Farm 999: New BBC series filmed at CAFRE, Co Antrim shines a light on the hidden dangers of farming life

Presenter Steph McGovern on a farm in Northern Ireland. (Images: BBC / Stellify Media)

Filmed at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in County Antrim, a new BBC series is set to uncover the unseen side of rural life — where danger, dedication and resilience meet on Britain’s farms.

The 15-part series, Farm 999, launches on Friday 7 November on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.

Presented by Steph McGovern, it takes viewers deep into the challenges faced by farmers across the UK — from life-threatening accidents and environmental threats to organised rural crime.

Produced by Stellify Media in partnership with BBC Daytime, BBC Northern Ireland, and Northern Ireland Screen, the series provides a rare and revealing look at the realities of life and work in some of the country’s most isolated communities.

Inside CAFRE: Learning from the Frontline of Farming

Broadcast from CAFRE’s working farm, the series uses the County Antrim campus as a hub for insight, discussion and expert analysis.

Between reports from around the UK, McGovern meets farmers, campaigners and agricultural experts to reflect on the stories featured and offer practical advice to viewers.

Steph said:

“Farm 999 will take viewers into the heart of the UK’s stunning countryside giving a unique perspective on what it’s like to live and work there. People in rural communities are used to dealing with challenges, but this is an unseen side of life here.

“Farming can be a dangerous profession and when accidents happen it’s often a matter of life and death in these isolated locations.

“We hear jaw dropping stories first hand from those impacted and get to see incredible footage from the first responders coming to the rescue of people, livestock and possessions. We also get an insight into the chaos criminals are causing in rural communities and have unrivalled access to the policing operations trying to tackle it.”

Life and Death in the Countryside

Using never-before-seen CCTV, body cam and mobile phone footage, Farm 999 brings audiences face to face with the dramatic moments when routine farm work turns deadly — and when quick thinking can save lives.

Jonathan Willis, originally from Northern Ireland, on his dairy farm in Cambridgeshire

In the first episode, viewers meet Cambridgeshire farmer Jonathan Willis, originally from Northern Ireland, whose split-second decision almost cost him his life.

As Willis and his wife Wendy recount their terrifying experience, emergency responders relive the desperate rescue that followed — a stark reminder that even experienced farmers are just one accident away from disaster.

Despite making up just one per cent of the UK workforce, farming accounts for 20 per cent of all workplace deaths, highlighting the high-risk reality behind the nation’s food production.

Rural Crime and Environmental Damage

Alongside its focus on farm safety, the series exposes the growing problem of rural crime. Investigating reporter Paul Colgan travels across the UK with police and first responders, covering everything from illegal waste dumping in Cheshire to attacks on livestock by protected white-tailed eagles in Argyll, Scotland.

These crimes — from machinery theft to fly-tipping — cause immense financial and environmental damage, with devastating effects on rural communities. Colgan’s reports give viewers unprecedented access to police operations and the people working tirelessly to protect Britain’s countryside.

A Compelling New Look at Rural Life

Supported by Northern Ireland Screen’s Hot House co-commissioning initiative and distributed by Fifth Season, Farm 999 combines the intensity of emergency response with the quiet heroism of everyday farming.

With CAFRE providing both the setting and agricultural context, the series underscores Northern Ireland’s central role in UK farming and education — while giving audiences across Britain a deeper appreciation of the dangers, dedication and resilience that define life on the land.

Broadcast details:

Friday, 7 November 2025

7:30pm – 8:00pm

BBC One Northern Ireland

Also available on BBC iPlayer