Characters in The Dales
Phil and Carol Mellin based in Oldfield Nr Keighley.
Teenager carrying on dad's farming legacy. At 16 years old Philip has just finished school and completed his exams. It's a year since his father Albert died after a battle with cancer. This summer we'll follow Philip's transformation from boy to man as he faces the challenges of running the family farm for the first time alongside mum Carol.
We'll learn about Philip's special relationship with sheep dogs (he's been winning awards since he was 4 years old - we have some amazing photos) and follow his progress training a new dog he buys and market. We see him learning to shear sheep for the first time and then tackle the farms 450 sheep single handed.
We'll also be there throughout a major landmark in the farms history when Philip and Carol close down the dairy side of their business to start a new enterprise of sheepdog training - it will be an emotional time when they have to sell their cows and send off the final pints of milk in the milk wagon.
Amanda and Clive Owen based in Ravenseat, Swaledale.
Mother earth Shepherdess and her large farming family. Amanda and Clive Owen run one of the dales' most isolated farms - miles from the nearest town and they're now the only people left in the deserted village of Ravenseat. They've just had their 5th child Violet and will be bringing up the new baby the same way they do their other young children - Amanda will strap Violet on her back as she works the farms. It's been a tough 12 months financially for the farm and the pressure is on for a better summer season - their hopes lay in the fact that they are the only stopping point for coast to coast walkers for miles.
We'll be with Amanda as she provides her ‘teas on tray' scone and tea service to hungry and thirsty coast to coast walkers and follow her progress in converting a shepherds hut into an overnight room for passers by - will she get it ready in time for the summer traffic? The highlight of the families' year is the Muker country show - it's a day of fun but with a serious side as a good showing with their sheep can push their prices up for the forthcoming sale season. Clive will be getting the sheep to their best. Amanda will be entering her scones - she has yet to win and faces stiff competition but could this be her year?
Tom Orde Powlett based in Leyburn, Wensleydale.
A very Modern Lord of the Manor. At 31 years old Lord Tom Orde Powlett and his siblings stand to inherit Bolton Castle and its 12,000 acre estate - a major landmark in the north of the Dales. He's been running the castle for four years and has tried to diversify and bring tourism to the business. They've grown the number of wedding bookings from a handful a year to up to 20 a year and has added exciting educational days for schools and a larger range of public events throughout the season, but this summer will see him take the biggest step yet! He plans to reintroduce wild boar back into the castle grounds and set up a falconry area where he plans to train to be able to hold displays and train barn owls to fly down the aisle at weddings with rings to brides.
http://www.boltoncastle.co.uk
Ann Chapman based in Hawes, Wensleydale.
The Real Vicar of Dibley. Ann Chapman juggles running 4 separate churches throughout some of the most rural parts of the dales - her favourite and most challenging church is in the hamlet of Stalling Busk which has a congregation of just 6 people - when everyone turns up!
We'll follow Ann on a busy Sunday dashing between services trying to keep all her parishes happy and meet the small church community of Stalling Busk. Ann is in charge of organising the churches major summer event Party in the Parish but instead of being held at the vicarage like normal this year they're hosting it on a farm - it's a recipe for disaster and she'll be at the centre of it all! We'll also see Ann conduct her most unique service of the summer at the end of the season when she hosts a sermon by the water of Lake Semerwater - she and the congregation will all be in wellies - but will it be a washout?
Jackie and Margaret based in Hudswell, Richmondshire.
New landlords running the dales' first community Pub We follow mother and daughter team Margaret and Jackie as they work their first summer in the dales' newest pub, This is no ordinary pub - it's the first community pub in the Dales and has just been bought by a cooperative made up of villagers from Hudswell. Can Jackie and Margaret do enough trade over the summer to impress the locals?
We'll see them prepare for the pub's opening party which is going to be Fijian themed because they'll be expecting over 100 Fijians from the local army barracks and follow the pair in their attempts to get the pubs beer garden recognised as having the best beer garden view in the Dales.
Izzy and Ernest based in Richmond, Richmondshire.
Ethical Fashion Designer uses sheep wool to create designer clothes.
Fashion designer Izzy rescues lambs that would otherwise be sold to slaughter and uses the wool of their backs to make fashionable - and ethical clothes. We follow Izzy and her work colleague Ernest Ayre as they try to track down a randy ram on the loose in their field of sheep. We also learn how Izzy transforms wensleydale wool into designer clothes.
Leyburn Brass Band based in Leyburn, Wensleydale.
The last competitive Dales Brass Band. We're spending the summer with Leyburn Brass Band as they prepare for their biggest competition of the year - the Hardraw Force Contest. A summer competition that takes place in the beautiful setting of the waterfalls in Hardraw. Leyburn are the last truly dales brass band who are still competitive. Dad and Daughter team George and Emma Lundberg resurrected the band. How will they perform on the big day?
Dalehead Vets (Neil Roberts) based in Settle, Ribblesdale.
On call with the 21st century Herriot vets! We follow experienced farming vet Neil Roberts from Dalehead vets - the biggest vetinary practice in the dales. This summer he'll be out on call and dealing with farm animal and horse emergencies.
Farm specialist Neil works out of land rover and is constantly out on the road and knows nearly all the farms and farmers in the area. Most of his work involves fertility treatment with cows and sheep. We'll also be with horse specialist Billy Hodge who will be out carrying out an operation on a show horse Spats. They have a state of the art horse ‘health farm' where horses are given specialist rehabilitation after operations in a full size swimming pool and solarium.
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Single Episode Characters:
Annabelle Bradley based in Malham, Malhamdale.
Female Blacksmith. Annabelle is an unlikely candidate for village blacksmith - she was an accountant in the city and is now full time smithy in Malham. We follow her summer working on a major project to produce two chandeliers for the local pub.
The Great Yorkshire Show - Harrogate.
Great Yorkshire Show The largest country show comes to the Dales and we'll follow farmer Alex Wilkes entering her prize cattle. Preparations include clipping and shampooing the cattle and even practicing the circular walk they do for the judges. Will she come away with any prizes?
Wensleydale Railway - Wensleydale.
Wensleydale Railway - Getting the Steam train ready. We follow Wensleydale Railway Tim Willliamson as he prepares for the arrival of the steam train in the dales. It marks the start of the railways 1940's celebrations but will they be able to get it off the wagon and ready to ride the track in time?
Burnsall Fell Run - Burnsall, Wharfedale.
Ted Mason has finished 2nd in the Burnsall Fell Run for the last two years - this year he's determined to go one better and win the race. Burnsall is recognised as the original and first fell run - it's a short race of 15 minutes and is unique as you can see the runners throughout the whole race uphill and down! The village comes out to celebrate the day and we'll be there to follow Ted through his preparations and the official race.
Masham Steam Fair - Masham.
Prestons of Potto take their steam engine Lighting 2 to this annual Dales event - but this year the family celebrates a special anniversary. Richard and Ann have been married for 50 years and steam has been instrumental in their journey! Ann has never agreed to ride on a steam engine - she is jealous of how Richard loves it more than her! Today Richard's going to see if he can persuade Ann to ride on the engine to celebrate their anniversary and will it be extra special with a win in the Best in Show category?
Swinton Park Hotel - Glorious 12th
It's 12th August and an important date in the dales countryside calendar - it's the Glorious 12th and the start of the shooting season. This is one of the busiest days in the shooting season and we are at Swinton Park Hall with owner Mark. He will be entertaining 9 shooting teams on the land and we'll meet the team on site ready to take the grouse straight from the field down to restaurants in London.
KL Brewery
Plug and his three pals run 18 month old Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery. They have their biggest event of the year - the local Harley Davidson Rally. They can get through 10,000 pints of their home brew over the weekend. We follow them through the event - will they have enough beer and will Plug win his own Harley Davidson in the raffle?
Otley and Yorkshire Dales Stone Wallers
We join the Otley and Yorkshire Dales Stone Wallers as they build a bridge over water - it's the first pack horse dry stone bridge built in the dales for over 100 years. Will everything go to plan?