All Creatures Great and Small – “Judgement Day”

Original Air Date: October 21, 1978

Directed by: Christopher Barry

This review contains a Kitty Carnage (and Kitty Causing Carnage) Warning!

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: James Herriot (Christopher Timothy) tries to treat an unruly patient then finds himself surrounded by controversy as the acting vet at the Darrowby and Houlton Show.

Featured Feline: The trouble begins when James is called upon by Mrs. Bond (Sonia Graham) who brings her black cat Boris (aka The Gladiator) in for his worming treatment (Boris was a character from the original books). James is reluctant from the start, as is Boris, who is growling.

All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - James Herriot Christopher Timothy and Mrs. Bond Sonia Graham with Boris the black cat in carrier

Mrs. Bond has brought a pair of gauntlets for James to wear in handling the notoriously dangerous cat, but after unsuccessfully trying to take the combative feline out of the basket carrier he opts to use a towel to swaddle the animal.

All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - James Herriot Christopher Timothy trying to wrap Boris the black cat in a towel with Mrs. Bond Sonia Graham

A struggle ensues to get Boris wrapped in the towel, during which time the cat is growling and aggravated. It should be noted that some of the cat growling and sounds appear to be dubbed in, but it is very clear the cat actor is terrified about what’s going on.

All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - James Herriot Christopher Timothy and Mrs. Bond Sonia Graham holding Boris the black cat in a towel

Once Boris is swaddled, James pries the cat’s mouth open to drop in the pill.

All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - James Herriot Christopher Timothy opening Boris the black cat's mouth

Kitty Carnage (and Kitty Causing Carnage) Warning: Here is where things went out of control for all actors concerned. The cat actor actually ended up biting actor Christopher Timothy, causing him to swear (fortunately Sonia Graham’s head was in front of his mouth so the word could easily be taken out). At this point Mrs. Bond tries to return Boris to the basket, but the cat actor is having none of it. Instead he tries to climb over the actress, leaving Christopher to try to pry the animal from her back.

All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - James Herriot Christopher Timothy and Mrs. Bond Sonia Graham trying to get Boris the black cat back in carrier
All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - James Herriot Christopher Timothy and Mrs. Bond Sonia Graham trying to get Boris the black cat back in carrier

The cat actor again resists going into the basket and almost gets free, with both actors struggling valiantly to get the cat actor put away.

All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - James Herriot Christopher Timothy and Mrs. Bond Sonia Graham trying to get Boris the black cat back in carrier
All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - James Herriot Christopher Timothy and Mrs. Bond Sonia Graham trying to get Boris the black cat back in carrier

In later interviews, Christopher Timothy explained that Sonia Graham showed him her back which was raked with scratches.

Kitty Cameos: Later at the pet competition which James is going to judge, there is a boy with a tabby and white cat and a little girl with a black kitten.

All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - little boy holding white and tabby cat to be judged
All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - little girl holding black kitten to be judged

Mrs. Bond is also there with Boris. Wisely they leave Boris in the carrier during the show.

All Creatures Great and Small - Judgement Day - James Herriot Christopher Timothy and Mrs. Bond Sonia Graham looking at Boris the black cat back in carrier

Final Mewsings: Someone should have told the poor cat they were all just acting.

Many thanks to Mark Murton for letting us know about this infamous cat acting incident!

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