All Creatures Great and Small star Rachel Shenton reveals 'main' Helen Herriot change

TV enthusiasts were thrilled when All Creatures Great and Small made a triumphant return to the small screen with its sixth series, which has not disappointed thus far.

The new season, featuring a slight time leap, saw viewers witness the end of the war in Darrowby, as James (Nicholas Ralph) and Helen Herriot (Rachel Shenton) expanded their family unit with the introduction of their new daughter Rose.

Helen, now a mother of two, faces challenges caring for both Rosie and young son Jimmy. Rachel Shenton, who portrays Helen, confessed that the new addition "changes everything" for her character.

"The biggest shift for Helen is now having two children. That's the main thing," she stated. "It changes everything, especially when you're filming with animals and kids."

Rachel also shared insights into her preparation for the role of Helen, revealing that she regularly communicates with Rosie, the real-life daughter of James and Helen Herriot, reports Manchester Evening News.

"Every series I check in with Rosie, the real James and Helen's daughter, to see if she remembers anything useful from that time.

"She always shares little things like memories of Helen being warm, playful, telling jokes," Rachel elaborated.

She added: "This series felt more like that. And now that we're out of the war years, there was a bit less war-specific research, which made it feel slightly lighter."

In the latest series, audiences have been reacquainted with Helen's younger sister Jenny (Imogen Clawson), who first appeared in All Creatures Great and Small in 2020.

Helen and Jenny are entering a new chapter in their relationship as Jenny begins to ponder her future and what she truly desires from life.

Discussing Helen and Jenny's relationship in series six, Rachel revealed: "She (Helen) probably knew that she'd fly the nest at some point and that she wants to go and spread her wings. But, there's a really real moment where she goes, 'I think she's going to leave and she might not come back' or she doesn't know when she'll come back.

"That's incredibly difficult for Helen to get her head around and almost doesn't. She doesn't want to, I think she sort of fights against it for a bit."

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