Jimmy Doherty, a beloved celebrity farmer and television host, first appeared on screen over two decades ago, showcasing his talents alongside close friend Jamie Oliver in various culinary programs. With a solid foundation in pig farming, he now manages his own farm and operates the Essex Pig Company, which became the centerpiece of the reality TV documentary, Jimmy's Farm. As he balances his television career with farming, this weekend marks the much-anticipated return of the Saturday morning ITV show, Jimmy and Shivi's Farmhouse Breakfast, co-hosted with chef Shivi Ramoutar. The show blends cooking segments with lifestyle features and celebrity guests, all filmed on his 70-acre family farm.
Born in Ilford and relocating to Essex at the tender age of three, Jimmy's journey into the world of farming and television began with a childhood friendship with Jamie Oliver. Their bond was formed during primary school, and it has flourished into a lifelong partnership both personally and professionally. Jimmy has always had a passion for animals and wildlife, which he nurtured from a young age. By the age of 13, he was working at Mole Hall Wildlife Park's tropical butterfly house in Saffron Walden, caring for an array of animals, from otters to chimpanzees.
After pursuing animal biology at university and serving five years in the Royal Corps of Signals, Jimmy trained as a pig farmer. Today, he operates his own farm and runs The Essex Pig Company, which is not just a business but a part of his identity. His farm is also open to the public, inviting visitors to experience life on a working farm.
Jimmy's personal life is as vibrant as his professional one. He met his wife, Michaela Furney, in 2002 when she was working as a runner on Jamie Oliver's TV series, Jamie’s Kitchen. Their connection blossomed as Michaela decided to leave her established career in London to join Jimmy on the farm. Reflecting on her decision, she shared with MailOnline: "One of the biggest things was giving up my career; I was very focused and it was a good lifestyle. But it was my decision: Jim didn't put any pressure on me." Despite initial hesitations about being in the spotlight, Michaela found herself featured in the documentary series Jimmy's Farm, revealing her struggles with privacy and the challenges of farm life.
The couple married in August 2009, celebrating their union with a picturesque reception on their farm. They are now proud parents of four daughters, creating a lively household filled with love and laughter.
Jimmy's friendship with Jamie Oliver has been a constant throughout his life. Their professional collaborations include co-hosting shows like Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast, and they have remained close friends without significant fallout, aside from the occasional friendly disagreement during television challenges. Notably, Jimmy played a pivotal role in Jamie's personal life by introducing him to his future wife, Jools, when they were just teenagers. Recalling that memorable double date, Jimmy shared: "We went on a double date to the cinema in Cambridge – me, Jamie, Juliette and Sue Stump. He had a Fiesta with big fog lights and an exhaust like a tractor on it. We were going over a hill listening to Bob Marley, Buffalo Soldier. We're all singing, the guy braked in front of us and Jamie smashed into him and knocked his front lights out."
The depth of their friendship was poignantly illustrated when Jamie dedicated his book, Jamie Cooks Italy, to Jimmy's late father. Jimmy reflected on this emotional moment, saying: "There's a picture of him at my brother's wedding on there. Jamie gave me the book and I'm used to my dad being dead, but sorrow is a weird thing. I couldn't control it, I had to go away on my own. Then I came back and said thank you and it started again. But luckily I had an eye infection so I could blame it on that. Pink eyes, weeping."
Life on Jimmy's Suffolk farm is unique, featuring a variety of exotic animals, including polar bears and monkeys. In fact, the farm is known as Europe’s largest polar bear reserve. In an interview with the Express, Jimmy shared some behind-the-scenes antics from the farm: "And then you've got the wildlife park where we've got polar bears, we've got monkeys, we've got our anteaters. So we do different activities with them. One morning we played hide and seek with our monkeys. We hid all their food around and they had to go and find it. And I remember that for the camera system, it took him about 15 minutes trying to get the GoPro in this special box and tighten it all up. It took the monkey about five seconds to undo it and grab the camera, bite it and run off with it. But we've got some brilliant monkey selfies!"
This weekend, Jimmy and Shivi's Farmhouse Breakfast returns to ITV1 on Saturday, April 19, 2025, airing at 8:25 AM. The show continues to explore food, crafts, animals, and country life, with exciting segments featuring various guests.
As Jimmy balances his passion for farming with his television career, he remains a beloved figure in both realms, bringing joy and education to audiences while fostering a deep connection with the land and animals he cherishes.
