All Creatures Great and Small is set to return with its yuletide episode on Channel 5, December 23, showcasing Tristan Farnon's (Callum Woodhouse) less-than-thrilled reaction to being assigned a task that involves pigeons. His dismay deepens upon dealing with the crotchety pigeon enthusiast Enoch Sykes, portrayed by Duncan Preston, as the two characters clash.
In an exclusive chat with Express.co.uk and other media outlets, Callum Woodhouse revealed his own Christmas viewing habits, admitting he normally watches the special with family, but expects this year to be different: "Most years, I don't think we will this year as I'll be in London. I'm rehearsing a play until the 24th so I won't get back until Boxing Day."
Continuing with a touch of humour about his family's endearing habit, he said: "But every year we do watch the Christmas special, they will probably get me to watch it again with them. They always watch the episode multiple times."
Woodhouse chuckles over their level of enthusiasm: "Especially when it's airing, they will watch it at 9pm on Channel 5 and then at 10pm they will switch over to Channel 5 +1 and will immediately watch the episode again. It's really sweet but also I'm like 'Guys, do something else with your lives'."
On the work front, Woodhouse couldn't hide his excitement about collaborating with Duncan Preston for the festive episode, having long admired the veteran actor: "It was amazing, he was just one of them people who he just slotted right in."
"It was like he has lived his life as that character rather than waking up that morning as the character.
"I was particularly excited about working with him as one thing growing up that I used to watch with my mother is Dinner Ladies.
"He was my favourite character in Dinner Ladies, some of his one-liners, me and my mum always quote him."
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"I had to tell him about how much of a fan I was of Dinner Ladies. He was talking about working with Victoria Wood and Julie Walters and things like that.
"When you get to hear these incredible anecdotes from these wonderful actors, it was fantastic working with him."
The Christmas special sees Skeldale House prepare for Jimmy's first birthday and Christmas Day, but when Mrs Hall's (Anna Madeley) world is turned upside down by harrowing news, everything comes to a halt.
The All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special airs on Channel 5 on December 23
