Period drama Young James takes us back to the early days of vet Alf Wright (Ian De Caestecker) as he studies at the Glasgow Vetinary College to become a veterinary surgeon alongside his friends Whirly Tyson (Amy Manson) and Rob McAloon (Ben Lloyd-Hughes). Wright in later years would go on to write a series of best selling books under the name James Herriot about his early years as a vet which in turn would go on to become the much loved BBC series All Creatures Great And Small.
The production team managed to score access to all of Alf Wright’s large archive of material from the era ranging from diaries and case notes giving a really authentic sheen to the whole thing. Young James was the first production for Shed Media offshoot Koco Drama.
Cast: IAIN DE CAESTECKER as James/Alf; AMY MANSON as Whirly Tyson; BEN LLOYD-HUGHES as Rob McAloon; GARY LEWIS; TONY CURRAN; NATASHA LITTLE; RALPH RIACH; JOANNA VANDERHAM
Writers: Ann McManus, Eileen Gallagher, Damian Wayling / Producer: Willy Wands / Executive Producers: Cameron Roach, Gaynor Holmes / Director: Michael Keillor
UK / BBC 1 – Koco Drama / 3×60 minute episodes / 2012
