FLOCK STARS

A new book takes a look baahind the scenes of Britain's favourite farm

MILLIONS have followed the highs, lows and hilarious moments of TV's most charming farmers, The Nicholson family.

Their hit shows Springtime on the Farm, This Week on the Farm, Cannon Hall: A Yorkshire Farm and. most recently, Winter on the Farm have become staples of feelgood comfort TV.

Presented by Helen Skelton and Jules Hudson, they offer an unprecedented peek into Barnsley's Cannon Hall Farm, showing what it is like to live with hundreds of unruly animals at the foot of the Pennines.

Now, as we await the next Channel 5 series, brothers Robert, Dave and Richard, with parents Roger and Cynthia, have revealed some of the funny and uplifting tales from the family's 70 years in charge in a book called Cannon Hall Farm: Past, Present and Future.

Here Dave, who grew up on the farm, reveals what we do not see on screen - from dyeing sheep and randy rams to the hidden dangers of competitive welly-tossing...

DAVE ON: Helen Skelton and the randy sheep pageant

When the most recent series got the go-ahead, the annual Westmorland Show was on the horizon.

It's one we'd had an eye on for a while. Plus, we knew Helen Skelton was a local girl. "How about we get her in the show ring, see if she can't win us a rosette or two?" I suggested.

"Sounds like a plan," Rob agreed.

For Helen to be in with a chance, the sheep had to look absolutely perfect. So when it came to the day, Rob had booked a chap to give them a haircut.

By the time he'd finished with our little flock they looked ready for the ball.