Season 3 - Episode Guide

Siegfried decides to give James a poorly timed reminder about his responsibilities as a vet while he prepares for his honeymoon with Helen, leaving James feeling torn between his professional and private life. James feels further challenged when he encounters farmer William Henry at the Drovers, who worries that his cows might have tuberculosis. After a heavy night, James finds himself high up in the Dales at Henry's to perform a second round of TB testing far from where he's supposed to be on his wedding day. Despite Tristan being given an important task by James and Helen, Siegfried decides to take charge of things on his brother's behalf. An unforeseen mishap at the practice involving Mr Mulligan's vomiting dog Clancy leaves Siegfried scrambling to resolve things before James, Helen and Tristan find out. Tristan is sent to convince James to put down his work at Henry's and come back to Skeldale. When it emerges that one of Henry's cows is more unwell than initially thought, James feels unable to leave the farm. A word from Mrs Hall helps Siegfried realise the influence that his words have on James. Siegfried shows him that sometimes difficult choices have to be made and recognises James' dedication to his job by making him junior partner at the practice. He feels grateful that, as vets, James and Tristan are in protected jobs so unable to volunteer to fight in the potential war.

Everyone is trying to get along as best they can in the face of changes at Skeldale House. Helen has moved into the bedsit upstairs with James and though they're happy, she's unsure how to integrate herself into the rest of the house. No-one sees this more than Mrs Hall, who is keen to find a way to bring everyone together around the dinner table. James struggles to get Siegfried to let him take the reins now that he's junior partner at the practice. With Helen's help, James learns how much money Skeldale could make from the Ministry of Agriculture's lucrative bovine TB testing scheme, but Siegfried believes the MAG's scheme is more trouble than it's worth and risks damaging their relationships with farmers. He digs his heels in and a rift forms between the two vets. It takes Helen, Mrs Hall and a case of some mysteriously poisoned calves at farmer Kate Billings' to help James and Siegfried see that they're better when they work together. A lackadaisical Tristan thinks that James being his boss will make his life even more of a breeze. He learns that he needs to step up in his role at the practice and take it more seriously, when the dog of a rival is rushed into the surgery in an emergency and no-one is there to help him.

Siegfried receives some difficult news and becomes even more irascible than usual. The perfect distraction comes along in the form of Major Sebright Saunders, who asks Siegfried to look at a difficult young racehorse called River.

James is finally succeeding with the farmers' uptake of the Ministry of Agriculture's TB testing scheme. However, he is struggling with the complicated paperwork and he is keen to keep this from Siegfried, after being told that it was to be his responsibility alone. The MAG summons James and tells him that he has one more chance to get it right or Skeldale will lose the scheme entirely. After revealing this to Helen, she helps James to do everything by the book, but suspects that there is more going on with James than he is willing to say. Tristan decides that he is outgrowing running the small animal surgery and buys a car to help with errands at the practice. It also provides him with transport for taking Florence, the daughter of Siegfried's rival, George Pandhi, out on a date. Siegfried feels sidelined and focuses on micromanaging Tricki while he is on another health visit at Skeldale. A shock departure from Darrowby brings James's feelings about his place in Darrowby to the surface for Helen. Siegfried steps in and realises that he still has the power to bring everyone back together again. Mrs Hall agrees to go on a date with Gerald without realising his intentions and has to decide whether she is ready for them to be more than friends.

Siegfried and Tristan are left in charge of Skeldale House, when Mrs Hall takes time off to meet up with an important person from her past. Siegfried immediately puts Tristan in charge of housekeeping duties and focuses on running the practice and educating a visiting work experience boy named Andrew Simmonds. Tristan expects this to be a disaster due to his own experiences of Siegfried's parenting, but Siegfried makes a connection with young Andrew, causing old resentments between the two brothers to bubble up to the surface. While Richard Alderson is away from Heston Grange, Jenny reveals to Helen that she has made a big decision about her future, leaving Helen feeling out of the loop. Jenny worries that Helen blames her for an oversight with a sheep that could have potentially serious consequences. James works to save the animal and enables the two sisters to see things from each other's points of view. Mrs Hall travels out of Darrowby for a longawaited meeting with an important person from her past. Mrs Hall hopes to be forgiven for her actions, but the person she may need to forgive the most is herself.

The radio reports that Britain is standing on the brink of war.

It's Christmas in Darrowby and everyone is trying to make the most of things while the world is at war. A young guest brings some wonder, mischief and cheer to Skeldale House while everyone waits for important news. When Mrs Pumphrey heralds the arrival of a kitten in need of some extra care at Pumphrey Manor, James has just the person to take him under their wing. Siegfried is asked to pay a visit to an injured River just before a big race and makes an important discovery which Sebright Saunders uses as leverage to get River back on the racetrack.