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My Life as a Yorkshire Vet
NEW from the star of Channel 5's hit show The Yorkshire Vet - with a foreword from Peter Wright
“Animals can be our greatest comfort or our absolute heartbreak when we lose them, but they never stop teaching us and helping us to be better.”
Matt Jackson-Smith is a new generation Yorkshire vet; a dashing James Herriot for the modern age. From watching TV show The Yorkshire Vet with his gran, to being one of its most popular stars, Matt is forging an exciting life and career both on and off screen.
In this fascinating, funny, engaging and honest memoir he opens his case book to reveal what life is really like as a Yorkshire vet in the 21st Century.
Matt reveals his journey from the son of a rugby league superstar to one of TVs most popular animal experts. He talks about his childhood struggles with stuttering, his adventures at vet school, his veterinary career and his journey to stardom as one of the most popular professionals on Channel 5’s hit show, The Yorkshire Vet.
With stories from his childhood, his training and early career, through to his current success at work while starting a family of his own.
This is a funny, touching and engaging snapshot of Matt’s story so far – filled with anecdotes and heartwarming tales of life as a Yorkshire Vet and beyond.
From dealing with exotic wildcats and crocs to dramatic emergency Caesarean sections on dairy cows – from open-shell operations on tortoises to looking after a care home’s beloved budgie.
The book takes the reader beyond the TV series and behind the scenes into Matt’s wonderful animal world.
“Animals can be our greatest comfort or our absolute heartbreak when we lose them, but they never stop teaching us and helping us to be better.”
Matt Jackson-Smith is a new generation Yorkshire vet; a dashing James Herriot for the modern age. From watching TV show The Yorkshire Vet with his gran, to being one of its most popular stars, Matt is forging an exciting life and career both on and off screen.
In this fascinating, funny, engaging and honest memoir he opens his case book to reveal what life is really like as a Yorkshire vet in the 21st Century.
Matt reveals his journey from the son of a rugby league superstar to one of TVs most popular animal experts. He talks about his childhood struggles with stuttering, his adventures at vet school, his veterinary career and his journey to stardom as one of the most popular professionals on Channel 5’s hit show, The Yorkshire Vet.
With stories from his childhood, his training and early career, through to his current success at work while starting a family of his own.
This is a funny, touching and engaging snapshot of Matt’s story so far – filled with anecdotes and heartwarming tales of life as a Yorkshire Vet and beyond.
From dealing with exotic wildcats and crocs to dramatic emergency Caesarean sections on dairy cows – from open-shell operations on tortoises to looking after a care home’s beloved budgie.
The book takes the reader beyond the TV series and behind the scenes into Matt’s wonderful animal world.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 4, 2026
A lovely book.
I love medical memoirs; doctor, nurse, midwife, vet; so was very interested to read this when I saw it. I've read most of the James Herriot books, and Yorkshire Vet Peter Wright's memoirs, but I thought I hadn't heard of or seen Matt Jackson-Smith on TV. At the opening, through Peter Wright's foreword, I found he's another Yorkshire Vet, having joined the surgery, and appeared on the programme.
He was born in Dewsbury and grew up in Mirfield. His older brother had a Dairy Farm in Cumbria. Matt spent time there as he grew up. As I was reading, I found he worked, right from when he did his work experience, at Donaldson's Vets in Huddersfield-the vets we used, just a few minutes down the road! He mentioned another vet who used to work at the surgery, Sid, I remember her as our Welsh Terrier, Megan, liked to see this lady. Megan was very nervous, particularly of men, so she preferred to see Sid. Many of the surroundings mentioned in the book are near to my area; places I know.
The book is a lovely mix of childhood memories, anecdotes and experiences; laughter and tears; happy and harder times. It was quick, easy reading. Written in a conversational style. Down-to-earth, chatty. Reight!
I've read quite a few medical and vet memoirs, and you'd think the same things would crop up, but that's not so, there was plenty of different stuff, cases and body parts (or missing body parts) I hadn't heard of before. Written in a simple way and easy to understand, so you're not having to go back over and re-read things. I loved his style of writing.
Varied, and a lot of content-although the way I whizzed through it because it was so good, it felt much shorter, and I do hope he writes more.
A fabulous read, and an absolute joy.
I love medical memoirs; doctor, nurse, midwife, vet; so was very interested to read this when I saw it. I've read most of the James Herriot books, and Yorkshire Vet Peter Wright's memoirs, but I thought I hadn't heard of or seen Matt Jackson-Smith on TV. At the opening, through Peter Wright's foreword, I found he's another Yorkshire Vet, having joined the surgery, and appeared on the programme.
He was born in Dewsbury and grew up in Mirfield. His older brother had a Dairy Farm in Cumbria. Matt spent time there as he grew up. As I was reading, I found he worked, right from when he did his work experience, at Donaldson's Vets in Huddersfield-the vets we used, just a few minutes down the road! He mentioned another vet who used to work at the surgery, Sid, I remember her as our Welsh Terrier, Megan, liked to see this lady. Megan was very nervous, particularly of men, so she preferred to see Sid. Many of the surroundings mentioned in the book are near to my area; places I know.
The book is a lovely mix of childhood memories, anecdotes and experiences; laughter and tears; happy and harder times. It was quick, easy reading. Written in a conversational style. Down-to-earth, chatty. Reight!
I've read quite a few medical and vet memoirs, and you'd think the same things would crop up, but that's not so, there was plenty of different stuff, cases and body parts (or missing body parts) I hadn't heard of before. Written in a simple way and easy to understand, so you're not having to go back over and re-read things. I loved his style of writing.
Varied, and a lot of content-although the way I whizzed through it because it was so good, it felt much shorter, and I do hope he writes more.
A fabulous read, and an absolute joy.
May 2, 2026
I love Matt - he will truly be the next to carry on the Herriot legacy.
October 11, 2024
Yorkshire Vet. By Matt Jackson- Smith
I really enjoyed this book. It's very clear that Matt is a happy man who enjoys his life and career. It's written as he speaks on TV. Fast paced and accurate, detailing both his triumphs and failures and gives a very clear impression that life in a mixed veterinary practice is not all sunshine and roses. It's hard work and long hours often in arduous conditions. His interest in exotic species adds a slightly different flavour to that of other vet books.
In short a very good read and I recommend it highly. I hope it's the first of a series.
I really enjoyed this book. It's very clear that Matt is a happy man who enjoys his life and career. It's written as he speaks on TV. Fast paced and accurate, detailing both his triumphs and failures and gives a very clear impression that life in a mixed veterinary practice is not all sunshine and roses. It's hard work and long hours often in arduous conditions. His interest in exotic species adds a slightly different flavour to that of other vet books.
In short a very good read and I recommend it highly. I hope it's the first of a series.
January 13, 2025
Love love love
Watched Matt the vet on Yorkshire vet and cannon hall farm lots and really really enjoyed reading about his advetures
of his life and what an amazing vet he is
Watched Matt the vet on Yorkshire vet and cannon hall farm lots and really really enjoyed reading about his advetures
of his life and what an amazing vet he is
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews