22 July 2013

 Fferm Ffactor will be back with a new series on S4C in the autumn. This will be the fifth series of the agriculture challenge series since it started in 2009, and it's going from strength to strength.

Each year Fferm Ffactor expands and grows, moving up a gear and turning up the heat. And the same is true about the new series in the autumn as it extends to an hour long programme for the first time ever. More time for quizzing, testing and challenging the ten farmers, with tasks varying from sheep shearing, to driving a tractor; from veterinary tasks to forming a marketing plan. Not forgetting of course having to face questions under the spotlight in the dreaded Chair challenge.

The ten farmers competing in the 2013 series have already been chosen, and visitors to The Royal Welsh Show this week will see their faces high up on billboards around the Showground, and at the S4C building. But who are the ten and do you know any of them?

The ten brave farmers of Fferm Ffactor 2013 are:

• Carys Edwards, Ganllwyd, Dolgellau

• Dafydd Jones, Trawsfynydd

• Dewi Thomas, Llanddowror, St Clears

• Rhys Williams, Tywyn, Gwynedd

• Mathew Jones, Nantgaredig, Carmarthen

• Gwenno Pugh, Talsarnau, Harlech

• Dylan Harries, Llanfyrnach, Pembrokeshire

• Hefin Jones, Padog, Ysbyty Ifan

• Rhydian Williams, Penderyn, Aberdare

• Dylan Jones, Bodffordd, Anglesey

The series producer Siwan Haf, of Cwmni Da, is very happy with the choice of farmers this year, "We've already started filming. The crew have met, and get along well, and it was a pleasure to film them at their homes during the past few weeks so we can all get to know them better. I think it will be another close run contest this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw more than a few tears as we come to the weekly eliminations."

The task of judging the contest goes to Professor Wynne Jones and Aled Rees (winner of the 2009 series). They decide who goes home each week, and their decision is final. Daloni Metcalfe is the series presenter, on hand to offer a comforting word to the departing contestants.

But for the series winner, the prize this year is as fantastic as ever – a 4x4 Isuzu D-Max Yukon, donated by the series' main sponsors Isuzu.

William Brown, Isuzu UK General Manager, says, "Fferm Ffactor has grown in popularity over the years and Isuzu UK is very proud to play a major role in the series again this year."

Gaynor Davies, S4C Content Commissioner says, "Without a doubt, Fferm Ffactor has stuck a cord with S4C viewers. As we welcome the series back to the screens in the autumn, we can look forward to an hour of entertainment with Daloni, the judges and for course our ten farmers. Good luck to them all!"

Go to the s4c.co.uk/ffermffactor website to read more about each contestant, and follow the latest on Facebook and Twitter.

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