Experiencing life and conditions down on the Edwardian farm

The TV series Victorian Farm was a quiet smash, especially with farmers. So there will be some interest in the BBC's announcement that a sequel, Edwardian Farm, will run for 12 weeks, probably starting in mid-November.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Oct 2010, 16:16 BST

Updated 22nd Oct 2010, 16:16 BST

It stars the same three amiable and adaptable historians – Alex Langlands, Peter Ginn and Ruth Goodman.

This time, their starting point for a journey into the past is Morwellham Quay, on the River Tamar, just before it flows from Devon into Cornwall. At the beginning of the 20th Century, it was once one of the busiest ports in England.

The theme of the series is change – mechanisation driving competition and creating pressure for specialisation and diversification, which took farmers into the beginnings of intensive egg and beef and dairy production and into sidelines such as fishing, mining and catering for tourists. The re-enactors try the challenges.

David Upshal of Lion TV, who produced the series for the BBC, said: "We received a big response from Britain's farming community to Victorian Farm. There is no bigger compliment than receiving the endorsement of the people who are really in the know."

CW 23/10/10