Nicholas Ralph had to undergo full training in veterinary practices so that everything would look authentic on screen.
To prepare for the part of James Herriot, Nicholas Ralph did extensive research on his subject. Although Herriot himself died in 1995, Ralph was able to meet with his children, Jim and Rosie.
The village of Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales stands in for the fictional town of Darrowby.
This first season was filmed to coincide with the 50th anniversary publication of James Herriot's first book.
Whereas the previous series in the 1970s had Christopher Timothy assuming a very neutral accent as James Herriot, Nicholas Ralph used his natural Scottish accent because his character (author James Herriot) was a Scot.