Sometimes what begins as a relatively small idea can turn into a massive international hit – and that’s just what happened to The Farmer Wants a Wife.
The reality show tracks the lives of single farmers looking to meet their perfect partner. Women are encouraged to write in and then each farmer selects his top ten women who are invited to a social gathering. The favourite five then go on a date with the farmer, with two subsequently living for a week on his farm. Eventually the lucky one is chosen.
The show has been sold to 16 countries (including the US, Australia and across Europe) and has hit new audience records in countries like the Netherlands and France. In 2008, The Farmer Wants a Wife recorded 4.4 million viewers in the Netherlands, making it the highest rated show since 2003. And in the same year, an audience of 5.1 million viewers made it the highest rated entertainment show on France’s M6.