As the countryside awakens from winter, colour returns to the fields, and newborn animals take their first wobbly steps, what better way to celebrate rural life and our hardworking farmers than settling down with a cuppa and a new series of Springtime On The Farm?
Who are the presenters of Springtime On The Farm?
Well, that’s quite the roll call! Since it started in 2018, the show - which is now on its ninth series - has had numerous presenters. But whether you’ve watched the show from the start or are just catching it now, occasional presenters past and present include former Emmerdale star and Fletcher’s Family Farm’s Kelvin Fletcher, Yorkshire Shepherdess’s Amanda Owen, Charles Collingwood (Brian Aldridge in The Archers) and veteran presenter Gloria ‘voice of honey’ Hunniford.
But herding such a large number of personnel like a herd of skittish sheep means that these days the presenters have been narrowed down to a regular trio: Helen Skelton, as the main live presenter; JB Gill, who’s been on the show since day one, lending his hands-on farming experience; and Jules Hudson, pink-cheeked teller of regional farming stories.
From South Yorkshire’s Cannon Hall Farm, which hosts the show, we see plenty of its owners - farming brothers Rob and Dave Nicholson - plus TV crossover magic sees the three presenters frequently joined by Peter Wright and Julian Norton, familiar faces from another much-loved show, The Yorkshire Vet, who offer their veterinary expertise.
Helen Skelton
Helen Skelton - who grew up on a dairy farm - got her big break presenting Blue Peter (2008-2013) during which time she worked on other projects including reporting from the Wimbledon Championships.
Since 2008 she’s appeared on Countryfile and regularly covers sport, including the London 2012 Olympics.
Then, in 2022 she twinkle-toed her way to a runner-up place on Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Gorka Marquez, after dancing the Charleston to the Blue Peter theme tune as a part of the celebrations of BBC's 100th Anniversary.
Helen also appears regularly on BBC1’s magazine show Morning Live, and Fireman Sam fans might recognise her Cumbrian tones as the voice of Farmer Annie!
JB Gill
It’s fair to say JB Gill's had quite a varied career! It might seem random for a former member of chart-topping boy band JLS to have turned to farming, but in fact JB studied agriculture at university before pop stardom swept him away for a few giddy years. During a band hiatus he bought land and built a farm and is now respected as being hands-on and not just a ‘celebrity with a farm.’
TV wise, there's plenty of shows you may recognise JB from. In 2014 he competed on Celebrity MasterChef and in 2015 on The Jump. He was also one of the main presenters on CBeebies show Down On The Farm and achieved a double Strictly whammy, winning the show’s 2012 Christmas Special and then being a runner-up, alongside Amy Dowden and then Lauren Oakley on the 22nd series, in 2024.
As well as Springtime On The Farm, which he joined in 2018, JB occasionally appears on Countryfile, and since 2017 has been a presenter on Songs Of Praise.
Jules Hudson
Jules Hudson - who is also a qualified archaeologist - started off in TV production, focusing on historical programmes. But since 2007 he’s been one of the main presenters suggesting homes which promise bucolic bliss for burned-out townies, on the TV Choice Award-winning Escape To The Country (BBC1).
Ironically, Jules took a break from the show for a year or two in 2021 citing burnout as well as wanting to spend more time at his Herefordshire home. He joined Springtime On The Farm in 2023 and – hurrah! - returned to Escape To The Country that same year.
Where is Springtime On The Farm filmed?
Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley, South Yorkshire is the show’s broadcast base, but the show regularly visits farms around the UK, including, in this series, Jimmy Doherty’s farm and wildlife park in Suffolk and Willows Activity Farm in St Albans, Hertfordshire, which Jules and Rob visit to collect pregnant Shire horse Ruby who’s going off on maternity leave after a spell babysitting a Shetland pony. There’s a very cute solution in store to make sure it won’t be a lonely little pony after Ruby’s departure!
Who and what will feature in the new series of Springtime On The Farm?
As ever, we meet farmers from all over Britain – including Adam Henson and Jimmy Doherty who we know from TV shows like Countryfile (Adam) and Food Unwrapped (Jimmy). Plus hundreds of newborn lambs – around 500 a year are delivered at Cannon Hall Farm, and of course Helen and Jules get stuck in.
Also, look out for an appearance from Jon Bon Pony, Cannon Hall Farm’s very own rockstar Shetland pony who once gave love a bad name by impregnating five females in one weekend!
Are there any Springtime On The Farm seasonal spin-offs?
Springtime On The Farm actually has four seasonal variations, all centred on Cannon Hall Farm and with the same format and presenters.
Winter On The Farm shows the challenges presented by cold weather, alongside winter births and feeding and sheltering livestock. Christmas On The Farm has a cosy vibe, with carols and adorable nativity-style animal scenes, while Harvest On The Farm sees (as you’d expect) a lot of threshing machine action.
What other shows has Daisybeck Studios produced?
The Leeds-based TV company’s flagship show is The Yorkshire Vet - which has aired since 2015 - and has had several spin-offs and specials and its other creations include Our Yorkshire Farm, Cruising With Susan Calman, The Canary Islands With Jane McDonald, Fletchers' Family Farm and Yorkshire Great And Small With Dan And Helen. New offering Ben Fogle: Made In Sheffield will be on 5 later this year.
When is Springtime On The Farm on?
You can catch up with the series on My5. The new series is stripped across the week Tues-Fri, starting Tuesday 21st April.
Martina Fowler has worked for TV Choice for, well, several years and very much learned ‘on the job’. Remembering to switch on her Dictaphone was an early triumph, only bettered by demanding of the interviewee (who asked not to be named) why it wasn’t working.