All Creatures star Samuel West shares heartbreak over 'different' Christmas

Samuel West, famous for his role in the Channel 5 series All Creatures Great and Small, has recently spoken about facing his first Christmas without his father, Timothy West, who passed away in November at the age of 90.

With the season's festivities tinged with sadness, Samuel opened up to Radio Times magazine, expressing uncertainty over how the holiday period will now feel: "This is my first Christmas since dad Timothy West passed. He's the first close person to me I've ever lost. I don't know what it's going to feel like, except that there's this big sucking minus in the middle of your tummy."

Reflecting on past Christmases, he added, "But my parents, until quite recently, have been quite independent, so a lot of the time, they'd be off on a cruise to India back in February. So, they're not going to be there again, but in a very different way."

The loss was announced last month by Samuel along with his brother Joseph and half-sister Juliet in a heartfelt statement: "After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old."

Providing details of Timothy's final moments, the statement continued, "Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly," reports Yorkshire Live.

Samuel, who has captivated audiences as Siegfried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small, is set to grace the screens once more in the highly anticipated Christmas special.

Viewers will be gripped by Mrs Hall's emotional turmoil as a dire news bulletin jeopardises her world with information about her Navy-serving son Edward.

The Christmas special promises stirring moments as outlined in the synopsis: "A young boy arrives at the surgery with an abandoned fox cub and Mrs Hall can't help feeling a connection with the animal."

Challenges also ensue for Tristan: "Meanwhile, Tristan is assigned an important Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) mission involving pigeons. However, Tristan is less than thrilled with the task and Siegfried sends him to Enoch Sykes, a grumpy pigeon fancier."

Unfortunately, Tristan's endeavors to win over Enoch Sykes do not unfold smoothly. At the same time, Helen and James are caught up in birthday festivities for Jimmy amid familial disputes: "Tristan's efforts to gain Enoch's trust don't go as planned.

"Helen and James are busy preparing for Jimmy's birthday tea at Heston Grange, but Helen finds herself dealing with some family disagreements."

Finally: "When the fox needs veterinary help, Siegfried faces a difficult decision as to how best to care for the animal whilst also looking after Mrs Hall."

Reflecting on Siegfried's supportive role during Mrs Hall's distress, Samuel expressed: "I think it's being there and being the hand she needs to hold.

"But everybody deals with possible grief in their own way, and Siegfried has to try and be a shoulder to cry on if it's needed and a hand to hold if one would help."

All Creatures Great and Small is available to watch on Channel5.com