All Creatures Great and Small fans were left sobbing on Thursday night as James Herriott (played by Nicholas Ralph) made a return to screens. However, the vet was away from Skeldale and his love Helen (Rachel Shenton) as he had joined the war effort as a pilot. However, things took an unexpected turn when James fell ill, meaning he was unfit to continue in the war as a pilot.
Instead, he went to help out on a farm, which saw the heartwarming moment of him delivering a calf. This also meant that the vet was unable to take part in their first "active mission" to Scotland. Despite not being with the friends he had made during his training, James discovered some heartbreaking news.
During their trip, the pilot who had replaced James died after coming under fire from the Germans, and two more of his pals also died as a result. During the emotional scenes, James broke down as he received the news of the accident. His officer said: "They were halfway back when three German planes came out of nowhere.
Our boys were shot down over the North Sea. The pilot didn't stand a chance." James went on to realise that if he was fit enough to fly, he would have been killed himself, he asked: "Were there any survivors?" The officer explained one man was pulled from the wreckage but "is in a bad way".
When asked about his other friend, the officer added: "He died on impact, I am sorry. I know they were your crew." As he fought back tears, the vet asked: "Will they be bringing them back?" "Out of t.