Yorkshire Vet icon Peter Wright's Skeldale Vets exit after 40 years explained

The Yorkshire Vet star Peter Wright chose to say goodbye to the iconic Skeldale Vets for a heartbreaking reason. Popular seriesThe Yorkshire Vet is returning for season 23 tonight (Thursday, August 13) at 8pm on Channel 5, kicking off with a "powerful" episode about Peter Wright's "dream".

The passion project will see him venture to Sussex where he gets the inspiration to create somewhere in Yorkshire for animal lovesr to go to "remember the pets who have enriched their lives". After this one-off special, normal duties will resume, following not only Peter but other vets including Julian Norton and Matt Smith in their everyday activities.

Why did Peter Wright leave Skeldale?

Skeldale Veterinary Centre is famed because one of its partners was vet Alf Wight, also known as James Herriot, the author behind All Creatures Great and Small.

Peter worked under Wight for a number of years but in 2021, he and Julian said goodbye to Skeldale in Thirsk after decades of service.

He previously shared that the time had come for a new challenge which was prompted by Skeldale being taken over by the company Medivet.

Peter admitted that he felt that this change in management stopped him from carrying out the work he wanted to do.

Peter shared: "I was there from being the new boy and then I gradually became (a) partner.

"I then became senior partner. I ran the practice for almost 20 years, and I have lots of happy memories of working there.

"But, at the same time, I am what is called a mixed practitioner. In other words, I deal with all creatures, all shapes and sizes.

"From cows and horses down to hamsters. And to take the farm side away from me, you know, it had to stop because it wasn't economically viable anymore and I couldn't do that work anymore.

"But I had to continue what I loved and that is being a mixed practised vet."

Of course, this hasn't stopped Peter from starring in The Yorkishire Vet, as he now continues to practice at Grace Lane Vets in Kirkbymoorside.

The Yorkshire Vet returns tonight, Thursday, August 13, at 8pm, on Channel 5.