Matt Baker brings a dream farm to Channel 4

In this brand-new show, Matt Baker heads to Northumberland to a vacant farm on the Wallington Estate, where landlords – The National Trust – are searching for a new tenant for the four-bedroom traditional farmhouse and 340 acres of grassland, woodland and wetland.

Matt follows the process as seven applicants for the ten-year lease spend three weeks demonstrating that they have what it takes to be chosen for the position. Deciding who will win the tenancy are Wallington Estates General Manager Sally Richards, and Giles Hunt, the Land and Estates Director for the whole of the National Trust.

In this first episode, Matt arrives at the Wallington Estate to meet the seven applicants. It’s lambing season, so the hopefuls get straight to work preparing a maternity shed for 60 pregnant ewes. Then it’s time to explore the land, and under Matt’s guidance, the prospective tenants get to grips with the farm’s rich diversity, from pasture to woodland and blanket bog, with expert help from soil scientist Dr Elizabeth Stockdale.

And finally, there’s an important decision to be made: who will be the first to stay in the beautifully refurbished farmhouse and take responsibility for the farm and animals at night?

Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker, Channel 4 at 8pm