Troubled times see crowds embrace stark beauty of Yorkshire farm idyll

As a reboot of All Creatures Great and Small begins, locals are bracing for an influx of tourists to God's Own Country

Rural Yorkshire has aways been dear to the hearts of its proud inhabitants, but it now seems to be the focus of rather a lot of admiring outside attention, not least on Channel 5.

The channel's documentary series Our Yorkshire Farm has just topped the TV ratings in the 9pm primetime slot. And the same channel this week airs a new dramatisation of James Herriot's Yorkshire-set All Creatures Great and Small, marking the 50th anniversary of the book. Meanwhile, the seventh series of The Yorkshire Vet, based at Herriot's old veterinary practice in Thirsk, continues on - of course - Channel 5.