Since the Channel 5 show first aired in 2015, Julian Norton has become a firm fan-favourite on The Yorkshire Vet. This week, viewers will enjoy a special Night Shift episode, featuring a spaniel injured in a freak accident and an angry fighting cat. Julian also assists volunteers in Thirsk protecting ducks crossing to the town centre.
Family Life
Julian's wife, Anne, is also a vet. They opened their independent practice in March 2021. The couple shares two sons, Jack and Archie, often seen on social media for their rowing achievements. Anne graduated from Cambridge Vet School in 1995 and appeared on the show four years after it started, saying: "I'd been on previously as the wife with the kids but I'm a lot happier being on as a vet doing what I do."
Quitting Job
In 2018, Julian left Skeldale Veterinary Centre after it merged with Medivet. He explained: "It wasn't the way I wanted the practice to go." A year later, he opened a practice in Wetherby, then another with Anne in Thirsk in 2021.
Mountain Rescue
Two years ago, Julian suffered a severe injury when he fell off his bike near Kilburn. He damaged his knee on a rock and couldn't walk, requiring rescue by the Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team after two hours. He underwent surgery for a severed patella ligament and spent six weeks off work. On crutches, he said: "I'm feeling like the pace of life for me... it's feeling a little bit like semi-retirement."
World Record Holder
Julian once held a world record for 24-hour tandem indoor rowing in 2010 with ex-Olympian Roger Brown. He represented Britain in duathlon and triathlon championships in 2014-2015 and competed in the UK Ironman, finishing in the top 50.
The Yorkshire Vet airs on Channel 5.
