<P> The Herriot novels were written in an episodic style, with each chapter generally containing a short story within the ongoing narrative of Herriot's life . This format greatly facilitated their adaptation for a television series . </P> <P> The series had two runs: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series; the second (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for four . A total of ninety episodes were broadcast . </P> <P> Set in the Yorkshire Dales, beginning in the mid-1930s, it stars Christopher Timothy as Herriot, Robert Hardy as Siegfried Farnon, the proprietor of the Skeldale House surgery, and Peter Davison as Siegfried's "little brother", Tristan . Herriot's wife, Helen, is played by a different actress in each of the series' runs: Carol Drinkwater originally, then Linda Bellingham for the revival . </P> <P> The supporting cast, both recurring and one - offs, numbers over 600, most of whom appear as farmers or clients of the surgery . </P>

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