All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 is gearing up for its Christmas special episode on PBS Masterpiece. Episode 6, " Our Hearts Are Full," follows an emotional and bittersweet plot. In this episode, Tristan finally opens up about his war traumas, while little Jimmy's advice helps find the missing calf at the Aldersons' farm. VJ Day is finally announced, and Darrowby marks the end of the war in a heartfelt way. However, Helen does not appear in the episode, and here's why.In All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 Episode 4, Jenny was unsure about moving to London to attend nursing college. Helen was worried too for her sister. In the end, Helen decided to accompany her sister to London to help her settle. She took Rosie with her while Jimmy remained in Darrowby with his dad, James. Helen also did not appear in Episode 5 of All Creatures Great and Small Season 6. But did you know Helen's absence was a planned one? Turns out Rachel Shenton, who plays Helen in All Creatures Great and Small Season 6, was pregnant while filming. Her plot was written in such a manner that she could take maternity leave. In a candid chat with PBS Masterpiece, Shenton revealed,"We did what we call “block shooting,” so they squished all my bis together at the start of the filming, which was very kind of them, so that I could go off and have my baby."She continued,"I was heavily pregnant throughout that, and so the schedule was quite intense, but it was for short period. 'I'm very thankful for everybody that accommodated that."Will Helen appear in the Christmas special episode of All Creatures Great and Small Season 6?Yes, Helen will appear in the Christmas special episode of All Creatures Great and Small Season 6. This means she will be finally back from London with little Rosie. Rachel Shenton, after giving birth to her son, Orson, on April 9, 2025, wanted to return for the Christmas special episode. She said that she loved filming the Christmas special episodes, and she didn't want to miss it this time. When the producer, Yvonne Francas, offered her the chance to be back for the special episode, Shenton grabbed the offer. She told Masterpiece,"And luckily, everything went according to the plan and I was able to return briefly. I did it in a couple of days and I did it with my little boy with me, I would just quite literally feed him and then go off and do my scene and go back. It was a joy and such an experience."Rachel Shenton gives a special shoutout to All Creatures Great and Small co-star Anna Madeley in her wrap-up post View this post on Instagram Instagram PostRachel Shenton thanked the cast and crew of All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 and gave a special shoutout to her co-star Anna Madeley in the Instagram post. In the wrap-up post, she wrote how she enjoyed filming the season while being pregnant and after giving birth. She also wrote how she was happy to introduce her son to the cast and crew.During the PBS Masterpiece interview, when Shenton was asked the special reason why she tagged Anna Madeley specially, she revealed that during filming, they became very good friends. She told how she was nervous to resume filming with her then three-month-old son, so Madeley stepped up and helped her. In fact, Madeley's son was ten months old when they shot for Season 1.Shenton shared an instance when Madeley helped her with a microwave. Shenton was left worried about sterilizing her son's food, panicked, and called Anna Madeley for help. Shenton told,"I looked out of the window and walking up the road was Anna Madeley, carrying a microwave. And that is just one of many examples. She is amazing."Rachel Shenton married actor and director Chris Overton in 2018. She gave birth to her first child on April 9, 2025. The couple won an Oscar in 2018 for their project The Silent Child in the Best Live Action Short Film category.All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 Episode 7 will release on February 22, 2026, on PBS Masterpiece at 9 PM ET in the U.S.Also Read: All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 Episode 6 cast and characterFollow Soap Central for more such updates on All Creatures Great and Small Season 6.