‘I talk to my animals’

1. You’ve swapped the lamb shed for Love Island. Was stardom always the plan?

Not at all. I am a sixth generation farmer. Before I could walk, I helped my father feed lambs and calves on our 350-acre farm in Buckinghamshire. It has been in the family for almost 200 years. As I got older I dreamed of being a footballer – I got a place at Watford FC Academy – but farming has always been my real passion. After leaving school I chose to work on the farm and loved it.

2. What made you leave real life for a reality TV show?

When I was invited to participate in the 2023 series of Love IslandI saw an opportunity to show people what farming really means. Many people still don’t fully understand how their food is produced. I also wanted to highlight the struggle many farmers have with their mental health. It’s great to work outside, but it can be tough.

3. You’ve said that the company of animals can be a comfort. How did they help you?

I like talking to my animals because they are always excited when I come closer and never judge me. They are a good antidote to much of farm life, which can be lonely. When you’re alone in a field, your thoughts can run wild. You can’t drop everything to go out with your friends because there’s always something to do.

4. Love Island must have seemed like one long holiday…

That happened – although the highlight was leaving the villa with Jessie (Wynter), who now lives with me and my family. It’s great to have someone to share this life with. She quickly adapted to the lifestyle because she grew up in rural Tasmania, which is even more remote. She was shocked that we had neighbors.

5. So you weren’t tempted to swap sheep farming for showbiz?

By the end of the show I couldn’t wait to return home to feed the animals. I left the sunny South African villa and jumped straight back into my muddy boots. I love my animals: in addition to 1,500 breeding sheep, we have six alpacas, six goats, two dwarf pigs and two donkeys – Napoleon and Nelson, who live at the bottom of the garden. We also rehomed three emus from a local shelter to remind Jessie of home.

6. You’re stuck in the middle of lambing. How do you like it?

It’s the only time I feel overwhelmed. We work 18 hours a day for three weeks, lambing up to 1,400 sheep. Bringing new life into the world can be wonderful, but it is also physically and emotionally draining. No matter how well we prepare, things never go according to plan.

The weather has a huge impact. When the sun shines, the ewes will lamb themselves. But when it is wet and cold, some lambs don’t make it. It’s heartbreaking.

7. What is your survival strategy?

Reminding myself why I love this way of life helps me feel better and care for the animals. My motto is “farm with a smile on your face”. One advantage of lambing season is that the house is full of people. My brother Thomas is coming back from London to help and there are veterinary students staying to learn more about lambs. We work in teams and play games, competing to lamb the most sheep in a day. Usually I lose.

8. You have 730,000 Instagram followers and 1.9 million on TikTok. How do you find time to be a ‘farmfluencer’ during busy periods?

I learned to make videos quickly. During lambing I set up the camera for 20 minutes and film what we get up to during that time. Staying up late editing the videos can make my days particularly long, but I try not to get caught up in social media or focus too much on whether I’m getting more followers or views. The animals always come first. I wouldn’t film during lambing if there was a problem with a sheep and I had to help.

9. How do you relax?

Jessie and I haven’t had much time to switch off lately because we just started our new YouTube channel, @FarmerwillandJessie. But when I’m not farming, filming or editing, I enjoy cooking with my family. It is a very nice way to relax.

10. What’s next for Farmer Will?

I’m setting up glamping pods and lodges on the farm with money I’ve earned from social media and Love Island. We need to diversify so that we are not solely dependent on livestock. Further down the line, I would like to help put agriculture on the national curriculum. It is so important to bridge the gap between farmers and non-farmers. We rely on each other.