There is something special about curling up on the sofa with a show that feels like a warm hug. All Creatures Great and Small on PBS Masterpiece has mastered this feeling with its stories of James Herriot, a young vet finding his way in the 1930s Yorkshire Dales. The show combines beautiful landscapes, gentle humor, and characters who feel like old friends. Season six of the beloved series arrived in January 2026, bringing viewers back to Skeldale House and the Farnon brothers . But when the episodes run out, the search begins for something equally comforting. Luckily, plenty of shows share that same spirit. Here are five excellent choices to watch next.
‘Call the Midwife’: A Long-Running Favorite with Deep Heart
If the sense of community in All Creatures Great and Small is what keeps you coming back, then Call the Midwife is the perfect next watch. This British period drama started in 2012 and is still going strong, following nurses, midwives, and nuns from Nonnatus House as they care for expecting mothers in London’s East End during the late 1950s and beyond .
The show shares the same gentle storytelling rhythm as Herriot’s adventures. Each episode mixes medical challenges with personal stories, all set against a backdrop of historical change. The women of Nonnatus House form a found family not unlike the one James finds with Siegfried, Tristan, and Mrs. Hall. Viewers watch them face joy and sorrow, often within the same hour. Both shows remind us that ordinary people doing their best for others can create extraordinary television.
You can stream Call the Midwife on PBS and Netflix .
‘The Durrells’: Sun-Drenched Escapism with Quirky Characters
For those who love the 1930s setting and the eccentric personalities in All Creatures Great and Small, The Durrells offers a sunnier but equally charming escape. This comedy-drama is based on Gerald Durrell’s autobiographical books and follows the Durrell family as they leave gray England behind for the Greek island of Corfu in 1935 .
Louisa Durrell moves with her four very different children to a crumbling house by the sea. Much like James adjusting to rural life, the family must learn to navigate a new culture, financial struggles, and the island’s colorful locals. The show is filled with quirky characters, from the family’s eccentric writer son Larry to the simple but kind Spiros. And just as the animals play a key role in Herriot’s world, young Gerald’s growing love for the island’s wildlife becomes a central part of the story. The stunning Mediterranean views replace the Yorkshire hills, but the warmth feels exactly the same.
The Durrells is available to stream on Disney Plus .
‘Doc Martin’: A Grumpy Doctor in a Quaint Cornish Village
Sometimes the appeal of All Creatures Great and Small is watching an outsider find their place in a tight-knit rural community. Doc Martin offers this same theme but with a much grumpier lead character. This long-running British series stars Martin Clunes as Dr. Martin Ellingham, a brilliant surgeon who develops a fear of blood and is forced to become the local GP in the sleepy seaside village of Portwenn in Cornwall .
The humor here is drier than in Herriot’s world, but the heart is just as present. Doc Martin’s blunt bedside manner clashes constantly with the eccentric villagers, yet over time, he forms bonds he never expected. The show ran for ten seasons, giving viewers plenty of time to fall in love with the setting and the characters . Much like Siegfried Farnon’s gruff exterior hides a caring man, Doc Martin’s rudeness slowly reveals a deeper need for connection.
You can find Doc Martin streaming on various platforms, including Acorn TV and Amazon Prime Video.
‘Lark Rise to Candleford’: A Gentle Tale of Two Villages
For viewers who adore the period detail and the exploration of class dynamics in All Creatures Great and Small, Lark Rise to Candleford is a hidden gem. This series, which ran from 2008 to 2011, is based on Flora Thompson’s books and follows the lives of residents in two neighboring Oxfordshire communities in the late 19th century .
Lark Rise is a poor, close-knit hamlet of farmers and laborers, while Candleford is a wealthier market town with a post office at its social center. The story unfolds through the eyes of young Laura Timmins as she moves from Lark Rise to work in the Candleford post office. Like All Creatures, this show finds drama in everyday events—a difficult harvest, a family quarrel, a village celebration. The characters are drawn with care, and the sense of time and place is completely absorbing. It is television that asks you to slow down and appreciate small moments.
You can stream Lark Rise to Candleford on BritBox and The Roku Channel .
Also Read:
‘The Durrells’ (Yes, It Deserves a Second Mention)
Sometimes a show fits so perfectly that it needs to be highlighted again. The Durrells captures the same spirit of resilience, family bonding, and love for the natural world that makes All Creatures Great and Small so special . While James Herriot tends to animals in Yorkshire, young Gerald Durrell develops his own passion for wildlife on Corfu. Both young men are finding their purpose in life, supported by unconventional families.
The tone of The Durrells is slightly more comedic, but it never loses sight of the real struggles the family faces. Money is tight, romance is complicated, and the future is uncertain. Yet the show, like All Creatures, chooses to focus on hope and the joy found in simple pleasures—a swim in the sea, a meal with friends, a new creature discovered. It is the kind of television that leaves you feeling better than when you started.
The Durrells streams on Disney Plus .
Thank you for reading this article on VvipTimes. We bring you the best recommendations to help you find your next favorite show, so you spend less time searching and more time watching.
