ITV dating show set for surprise reboot 16 years after it was axed – with huge format change
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RURAL dating show Farmer Wants A Wife is set for a reboot, some 16 years since it was last on air.
It followed a string of unlucky-in-love landowners as they welcomed a city-living woman to their farm in the hope romance would blossom.
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Farmer Wants A Wife is making a comeback after 16 years
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Louise Redknapp is set to host Farmer Wants A Wife
Credit: Channel 5
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Louise has had a career resurgence since starring on Strictly in 2016
Credit: PA
The first series aired on ITV in 2001, then a second was picked up by Channel 5 in 2009 - with Louise Redknapp, now 50, as host.
Now a surge in interest in agriculture thanks to the success of Clarkson's Farm and the Yorkshire Shepherdess has convinced TV bosses to revive the original muddy dating show.
A TV source said: 'Farmer Wants A Wife was one of telly's earlier dating shows before the likes of Love Island and Married at First Sight came along and created a whole new genre.
'Even though it only ran for two series, the UK version spawned as many as ten international versions - it's massive in Australia, for example - and the BBC even had a go at their own version, Love In The Countryside with Sara Cox.
'But the time is thought to be right to revisit the UK farmers as interest in rural living has never been greater thanks to Jeremy Clarkson et al and after Covid many have rethought city life.
'It's early days so a channel isn't yet attached, nor a host, but everyone is very excited.'
Fremantle Media, which made the original two series, are exploring the reboot and have begun looking for single farmers and city-dwellers looking for rural romance.
But hinting at changes to the format for a new generation of workers, bosses say they're open to 'all genders, sexualities, ages and love interests.'
And they suggest applicants apply from 'a vineyard in Kent' or might fancy 'harvesting crops in the Cotswolds.'
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The reboot will air on ITV
Credit: Alamy
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