Yorkshire Vet almost never made it to screen says Peter Wright

Peter Wright, star of Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet, told a packed audience at the Great Yorkshire Show that he was unsure about the programme’s potential when it was first pitched to him.

He said: “I didn’t think it would work at first, but has been the most unusual but most rewarding job.”

Mr Wright explained he eventually agreed to take part after realising the series could shine a light on real farm work, the challenges facing rural communities and the bond between people and animals.

Now in its 22nd series, the show has become a staple of British television, following vets as they treat pets, livestock and wildlife across North Yorkshire and beyond.

He was speaking on the Ariat GYS stage on the second day of the 167th annual Great Yorkshire Show, where he inspected entries in a children’s vegetable box competition before hosting a meet‑and‑greet with fans.

Crowds gathered early around the stage, with families and viewers queuing for photos and autographs and many telling him they had watched the series since it first aired.

The event continues to draw huge numbers, with 37,500 people attending on Wednesday and a total of 150,000 expected over the four days.

Organisers say tickets for Thursday and Friday sold out in advance, as visitors flock to see livestock classes, machinery displays and celebrity appearances.

Elsewhere at the show, conversations turned to the future of farming and the growing pressures to balance food production with environmental and energy demands.

Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers’ Union, emphasised the union’s position that high‑quality farmland should remain focused on food rather than being diverted to large‑scale renewable energy schemes.

Mr Tompkins said: “Farmers do have to diversify and adjust to the renewable energy game, but it has to be done in the right way.

“Land should be prioritised for food production, and arguments about renewable energy should be balanced with concerns for landscape, tourism and communities.”

He called on farmers, farming groups and the government to have an “open dialogue” when it comes to renewable energy and land use, warning that decisions taken now will shape the countryside for decades to come.

As The Yorkshire Vet continues to celebrate the everyday stories of rural life, show leaders said debates over food, energy and the environment will be central to the future of the farms and animals that viewers see on screen.