Helen Skelton has admitted that things going wrong on camera can be 'very humbling'. The 42-year-old presenter is back for another series of Channel 5's Winter on the Farm, alongside JB Gill and Jules Hudson, which follows the highs and lows at Cannon Hall Farm in Barnsley.
Speaking to The Mirror, Skelton said: 'I love live telly, I love unpredictability and you know, what other job, when you are doing your job and you're standing being eyeballed by an alpaca called Shakira you know, or with a goat behind you having a lovely time with all of his female friends.' She added: 'When donkey's bite or alpacas spit it's very humbling and it's very grounding and I think if you can't laugh at yourself then you're missing the best joke of all.'
The former Blue Peter star, who grew up on a dairy farm, hopes the new series will give viewers an insight into agriculture. 'If you grew up in the city, why would you know where stuff is from? Why would you know about how it's grown in Spain versus grown in France?' she said. 'I think what's really nice for me, growing up farming wasn't cool, and nature wasn't cool and it wasn't something that was on people's radar.'
Winter on the Farm, which launched in 2023, sees chef Tim Bilton transforming seasonal harvests into hearty dishes. This year, viewers will learn how to make the most of winter crops, while expert guests reveal simple wellbeing tips that can also benefit wildlife. The series also explores how farmers in the UK and across the world adapt to seasonal challenges.
Skelton shot to fame on Blue Peter in the late 2000s and left in 2013. She has since fronted Countryfile and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, reaching the final with professional dancer Gorka Marquez. She now presents on Morning Live and Yorkshire Great and Small.
Winter on the Farm airs at 8pm on Wednesday 10th December on Channel 5.
