Matt Baker admits 'it was hard' as he bids 'emotional' farewell to co-star

Matt Baker has shared his experiences filming for his new Channel 4 series, confessing that "it was hard" to eliminate contestants from the competition.

Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker, a new eight-part series produced in collaboration with the National Trust, follows Matt on a quest to find a new tenant for a vast 600-acre farm in Eryri.

Each week, the hopefuls are put through their paces with authentic farming tasks to prove they are the right fit for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to take over the farm.

The competitors must consider what running the farm involves. They will be judged on their ability to maximize the farm's opportunities, from environmental sustainability and agricultural innovation to tourism.

Although the Countryfile host clarified he wasn't making the final decisions about who was eliminated each week, he confessed in an exclusive interview that he found it "hard to say goodbye" to the contestants, reports Lancs Live.

In the series, Matt is joined by National Trust judges Trystan Edwards and Giles Hunt, who evaluated potential tenants before choosing a winner.

Speaking exclusively to Reach PLC, the Countryfile presenter discussed the emotional toll of saying goodbye to potential tenants each week.

"Yeah, of course, it was hard to say goodbye, and there were plenty of emotional moments in the series," he admitted.

"I didn't make the [overall] decision, but I was pleased with the outcome, and the right tenant was selected, but at the same time, for the tenants who didn't get selected, it is a huge learning curve because they can now be even better when they apply for their next tenure and they will know what they are doing."

"At the end of the day, this is people's lives, and they work so hard for it," he added.

He further mentioned the contestants' dedication, noting "it was challenging for them."

The TV star underlined the importance of showcasing the agricultural sector, stating, "For me, any show that puts our agricultural world front and centre is vital, as far as I'm concerned. Not a lot of people know of the world of tenant farming and the fact that a third of British farmers are tenant farmers," Matt expressed.

Commenting on the efforts of the farming community, he said, "I think you only have to go out into the countryside and be so thankful that it looks the way that it does because of our farmers."

This week's episode summary declares: "The remaining six hopefuls welcome a new sow and nine piglets to the farm, and are challenged to construct the perfect pig pen and shelter for them.

"Everyone heads to the stunning nearby tourist hotspot of Portmeirion to demonstrate their sales prowess. With direct selling featuring in the majority of the applicants' business plans, they need to prove that they can sell premium Welsh produce direct to consumers."

Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker airs on Saturday at 7.10pm on Channel 4.