THE LifeStyle Channel this week announced that production had commenced at River Cottage Australia, the first international franchise of the hugely successful British series.
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Also announced was new host Paul West, who has now moved onto the property at Central Tilba, located just south of Narooma in southern NSW, purchased specifically for the show.
Filming has started as he searches out local characters and produce, while settling into River Cottage, a 1930s weatherboard house on a former dairy farm, lying in the fertile shadow of Gulaga Mountain.
Show founder Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall arrived chooks in hand last week, a veggie garden has gone in and the first dishes made using locally foraged and caught food have been created.
West, 29, was born in Murrurundi, a small town in the Hunter Valley region and now lives in South Arm, Tasmania.
A qualified chef, he has worked in all areas of food production from a volunteer organic fruiterer to the country’s top restaurant, Vue De Monde. He also holds a certificate in Permaculture Design.
“I am humbled and incredibly honoured to be offered this role,” West said.
“To be honest, it really hadn’t sunk in until I was walking down the steps of River Cottage last week, cameras rolling for the first time, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall was walking up the drive, waving at me.
“It was quite overwhelming meeting the man himself. I feel blessed to be given the opportunity to spend time with Hugh this past week – he’s the penultimate professional, a keen wit, lover of strong cups of tea and confidently walks the walk that he so eloquently talks.
“I know that I could never fill Hugh’s shoes, and luckily I don’t have to – because he’s still wearing them. We share the same vision and passion for food and its production on a local, regional and national level. I hope that through River Cottage Australia I can educate and empower people to make strong decisions in relation to the food they buy and the meals they prepare.
“I know I have a lot of expectations to live up to, and I am determined to not only meet those expectations, but exceed them.”
Hugh visits Tilba
Fearnley-Whittingstall travelled to Australia for the first time last week to film episode one and mentor Paul.
“I’ve had such a great time in Tilba filming River Cottage Australia,” he said.
“It’s a very special place that feels rich with possibilities and culinary adventures – I packed more than my fair share in while I was there.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to hand over the River Cottage baton to Paul. He’s a genuine guy and there’s no doubt he wants to make a real contribution to the local community, and to connect with the land around him – both the wild mountains and fertile pastures.
He’s wide-eyed and open to all the good things this area has to offer. I love his enthusiasm and readiness to get stuck in, come what may.
“I can’t wait to come back in a few months when Paul’s settled in. No doubt he’ll have some great stories to tell and some fabulous ingredients to share with me – many of them all his own work. Once again, I’ll be happy to take things as they come… as long as I catch the biggest fish.”
LifeStyle Channel’s head of commissioning and programming Hannah Barnes said the River Cottage brand had and continued to be hugely successful for the channel.
“It’s a massive coup to have secured the first international franchise of the series and bring Hugh out to Australia for the first time,” she said.
“The timing couldn’t be more perfect to bring River Cottage and its way of life to Australia, with the issues of sustainability and life change more relevant to Australians than ever before. It’s about appreciating everything that this country has to offer.”
River Cottage Australia is produced exclusively for The LifeStyle Channel by ITV Studios Australia.
Council excited
Eurobodalla Shire Council says the show will test Paul’s knowledge of food, enthusiasm for all things wild and local, and his resilience in setting up a sustainable farm in the Australian countryside.
The show is based on the hugely successful and long running English show of the same name originally produced in 1998 and now in its 10th season.
Mayor Lindsay Brown said it was a great vote of confidence in local produce and personalities that the producers had selected Central Tilba.
“A number of towns from all over Australia were vying to be the new Australian location,” Brown said.
Council was instrumental in securing the TV show and the Eurobodalla as a region was successful in attracting it for a number of reasons, he said.
“Our region has much to offer the camera, from amazing scenery to enthusiastic farmers, growers and fishermen, who will all play a part in the series,” he said.
“We also have great local produce including oysters, cheese and home grown vegetables.
“Council staff were involved in discussions with ITV Studios Australia representatives from the beginning, providing them with information on suitable locations, introducing the producers to local personalities in the food industry and assisting the proponents through the necessary development application approvals process.”
ITV Studios Australia head of factual entertainment David Galloway said the support received from the local community and council had made the whole production crew feel so welcome.
“Picturesque Central Tilba is the perfect location for River Cottage with an abundance of sustainable local produce, its close proximity to the ocean and stunning Gulaga just at the back door,” Galloway said.
