Jimmy Doherty, known for his appearances on Jamie Oliver’s culinary programmes, has come a long way from his early days as a pig farmer to managing his own farm and establishing the Essex Pig Company. His farm has been the focus of the reality TV documentary, Jimmy’s Farm.
Balancing his television career with farm life, Jimmy, along with chef Shivi Ramoutar, hosts the Saturday morning ITV programme, Jimmy and Shivi’s Farmhouse Breakfast, blending cooking segments and lifestyle features from his 70-acre family farm. He shares this space with his TV producer wife Michaela Furney, their four daughters, and a variety of pets, including polar bears.
Born in Ilford and relocating to Essex at a young age, Jimmy’s love for animals and wildlife led him to work at Mole Hall Wildlife Park’s tropical butterfly house, eventually pursuing animal biology at university and serving in the Royal Corps of Signals for five years.
Married to TV producer Michaela Furney, who left her career in London to join Jimmy on the farm, the couple has been featured in the documentary series, Jimmy’s Farm, revealing both the joys and challenges of farm life and the struggles faced with local authorities.
Apart from his close association with Jamie Oliver, Jimmy’s Suffolk farm, which features in Jimmy and Shivi’s Farmhouse Breakfast, is home to a unique collection of exotic animals, including polar bears and monkeys, making it Europe’s largest polar bear reserve.
This weekend, viewers can look forward to more behind-the-scenes stories and adventures on Jimmy and Shivi’s Farmhouse Breakfast, where Jimmy shares engaging activities with the wildlife park’s residents.