Patricia Hodge has joined the cast of Channel Five’s hugely popular All Creatures Great and Smallfor its second series, which began airing on 16 Sep. She’ll be stepping into the role of Mrs Pumphrey, who was played by the late Dame Diana Rigg in the first series.
“Mrs Pumphrey is the kind of person who lives very much in her own world with her own truths, set of values and sense of reality. These aren’t like anyone else’s and that’s the humour in it,” she says.
“You look at her and how she goes about things and you can’t help but wonder which planet she’s on. Her dog, Tricki Woo, is her life which is why the people who work at the vets are so important to her. It’s almost like they are her adoptive family.”
While Patricia arguably had big shoes to fill for the role, the actress has said she was daunted by the fact that Mrs Pumphrey was previously played by Diana Rigg and decided to do her own take on the character.
“My opening question to the makers of the drama was, did they literally want me to try to step into Diana’s shoes and do a kind of imitation or version of her Mrs Pumphrey? They said no and told me I should make of it what I wanted and what felt right. So, I’ve done my own take on her. She’s not like Diana’s version nor Margaretta Scott’s portrayal of the character in the original TV series.”
Mrs Pumphrey’s closest companion on the show is her beloved dog. How did Patricia take to her new canine co-star, Derek, who plays Tricki Woo?
“He’s the most divine dog in the world,” she enthuses. “The most placid dog I have ever come across in my life. He is completely contented and loves human company, so he just snuggles up to you. He goes into a dreamy state when you stroke him – and he takes direction almost to the letter.”
The actress says she was a big fan of the original 1978 series of All Creatures Great and Small and that she remembers these first televisual outings for James Herriot and co very well.
“I tuned in every week along with everyone else but I went on to work with all the main actors in the cast. I was in the sitcom Holding the Fort with Peter Davison for three series and worked in the theatre with Christopher Timothy. I went on to work with Robert Hardy and Lynda Bellingham who are sadly no longer with us. I also worked with Margaretta Scott!
“This Channel Five version of All Creatures is different but just as charming as the original and the Yorkshire Dales are glorious – heaven, in fact!” Patricia smiles.
All Creatures Great and Small airs Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 5.
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