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Yorkshire Vet personality shares fond memories of Caithness


By Jean Gunn

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Julian Norton of The Yorkshire Vet who spent some time working with DS McGregors and Partners.
Julian Norton of The Yorkshire Vet who spent some time working with DS McGregors and Partners.

TV personality Julian Norton hopes the local stars of The Highland Vet enjoy the journey as they make their own adventures in the new series.

Julian, who features in The Yorkshire Vet on Channel 5, started his career as a veterinary surgeon in Caithness, working for local practice DS McGregor.

Based in North Yorkshire, he has featured on various television programmes and written a number of books.

Julian cut his teeth at the practice in Thurso, the base of the new hit series on 5Select, and described Caithness as a "brilliant place" to begin his career.

"I worked at McGregor and Partners, the practice where the vet series is based, almost 25 years ago," he said. "It was my first job as a vet and I loved every moment of my time there.

"I can remember vividly the passion of the farmers and the love they had for their animals and their farming life. Everything up in Caithness is intrinsically connected with the outdoors and the rugged elements. It's a beautiful part of the world but isolated, desolate and tough at times."

Julian reminisced: "It was an amazing place for me to start my veterinary career and I remember the drama and emotions and the characters in detail."

He continued: "I've had the wonderful opportunity to share my veterinary adventures with the public because of my involvement in The Yorkshire Vet over the past five years.

"I'm certain the stories and action from the veterinary practice at the top of the country will be just as popular and will captivate animal-loving viewers in exactly the same way as The Yorkshire Vet has done. It's definitely worth watching on Monday night – I can guarantee."

Asked how the lives of the vets might change once they had been on television, he said: "It's a good question. In some ways, their lives might change immeasurably.

"They might get recognised at the airport or in passing at the supermarket or in the pub. They might have requests for selfies and letters from adoring fans. They might even have requests for a book deal!

"In other ways, for a pragmatic vet, not at all. Cows still need calving in the small hours of the night; dogs still need to have their troublesome anal glands emptying; cats will still need their testicles removing.

"Whatever happens, I hope the Highland vets make their own adventures and enjoy the journey. And, I guess, the real answer to that question is –watch this space."

Julian appears in The Yorkshire Vet on Tuesdays on Channel 5 at 8pm.

Related stories:

Local vets enjoying being on new TV series based in Caithness

TV show about Caithness vets back for second series


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