Rachel Shenton sports vintage curls as films series two of All Creatures Great and Small

Rachel Shenton sports vintage curls and green corduroy trousers as she’s seen for the first time filming for series two of All Creatures Great and Small

Rachel Shenton transformed into her character Helen Alderson on Wednesday as she was spotted for the first time filming series two of All Creatures Great and Small.

The former Hollyoaks star, 33, radiated 1930s glamour as she sported vintage curls and dark green corduroy trousers as she filmed scenes for the rebooted series in the small town of Grassington in Yorkshire.

Rachel appeared in great spirits as she flashed a warm smile while filming alongside co-stars Callum Wood and Samuel West in the same North Yorkshire county where the original 1978 show was previously shot.

Back in character: Rachel Shenton transformed into her character Helen Alderson on Wednesday as she was spotted for the first time filming series two of All Creatures Great and Small

The actress teamed her trousers with a green blazer and a beige knitted jumper, beneath which she wore a blue shirt.

Her retro outfit was complete with brown boots, with Rachel also holding a basket full of groceries as she shot scenes for the upcoming series of the adaptation of the books by author Alf Wight.

 

Academy Award winner Rachel plays Helen, the love interest of lead character James Herriot, with her role previously played by Carol Drinkwater and the late Lynda Bellingham.

Channel 5 renewed the All Creatures Great and Small reboot for a second series after its debut drew in a record five million viewers, with fans praising the series for its re-imagining of the Yorkshire vet Herriot. 

Style: The former Hollyoaks star, 33, radiated 1930s glamour as she sported vintage curls and dark green corduroy trousers as she filmed scenes for the rebooted series in the small town of Grassington in Yorkshire

Style: The former Hollyoaks star, 33, radiated 1930s glamour as she sported vintage curls and dark green corduroy trousers as she filmed scenes for the rebooted series in the small town of Grassington in Yorkshire

Filming for All Creatures Great and Small’s second series was hit by delays due to the Covid pandemic, but production finally began earlier this year.

The first series focused on young vet James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) who moves to Yorkshire to land a job as a veterinary assistant to Siegfried Farnon, played by Samuel West.

Callum Woodhouse plays Siegfried’s errant brother Tristan, while Anna Madeley takes on the role of housekeeper Anna Madeley. 

Filming: Rachel appeared in great spirits as she flashed a warm smile while filming alongside co-stars Callum Wood and Samuel West in the same North Yorkshire county where the original 1978 show was previously shot

Filming: Rachel appeared in great spirits as she flashed a warm smile while filming alongside co-stars Callum Wood and Samuel West in the same North Yorkshire county where the original 1978 show was previously shot

Meanwhile Rachel’s character Helen, was previously seen forming a blossoming romance with vet James, which even led to her to fleeing her wedding during a Christmas special. 

December’s festive episode concluded with Helen and James still unable to reveal their true feelings for each other, even after she ended her romance with handsome landowner Hugh (Matthew Lewis).

Elsewhere widower Siegfried plucked up the courage to finally kiss Dorothy (Maimie McCoy) at the Christmas Eve party, while Anna was devastated when her estranged son Edward failed to turn up for the occasion as he’d promised. 

Romance: Academy Award winner Rachel plays Helen, the love interest of lead character James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) in the adaptation of the books by author Alf Wight

Romance: Academy Award winner Rachel plays Helen, the love interest of lead character James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) in the adaptation of the books by author Alf Wight

Following in their footsteps: Rachel's role Helen was previously played by Carol Drinkwater (pictured)  and the late Lynda Bellingham

Following in their footsteps: Rachel’s role Helen was previously played by Carol Drinkwater (pictured)  and the late Lynda Bellingham

Tristan remains in the dark about the fact that he failed one of his veterinary exams and isn’t fully qualified, and whether Siegfried will come clean about hiding the truth from his brother.  

The original BBC series, based on a series of books by former vet Alf Wight, who wrote under the pen name of Herriot, aired from 1978 to 1990, with Christopher as the Dales vet and Robert as his boss.  

Sadly one cast member who won’t return is Dame Diana Rigg, who passed away in September 2020 aged 82, almost a year after filming for series one had wrapped.

Executive producer Colin Callender told the Radio Times that there are ‘no final decisions’ on whether her character Mrs. Pumphrey will be recast.

Back: Channel 5 renewed the All Creatures Great and Small reboot for a second series after its debut drew in a record five million viewers

Back: Channel 5 renewed the All Creatures Great and Small reboot for a second series after its debut drew in a record five million viewers