Nicholas Ralph shares true story behind All Creatures Great and Small dog track plot

All Creatures Great and Small has returned to television screens with a fresh season, and there's been a great deal unfolding in Darrowby, particularly following a minor time jump between the fifth and sixth series.

From James (Nicholas Ralph) and Helen Herriot (Rachel Shenton) celebrating the arrival of a second child, to the blossoming romance between Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse) and Charlotte Beauvoir (Gaia Wise), the latest season has certainly delivered for All Creatures Great and Small enthusiasts thus far.

Episode five, scheduled to broadcast on Thursday, 23 October, witnesses James becoming increasingly worried about the practice's financial situation, though Siegfried (Samuel West) dismisses his concerns.

James takes control of the situation himself and chooses to accept the position of attending vet at Hensfield dog track to generate additional income.

When he arrives at Hensfield Racetrack, James gets straight to work and starts examining the whippets. However, he begins to suspect that something more sinister might be happening, reports Manchester Evening News.

Actor Nicholas, who has portrayed James since the programme began broadcasting, has spoken candidly about shooting the episode, disclosing an unexpected cameo from a Coronation Street star, alongside the real story behind James' choice to visit the racetrack.

"Episode five in particular was such a fun one to shoot. It's based on a story from the books and has been brilliantly adapted by our writer, Neil Jones. It follows James helping out at a local dog track, a 'flapper track', and it's got all sorts of drama and heart," he explained.

Nicholas stated: "We had Chris Gascoyne, who a lot of people will know from Coronation Street, where he played Peter Barlow for 20 years, in the role of the guy running the track. As you can imagine, he's a bit of a dodgy character."

The actor continued to commend another guest star, Max Runham, who features in the fifth episode as a war veteran and plays a crucial role in the storyline.

"There's also a fantastic actor called Max Runham - who plays a war veteran. Their relationship unfolds across the episode, and we learn more about Max's character, what's motivated him, and his personal struggles," Nicholas added.

"It was such a joy to play, and Max brought so much to it. That whole episode was a highlight."

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