It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed by, but here we are gearing up to present another Royal Welsh Show.
I always enjoy catching up with fellow presenters Rachael Garside and Sara Edwards and we genuinely have a great time making the programme.
Rhys Jones with Sara Edwards and Rachael Garside
That's not to say it's an easy ride - far from it! It's a highly demanding programme to make requiring day and night commitment from the team for a whole week. However, if we didn't all think it was worth it then I guess we wouldn’t all return year after year.
I always enjoy arriving to the show ground each morning, the sounds of neighing horses, bleating sheep, the smell of cattle and the bustling crowds of people all eager to be part of Europe's biggest agricultural show.
Giant farm vehicles guard the entrance to a busy market place of stalls full of clothes, food, and all things country. The stalls are eventually joined by the animals - from fur and feathers to pigs, goats, cattle and horses - the Royal Welsh really does have it all. Then it's that short climb up the slope to the BBC tower and you know that's your signal to switch on and prepare for a packed day of filming.
Rhys Jones behind the scenes at the Royal Welsh Show
Now, the BBC are always looking into new and innovative ways to 'trip me up' during the filming process. This can be in the form of taking responsibility for the presentation of a champion cow or entering me in to the ring to show a Balwen sheep. But this year they have really excelled themselves. If you're going to trip somebody up then you could just use a foot, so why on earth would you feel it necessary to use a 150kg Tamworth pig!
Yes, this year the BBC has insisted that I'll be showing a Tamworth pig in the ring. Don't worry though; I have a small wispy stick to help control her. My prediction - it's going to be carnage! I've already been introduced to 'Badger' the Tamworth on a pre-shoot for the Royal Welsh earlier this month. On introduction, Badger decided to pick up the gate on her steel-fenced pen, throw it, and proceeded to run free into the surrounding countryside. I did manage to get her back into her pen on that occasion, but I could well be the first person to ever single-handedly be held responsible for the evacuation of the Royal Welsh showground.
And just when I thought that it couldn't get any worse the BBC enquired about my measurements for a wetsuit. A wetsuit! At the Royal Welsh? Your guess is as good as mine, but it can only mean more trouble for yours truly.
Rhys Jones at the Royal Welsh Show
It sounds as if I'm going to have an action-packed Royal Welsh show this year and I hope you can tune in and join me. But if you do, please keep your fingers crossed – it sounds as if I’ll be needing all the luck I can get this year!
Coverage of the Royal Welsh Show starts this Monday, BBC Two Wales, 7.30pm.
