The search is on for families to live off the land for new BBC Wales series
Have you ever dreamed of escaping the rat race and moving to the countryside to live off the land? Could your family swap the city for a hill farm set in the spectacular countryside of North Wales? Do you have what it takes to change your life and take part in an exciting new television series?
Published: 15 May 2017
This series promises to give real insight into the joys, challenges and frustrations of farming
BBC Wales and Folk Films are launching a UK-wide search for three families who are prepared to take on the challenge of living and working on a hillside farm in Snowdonia this August.
The major new series, to be broadcast on BBC One Wales and BBC Two next spring, will test three families who think they’ve got what it takes to be full-time farmers.
They’ll live side by side in a purpose-built yurt camp for three weeks, working together on some tasks and competing against each other on others, as they try to convince a panel of expert judges they can handle life on a modern farm.
Produced by Folk Films for BBC Wales, the series will be presented by Kate Humble and Gareth Wyn Jones (pictured).
Kate Humble has made the move to the country herself, leaving the city behind to live and work on a small holding in the Wye Valley. She’ll be on hand to keep an eye on the contestants and judge their efforts. She says: “This series promises to give real insight into the joys, challenges and frustrations of farming. For the families involved it is going to be a rollercoaster ride of getting to grips with all aspects of farming life; for the audience it is going to be as informative as it is entertaining. I know I'll learn a lot too! I'm really looking forward to it.”
Alongside her will be resident farmer Gareth Wyn Jones. Farming is in Gareth’s blood; his family have farmed for over 350 years. He will guide the families through each of the challenges, but warns he’s as a tough task-master who won’t go easy on his new apprentices.
Gareth says: “I'll think I've got the best job in the world but that's not to say it’s always easy. I’m looking forward to meeting the families, seeing how they rise to the challenge of farming life and putting them through their paces of course.”
Every week Kate and Gareth will be joined by a guest judge - an experienced farmer, a brilliant food producer or a top chef. Together they’ll assess and judge each of the families on how well they perform in each task.
While no previous experience is necessary, applicants must be willing to try their hand at all manner of agricultural assignments as they find out just how tough farming can be. It will be three weeks of early starts, late finishes, dirty jobs in all weathers and facing the reality of producing food as they kill, cook and eat their livestock - this challenge is not for the faint-hearted.
To apply please email familyfarm@folkfilms.tv, phone 02920 727 801 or write to Folk Films, 17 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HA. See here for full terms and conditions
Please remember contact details need to include a phone number, and the closing date is Sunday 11 June.
SJ3
