Nicholas Ralph Left ‘All Creatures’ for ‘Outlander’—and Fans Lost Their Minds
The 'All Creatures Great and Small' star made a secret 'Outlander' cameo—and it's heartbreaking
Over the last few years, folks have loved shows that allow them to escape to faraway places. Green pastures, quaint and cozy communities and quirky small-town characters make up some of our favorite series on TV, but perhaps the one we’ve been loving most is All Creatures Great and Small. The PBS Masterpiece series based on the novels by James Herriot tells the story of a veterinary surgeon played by Nicholas Ralph who takes on a job in England’s Yorkshire Dales. His new practice is made up of Siegfried Farnon and his brother Tristan, and the town of Darrowby proves to be full of individuals that come to shape his life in ways he never could have anticipated. Though the show is full of a handful of excellent actors, Nicholas Ralph’s performance as James is beloved—and when the actor made a brief jump to another iconic series in 2024, fans nearly lost their minds.
In the seventh season of the hit Starz drama Outlander, All Creatures Great and Small’s Nicholas Ralph took a break from Darrowby to bring a new character to life. Debuting in 2014, Outlander tells the story of a woman named Claire, who, while vacationing in Scotland with her husband, accidentally travels through time through a set of enchanted stones where she meets the dashing Scotsman Jamie Fraser. So begins her new life in an era unknown to her full of adventure, unfamiliarity and romance. Here, read all about Nicholas Ralph’s surprising role in the series as we await All Creatures Great and Small Season 7 coming soon and Outlander Season 8, premiering on March 6.
Nicholas Ralph played a small but important role in ‘Outlander’
In Season 7 Episode 13, Ralph brought to life the father of Roger Wakefield Mackenzie. In Outlander, Roger is introduced as a Scottish historian from the 20th century who was raised by his adoptive father, Reverend Wakefield, after his father died in WWII and his mother was killed during The Blitz. When he meets Brianna, Claire and Jamie’s daughter, who was raised in the 20th century, he soon falls for the woman, and when Brianna returns to the past through the stones, Roger follows her there, kicking off an unexpected journey through time that reshapes the person he was.
When Nicholas Ralph is introduced in the series as Jerry Mackenzie, it’s an important part of Roger’s story. Jerry was a WWII pilot, and while Roger believed that his father died as a result of his plane going down, the episode revealed that he actually fell through the stones. The two reunited before Jerry traveled back, but Roger never revealed his true identity.
For fans of both shows, seeing Nicholas Ralph bring his signature warmth and depth to this tragic character felt like a gift. The actor who makes us smile every week as the gentle James Herriot broke our hearts as a father lost in time—proving once again why he’s become one of our favorite actors on television.
Whether you’re cozying up with All Creatures Great and Small or getting swept away by Outlander‘s epic romance, Nicholas Ralph’s surprise crossover reminds us why we love these shows so much—they transport us to worlds where love, courage and connection always find a way. And with Outlander Season 8 premiering March 6 and All Creatures Great and Small Season 7 on the horizon, we have so much more heartwarming storytelling to look forward to!
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