ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL

animal Magic

Many of us have grown up with the adventures of Yorkshire vet James Herriot, who’s been a big part of our cultural and rural landscape ever since James Alfred Wight’s books were published in the 1970s. The latest TV adaptation, with Nicholas Ralph as James (above) – series three is currently showing on Thursdays, 9pm, Ch5 – has given Ch5 its biggest ever drama hit, and it has also proved a hit in America. What does it take for a British show to do well Stateside? Take a look at what else Americans have taken to their bosom and you might see a pattern. They love Bake Off, The Repair Shop and, of course, Downton Abbey, while they’ve given us The Sopranos, The Wire and Breaking Bad. We export shows with an optimistic world view and a tender heart – and not forgetting, in the case of All Creatures, a steady stream of cute animals too. Series 1-2 box sets available and catch

up with series 3 on My5

SKINS Controversial Coming-ofage tales

This comedy-drama tore up the rule book on how to come of age, depicting the smaller events that shape the chaotic teenage years when you feel old enough to be independent but are still a long way off being taken seriously as an adult. Set in Bristol, the show follows a group of friends in their sixth-form college, messing around and misbehaving terribly (sex, drugs and drinking) but also struggling with divorcing parents, eating disorders and low self-esteem. The first series is the best, a force of nature marked by controversies, but it feels like more of a period piece now – Generation Z are much more clean-cut! The cast list is a who’s who of actors who went on to bigger things: Nicholas Hoult (X-men, The Great), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), Kaya Scodelario (above, Wuthering Heights), Jack O’connell (The North Water) and more. All4