Well, we certainly weren’t anticipating that.

It seems wedding bells are on the cards in All Creatures Great and Small – but it’s not Tristan and Charlotte who are engaged to be married, as was hinted at the beginning of the drama’s latest episode.

Siegfried encouraged his brother to pop the question after Charlotte announced her decision to travel to New York with her sister and husband, who are moving there and need a hand getting settled.

“Sounds like a wonderful opportunity, and exactly what you need,” said Tristan. But of course, he's gutted she's going, even if it is only for a few months.

Charlotte has been a light in his life during his return from the horrors of the front line. To be separated from her, albeit not permanently, hurts.

So, after accepting his mother’s ring from Siegfried, he was all set to ask for her hand over a romantic picnic for two in the hope that she might stay, or at least ensure that she wouldn't run off with some "American cad".

But after giving it some more thought, he decided that it wasn’t their time, as much as they love one another, a sentiment which was also shared by Charlotte.

Talk of weddings didn't stop there, however. In a surprise turn, Siegfried took his own advice and proposed to Dorothy, and lo and behold she accepted.

Previously, the vet had always preferred to proceed with caution. But from a radical overhaul at the surgery to turbocharging his relationship, there's been no stopping him of late, which has elicited frustration and bemusement from his Skeldale family, while Dorothy was caught off guard by his grand gesture.

Their relationship, which hasn’t even reached the six-month mark, was already on shaky ground after Siegfried had repeatedly taken her for granted, including forgetting about their most recent date – so much so that she was prepared to call it a day.

But he assured her that she she was not "an afterthought" in his life, and that he was fully committed to reassessing his priorities.

“I would like us to have a future together,” he declared, before asking Dorothy if she would allow him to prove himself by becoming his wife.

But while it might seem like a somewhat rash decision from the outside looking in, living through a war would certainly put things in perspective. Life is short, frighteningly so for some people, so why not take a leap of faith when the moment arises?

But while it's champagne for Siegfried and Dorothy, those who have long wanted a romance to develop between Siegfried and Mrs Hall will be left wanting.

Nothing has ever happened between the vet and the Skeldale House housekeeper, some of the All Creatures fandom have detected a vibe, to use modern parlance, suggesting their connection could grow into something more than friendship.

But if that is to happen, we're going to be waiting quite a while now that Siegfried is promised to Dorothy – although it remains to be seen if the wedding will actually go ahead.

If anyone can derail things, it's Siegfried.

All Creatures Great and Small seasons 1-6 are available on 5 streaming, with season 7 premiering on Thursday 17 September at 9pm on 5.

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