ITV has confirmed the replacement for Fletcher's Family Farm following the conclusion of its fourth series on Sunday, with fans expressing disappointment over the end of the popular programme. The broadcaster will now air Josie's Taste of the Westcountry in the Sunday morning slot previously occupied by Kelvin and Liz Fletcher's farming documentary.
Schedule Change and New Programme Details
Fletcher's Family Farm, which chronicled the daily challenges and triumphs of running a Cheshire farm, traditionally aired every Sunday at 11:30am. However, starting next Sunday, Josie's Taste of the Westcountry will broadcast from 11:25am to 12:25pm. A repeat of the first episode from Fletcher's Family Farm's inaugural series will follow immediately afterwards.
Josie Gibson's Culinary Adventure
The new programme features This Morning presenter Josie Gibson embarking on a gastronomic tour of the Westcountry region. The official synopsis describes her meeting local producers, sampling regional delicacies, and celebrating the area's people, flavours, and landscapes. The premiere episode sees Gibson beginning in Gloucestershire, where she enjoys a scenic ride before visiting Countryfile's Adam Henson and his special pigs. She then assists chef Paul Ainsworth in creating a decadent fondue featuring mustard that was reportedly mentioned by William Shakespeare.
Final Episode of Fletcher's Family Farm
The production company behind Fletcher's Family Farm shared an emotional update ahead of the series finale, highlighting Marnie's lamb shack storyline. The final episode focused on whether her efforts with Jacob lambs would prove successful at the market.
Heartbreaking Moments in Series Four
The fourth series presented significant challenges for the Fletcher family, including their temporary relocation from the farmhouse following a fire. The family also suffered the devastating loss of their cow, Cherry, which Kelvin Fletcher described as "absolutely heartbreaking." He expressed shock and grief, noting Cherry's importance as the matriarch of their small herd and the emotional impact on her calf, Ezra. This followed another difficult farewell earlier in the series when they said goodbye to their cow, Sonic.
The repeat episode from series one will revisit the Fletcher family's introduction to rural life during their busiest lambing season. Viewers will see Kelvin and Liz attempt pig breeding through artificial insemination and prepare for their first public farm event. Both Fletcher's Family Farm and Josie's Taste of the Westcountry remain available for streaming on ITVX.
