, despite all his success as an author, he still does his job as a vet. Title: James Herriot He puts it simply in that he enjoys his work and it’s been his life for the past 35 years; he says he’s not going to throw that aside just because he’s had some success with a few books. In response to Richard’s question regarding retirement, he says he only has the time to write when he has the chance from his very busy professional schedule, so he’s not considering retirement just now. Richard asks with all the income he must be earning has his life changed significantly materially. James responds saying his life has not changed, the only item he has bought himself is a new audio system as he likes to listen to music. He also states that he is not attracted to move to a tax haven. Richard Whiteley also suggests that James is now expected to come up with new books, James agrees but his veterinary work comes first. Richard asks how James came to write his first book. ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. He said it was partly driven by his early experiences as a vet when there were no antibiotics. Treating animals back then was primitive but a lot more fun. Eventually his wife, to whom he had always talked about putting the stories into a book, challenged him to finally get it written at the age of 50. James then talks about getting the book published which was finally undertaken by Michael Joseph. A film clip is shown from the first film based on the first two books and titled ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. The first clip shows an exchange with one of the many Dales characters James has met. The clip shows James having to help a horse give birth. Title: All Creatures Great and Small EMI The farmer watching James, played by actor Simon Ward, asks him questions about the birth’s progress. He peppers the conversation with praise for James’s boss Siegfried Farnon and how he would have tackled the job. When the birth takes place, the farmer is surprised that the foal is still alive. James stays with the mother and new offspring as the foal takes its first unsteady steps. Richard Whiteley asks James Herriot if that had really happened to him, and he replies yes it did. He also praises the actor Simon Ward for depicting the work during a foaling was portrayed so accurately. Richard asks about his colleagues in the early days of his career, named as Siegfried and Tristan in his book and were they true to life, James states that they were as both of his colleagues are in the audience. Siegfried is asked if the books reflect his character, he thinks perhaps his character has been ‘embroidered’ a bit. Tristan says that some of the conversations that appear in the books are word for word. Richard asks James if he has ever upset anyone with his stories of farmers and people he has met. James responds that the stories are from 35 years ago and many of the people who he writes about have passed on. Others who have recognised themselves in the books are highly delighted, one elderly man was most upset that he hadn’t made an appearance in every book. Richard asks James if he has recognised farmers being more involved with the health of their animals than they are for themselves. James says he often sees this concern with domestic pets where people get very worried if their dog or cat are sick. He thinks this concern is borne out of pets being totally dependent on their owners. Richard asks if farmers have asked him for medical advice rather than a doctor. James replies not so much now, but 35 years ago the veterinary surgery occasionally got visits from farmers asking for a second opinion after a visit to the doctor’s surgery next door. Just as often people walked into the veterinary surgery by mistake. Richard talks to James about how the books seem to be full of successes in the treatment of animals. James disagrees saying he has stressed in the books the failures as well as the successes. Richard talks to James and Siegfried about the physical aspects of treating animals, which is fraught with animals kicking or biting. Siegfried outlines the skill required to give an injection to an animal without it being aware of the procedure. Richard asks James if he has been injured by any of his patients. James replies there was one occasion when he received a bad kick which put him out of action for a while. He goes on to say that injuries like the one he received are not as common now, as 35 years ago there were more farm horses which needed attention. Regarding James’s books Richard asks that after four books is there anything left to give the demanding public. Siegfried reckons that James is just beginning. James says that in terms of the time covered he has only written about a short time into his career up to 1940. Richards suggests that further books will only repeat situations already covered. James disagrees saying a vet’s life is one of infinite variety, every day is different. Richard asks if his early career was more exciting. James says it was more fun in the early days, where you made your own medicines, nowadays you have access to antibiotics and modern treatments. Richard asks James why his books and film are so popular in America. James reckons the highly urbanised Americans like to watch the stories that give an insight into simpler times and simpler living. He says they also have a sense of humour and are crazy about animals. Richard thanks James for appearing on the programme, and then goes on to talk about next week’s guest which ends the programme. Title: CALENDAR PEOPLE -Tonight Featured Credits JAMES HERRIOT Talking to RICHARD WHITELEY Designer – DAVID McDERMOTT Director – NICK GRAY Editor – JOHN WILFORD End Title -YORKSHIRE TELEVISION Colour Production