PETER WRIGHT TURNS 70 — THE YORKSHIRE VET CELEBRATES A LIFETIME OF CARING FOR ANIMALS

A familiar face on British television, a respected country vet and a passionate champion of animal welfare — Peter Wright has reached a remarkable milestone as he celebrates his 70th birthday.

For millions of viewers, Peter is best known as one of the stars of Channel 5’s much-loved series The Yorkshire Vet. But behind his television career is a lifetime spent caring for animals, working in rural communities and helping audiences better understand the bond between people and their pets.

And even at 70, Peter’s work with animals continues.

FROM A YORKSHIRE CHILDHOOD TO A LIFE IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Peter’s connection with animals began long before television cameras followed him around the Yorkshire countryside.

He grew up in Thirkleby, near Thirsk, in a close-knit rural community. His father was a farm manager, and Peter has previously recalled spending much of his childhood outdoors, surrounded by animals and countryside.

That early environment helped shape the career that would follow.

Peter eventually became a veterinary surgeon and spent much of his professional life working around Thirsk and North Yorkshire, developing a reputation as a practical country vet with experience treating everything from farm animals to much-loved family pets.

 THE YORKSHIRE VET MADE HIM A HOUSEHOLD NAME

Peter became widely recognised after The Yorkshire Vet premiered on Channel 5 in 2015.

The programme follows the everyday work of veterinary teams in North Yorkshire, showing the challenges, emotional moments and unexpected cases that come with life as a rural vet.

Peter was joined by fellow vet Julian Norton, and together they became familiar faces to viewers across the UK.

The series celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2026, with Peter reflecting on how the programme developed from an idea into a hugely popular factual series. The show has now run for more than 20 series and continues to attract a large audience.

Peter originally had reservations about appearing on television, but eventually agreed after being persuaded by the production team.

Looking back, his decision transformed him from a respected Yorkshire vet into one of Britain’s best-known television veterinarians.

HIS CONNECTION TO JAMES HERRIOT

Peter’s story has another special connection to Yorkshire’s veterinary history.

Earlier in his career, he had the opportunity to work with Alf Wight, the legendary Yorkshire vet and author better known by his pen name, James Herriot.

Wight’s experiences as a country vet later inspired the famous All Creatures Great and Small books.

Peter has spoken about the influence Herriot had on him and the importance of learning from experienced veterinarians while developing his own career.

That connection also helped give The Yorkshire Vet a unique place in the public imagination — bringing the realities of modern rural veterinary work to audiences familiar with Herriot’s stories.

 A SPECIAL PASSION FOR DONKEYS

Peter’s work has never been limited to the animals seen on television.

In 2019, he became an ambassador for The Donkey Sanctuary, an international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of donkeys and mules.

The relationship was a natural fit for Peter, who had already visited the charity’s donkey hospital in Devon in 2018 while taking part in Channel 5’s Help the Animals at Christmas.

During that visit, he assisted veterinary staff during treatment of a donkey named Poppy, who required surgery for a potentially life-threatening sarcoid.

Peter described becoming an ambassador as a great honour and praised the charity’s work caring for sick, neglected and abandoned donkeys both in Britain and internationally.

HIS WORK WITH THE DONKEY SANCTUARY CONTINUES

Peter has continued visiting the charity and meeting donkeys requiring specialist care.

One example was his visit to meet Champagne, a Poitou donkey recovering after treatment for a painful eye condition.

Peter praised the veterinary team’s care and highlighted how carefully staff needed to approach the donkey because of her limited vision.

The Donkey Sanctuary has also continued to celebrate Peter’s involvement, describing him as a valued ambassador and recognising his ongoing support for donkey welfare.

For fans who know him primarily as the Yorkshire vet from television, his work with the charity offers another glimpse into the breadth of his commitment to animals.

BEYOND THE TV SCREEN

Peter’s recent work also shows that his interests extend beyond treating animals.

In 2026, he became involved in a campaign focusing on pet bereavement, helping create spaces where people can remember animals they have lost.

A pet memorial garden was opened close to his surgery in Thirsk, while National Landscapes across England have also introduced memorial benches as places where people can quietly remember beloved pets.

Peter has spoken about how the grief that follows the loss of a pet can sometimes be underestimated and said he hoped the memorial spaces could provide comfort to people dealing with that loss.

70 YEARS — AND STILL CARING

Reaching 70 marks an extraordinary point in Peter Wright’s journey.

From growing up in a small Yorkshire village to learning from James Herriot, building a long veterinary career and becoming a television favourite, his life has remained closely connected to animals.

And his television career is far from a thing of the past.

Peter continues to feature in The Yorkshire Vet, with the show’s 2026 episodes following him through new cases involving animals ranging from dogs and cattle to more unusual patients.

For generations of viewers, Peter has become much more than a television personality.

He represents the patience, knowledge and compassion behind veterinary medicine — qualities that have made him such a beloved figure among animal lovers.

A MILESTONE WORTH CELEBRATING

As Peter Wright celebrates his 70th birthday, fans have plenty to celebrate with him.

Seven decades of life have brought a career filled with animals, memorable cases, television moments and a lasting commitment to animal welfare.

From the Yorkshire farms where his journey began to the television screens of millions of viewers — and the donkey hospitals and pet memorial projects he continues to support — Peter’s story is ultimately about one enduring passion:

caring for animals.

Happy 70th birthday, Peter Wright!