Closes with the residents of the veterinary practice at Skeldale House gathering in front of the crackling fire listening to King George VI's 1937 Christmas Day speech: "Let us turn to the message that Christmas brings, of peace and goodwill. Let us see to it that this spirit shall in the end prevail, and every one of us can help by making that immortal message a keystone of our daily lives. And so to all of you, whether at home among your families, as we are, or in hospital or at your posts carrying out duties that cannot be left undone, we send our Christmas greetings and wish you under god's blessing, health and prosperity in the year that lies ahead."
As Mrs. Hall is in the kitchen washing dishes, she's listening to a radio broadcast of Fred Astaire performing "The Way You Look Tonight," lyrics by Dorothy Fields and music by Jerome Kern. It was introduced in Swing Time (1936).
The nature of Edward's estrangement from his mother, Mrs. Hall, is revealed for the first time.
Didn't actually initially air on Christmas Day but on the 22nd December in its native UK.
This episode is mostly based on 'A Momentous Birth' from James Herriot's 'Dog Stories'. There are some significant differences, though. Helen was never engaged to Hugh. They were at a dance at a hall. James asked her to come with him when he got called away and he brought Helen to Skeldale to get his instruments where he kissed her for tbe first time. Helen had dated both Jim and Hugh for quite a while. It is implied after this story in the books that they became exclusive.