| Genre | Dating game show |
|---|---|
| Num episodes | 13 |
| Num series | 2 |
| Company | Thames Television (2001) FremantleMedia (2009) Naked (2026) |
| Presenter | Catherine Gee (2001) Louise Redknapp (2009) Lisa Hogan (2026) |
| Executive producer | John Longley |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Network | ITV |
| Network 2 | Channel 5 |
| Network 3 | ITV |
| First aired | 8 November 2001 |
| Last aired | 20 December 2001 |
| First aired 2 | 16 September 2009 |
| Last aired 2 | 21 October 2009 |
| First aired 3 | 2026 |
Farmer Wants a Wife is a reality television series developed by Fremantle Media. The basic structure of the programme is that a number of farmers are presented with women from the city, from whom they choose one to be their spouse. The first edition premièred in the United Kingdom on ITV in 2001. However, the original format of the programme is likely to date back to the TV programme Bauer sucht Bäuerin, which was broadcast in 1983 on SF DRS in Switzerland.[1]
Some versions have also occasionally included gay or women farmers who were seeking husbands.[2]
History
After its UK debut in 2001, the show had more than 10 localised versions around the world, with mixed ratings reports. It was the No. 1 television show for stations that aired it in Belgium and Norway, and was the highest rated (up to 60%) entertainment show in the Netherlands.[citation needed]
Premiered in spring 2008, the U.S. version of Farmer Wants a Wife consists of 8 episodes, during which 10 women are trying to be chosen by just one bachelor farmer. In this the U.S. version differed from the other international versions and it was more fictionalised. This version got cancelled by The CW after one season. In March 2023, a new version aired on Fox and is now in its third season.
In September 2009, Farmer Wants a Wife returned to British television for a series on Channel 5, presented by singer and television personality Louise Redknapp.[citation needed] In January 2026, it was announced that the format would return once again but this time under the name Farming for Love and would be broadcast on ITV.[3] In April 2026, Lisa Hogan, the partner of Jeremy Clarkson was announced as the new presenter of the reboot.
Transmissions
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 November 2001 | 20 December 2001 | 7 |
| 2 | 16 September 2009 | 21 October 2009 | 6 |
International versions
| Country | Name | Channel | Host | Premiere | Ending | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | The Farmer Wants a Wife | Nine Network | Natalie Gruzlewski | 24 October 2007 | 26 September 2012 | Link |
| Natalie Gruzlewski Sam McClymont | 1 February 2016 | 14 March 2016 | ||||
| Seven Network | Natalie Gruzlewski (2020–2022, 2025–present) Sam Armytage (2023–2024) | 26 July 2020 | Present | |||
| Austria | Bauer sucht Frau | ATV | Katrin Lampe (2005–2013) Arabella Kiesbauer (2014–present) | 2005 | Present | Link Archived 24 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine |
| Belgium (Flanders) | Boer zoekt Vrouw | VTM | Dina Tersago An Lemmens (2018–2020) | March 2004 | Present | Link |
| Belgium (Wallonia) | L'amour est dans le pré | RTL-TVI | Julie Taton (2009–2011)Sandrine Dans (2012–2023) Maria Del Rio (2024–present) | 2008 | Present | Link |
| Bulgaria | Фермер търси жена Fermer tyrsi jena | Nova Television | Aleks Surchajieva | 29 September 2011 | 8 December 2011 | |
| Didi Todorova | 18 September 2015 | 11 December 2015 | ||||
| Canada | L'amour est dans le pré | V/Noovo | Marie-Ève Janvier Katherine Levac Marie-Soleil Dion | 29 January 2011 | Present | Link |
| Farming for Love | CTV | Sabrina Jalees | 28 May 2023 | 31 July 2024 | ||
| Croatia | Ljubav je na selu | RTL | Lorena Nosić (2008–2010) Marijana Batinić (2012–2020) Anita Martinović (2021–present) | 4 September 2008 | Present | Link |
| Czech Republic | Farmář hledá ženu | TV Prima | Laďka Něrgešová | 14 July 2010 | 2017 | Link Archived 20 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine |
| 3 April 2022 | Present | |||||
| TV Barrandov | Alice Bendová | 3 March 2017 | 2021 | Link | ||
| Denmark | Bonde søger brud | Kanal 4 | Anne-Dorte | 2006 | 2008 | |
| Landmand søger kærlighed | TV 2 | Lene Beier (2015–2024)Sofie Martinusen (2025–present) | 2015 | Present | ||
| Estonia | Maamees otsib naist | Kanal 2 | Krista Lensin | May 2007 | 2007 | Link |
| Finland | Maajussille morsian | MTV3 | Mia Halonen (2006)Miia Nuutila (2007–2016) Vappu Pimiä (2017–present) | 26 March 2006 | Present | Link |
| France | L'amour est dans le pré | M6 | Véronique Mounier (2005–2006, 2008) Alessandra Sublet (2006–2007, 2009) Karine Le Marchand (2010–present) | 8 September 2005 | Present | Link Archived 29 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine |
| Germany | Bauer sucht Frau | RTL | Inka Bause | 2 October 2005 | Present | Link |
| Land und Liebe | NDR Fernsehen | Ina Müller (2005–2007)Yared Dibaba (2009–2010) | 20 July 2005 | 2010 | Link Archived 19 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine | |
| Greece | Αγρότης μόνος ψάχνει Agrótis mónos psáchnei | Alpha TV | Sissy Christidou | 1 July 2009 | 15 December 2010 | Link |
| Hungary | Házasodna a gazda | RTL | Ildikó Kovalcsik "Lilu" | 29 June 2012 | 19 December 2012 | Link |
| Anikó Nádai | 1 September 2019 | Present | ||||
| Ireland | Love in the Country | RTÉ2 | Anna Geary | 6 November 2023 | Present | |
| Italy | Il contadino cerca moglie | Fox Life, TV8, Sky Uno (2015–2018) Nove (2021–present) | Simona Ventura (2015) Ilenia Lazzarin (2016–2017) Diletta Leotta (2018) Gabriele Corsi (2021–2024) | 6 October 2015 | 12 December 2024 | |
| Latvia | Saimnieks meklē sievu | TV3 | Baiba Sipeniece | 2009 | Link | |
| Lithuania | Ūkininkas ieško žmonos | TV3 | Nijolė Pareigytė | 26 April 2011 | Link | |
| Netherlands | Boer zoekt Vrouw | NPO 1 | Yvon Jaspers | 21 November 2004 | Present | Link |
| Norway | Jakten på kjærligheten | TV2 | Marthe Sveberg | 24 August 2004 | Present | Link |
| Poland | Rolnik szuka żony | TVP1 | Marta Manowska | 21 May 2014 | Present | Link |
| Portugal | Quem quer namorar com o agricultor? | SIC | Andreia Rodrigues | 10 March 2019 | 18 February 2023 | [1] |
| Romania | Fermier. Caut nevastă! | Prima TV | Luana Ibacka | 12 March 2009 | 2009 | |
| Gospodar fără pereche | Pro TV | Anamaria Prodan | 11 September 2017 | 2020 | ||
| Serbia | Domaćine, oženi se | Prva | Tijana Čurović | 15 October 2010 | 2014 | |
| Slovenia | Ljubezen na seniku | TV3 | Saša Lendero | Spring 2011 | 2011 | |
| Ljubezen na deželi | Planet TV | Saša Lendero | Autumn 2013 | 2013 | ||
| Ljubezen po domače | POP TV | Tanja Postružnik | Autumn 2016 | Link | ||
| Slovakia | Farmár hľadá ženu | TV JOJ | Aneta Parišková | 2010 | 2017 | Link |
| South Africa | Boer soek 'n Vrou | KykNET | Minki van der Westhuizen, Elma Postma, Marciel Hopkins | 30 September 2008 | Present | Link |
| Spain | Granjero busca esposa | Cuatro | Luján Argüelles | 12 January 2009 | 16 November 2011 | Link Archived 11 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine |
| Carlos Lozano | 12 September 2016 | 10 January 2018 | ||||
| Sweden | Bonde söker fru | TV4 | Linda Lindorff | 28 May 2006 | Present | Link Archived 3 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine |
| Switzerland | Bauer, ledig, sucht... | 3+ | Marco Fritsche | 2008 | 2008 | Link |
| Ukraine | Фермер шукає дружину Fermer shukaye druzhynu | STB | Irina Borisyuk | 30 September 2011 | 2011 | Link Archived 12 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine |
| United States | Farmer Wants a Wife | The CW | Matt Neustadt | 30 April 2008 | 25 June 2008 | Link |
| Fox | Jennifer Nettles (2023–2024) Kimberly Williams-Paisley (2025–present) | 8 March 2023 | Present |
References
- ^ "TV: Bauer sucht Frau - Wer hat's erfunden?". sueddeutsche.de. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ Henry Samuel (January 6, 2015). "French 'Farmer Wants a Wife' to feature first gay candidate". The Daily Telegraph
- ^ Stalcup, Jamie (27 January 2026). "ITV Commissions Farmer Wants a Wife Revival". Retrieved 27 January 2026.