TV show more muck than magic

THE TV channel planning to screen a reality show in which celebrities will spend three weeks working on a farm has said it will show city people the harsh realities of rural living.

Five has commissioned The Farm from Endermol, the makers of Big Brother.

It has already signed up magician Paul Daniels, his wife Debbie McGee and model Sophie Anderton to take part.

Ben Frow, Five‘s controller of features and entertainment, said that The Farm was a factual entertainment series.

“City people will experience first-hand the tough reality of rural living as well as addressing such issues as where our food comes from and self-sufficiency,” he said.

Mr Daniels said he thought the programme would introduce townies to the countryside, the hard work of the farming community and make the food chain real.

“Having visited a couple of farms for the photo shoot for the show, it is obvious that my ideas of being a gentleman farmer will have to go out the window.”

But the Farmers Union of Wales, which has previously said it thinks the show will be bad for the image of farming, said it was disappointed the programme was going ahead.

“We still fear the worst,” said a spokesman. “We will be watching closely and hope that it won‘t ridicule our efforts or put animal welfare at risk.”