We got to meet the new host Paul West, show founder Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and the producers.

Witnessing the filming of one the first episodes was a real treat and the show should be a great vehicle to sell the natural, unspoiled qualities of Central Tilba and surrounding Narooma district.

http://www.naroomanewsonline.com.au/story/1392468/production-begins-on-river-cottage-australia/?cs=1...

Hugh seemed genuinely impressed with both his Australian protégé and also the landscape.

One of the two executive producers on the show is David Galloway, who explained the show came to Central Tilba after he toured the South Coast scouting locations.

Impressed with imposing beauty of Gulaga Mountain and the lush pasture, he took the turn-off to Central Tilba and decided to stop and spend a night at the historic Dromedary Hotel.

There he met some of the locals including homegrown local publican Maz Youlton, who that evening took him on a tour of the surrounds.

Mr Galloway said it immediately stood out as “real” with real characters, beautiful landscape and perfect land to set up a sustainable farm.

The new host also said it was meant to be as he and his girlfriend were a few years ago touring from Melbourne to the Hunter Valley when they fell love in Narooma and Paul joked they would one day come back to buy a farm here and settle down.

“You see it was fate, it was meant to be,” Paul said.

Travelling with Hugh was his friend and long-term colleague Andrew Palmer, an award-winning documentary maker.

The pair is in the middle of a campaign following the release of their series “Fish Fight”, which focused on the waste of commercial fishing bycatch and the importance of marine parks in European waters.

Mr Palmer said they were interested in the sustainability of Australian fisheries, and wanted to know about whether local trawlers had issues with bycatch.

Keo Films also produces other popular “foodie” shows include Three Hungry Boys, and both Hugh and Andrew said they thought this show would really well in Australia, either with the British boys or again casting some local hungry lads willing to travel and earn their supper.

For the production of River Cottage Australia, a crew of around 10 will travel down from Sydney to film at the property every couple of weeks, but when they leave, Paul is really left behind to his own devices.

Both he and the show’s producers really hope that River Cottage goes on for many series and have grand plans for the property and what can be produced and created there.

But we can’t reveal very much at this point but the show will definitely pay homage to both local producers of quality food and produce as well as the indigenous community and their connection to the natural landscape.

You will just have to watch the show on The LifeStyle Channel to see how things progress at River Cottage Australia.

Production begins on River Cottage

The LifeStyle Channel this week announced that production had commenced at River Cottage Australia, the first international franchise of the hugely successful British series.

Also announced was new host Paul West, who has now moved onto the property at Central Tilba 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.