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My Cornwall with Fern Britton explores what makes Cornwall so desirable

Photo credit: Twofour Broadcast
Photo credit: Twofour Broadcast

New Channel 5 series, My Cornwall with Fern Britton, will uncover exactly what makes this UK county so special.

Cornwall isn't just famed for its stunning coastline, rocky coves, and long sandy beaches (eight of which are prestigious Blue Flag status). It's also famed for its Cornish pasties and fishing (one of Cornwall's oldest surviving industries), it's known for its annual attractions and events (with the likes of Fowey Royal Regatta and Boardmasters), it's one of the UK's top destinations for water-based activities, and it's also been put on the map by TV dramas including Poldark and Doc Martin.

All this and it's perhaps no surprise that as a popular tourist destination, Cornwall is a staycation hotspot and one of the most desirable counties to move to. Now the go-to location for those wanting to swap their city lifestyles for a home by the sea, Cornwall was the most searched for place on Rightmove in May, and in April, Newquay was named the hottest UK property market, overtaking London as the most searched-for location.

Former This Morning presenter Fern – who lives in Cornwall – is fronting this new two-part series to discover what has made Cornwall the place it is today.

'Cornwall hasn’t changed much to me,' says Fern. 'Some of the roads have got a little wider and there are more homes built, but the essence of it is impossible to remove. The sky, the air, the sea. The sounds of gulls and cows.'

What is My Cornwall with Fern Britton about?

For as long as Fern can remember, Cornwall has always been in her heart. From childhood holidays in the 1950s, to covering the area as a local newsreader in the 1980s, and now as her home and inspiration as an author.

In this two-part series, viewers will join Fern on a very personal quest to understand what makes Cornwall so uniquely captivating – and why it is so different from the rest of the UK.

By delving into Cornwall's roots, its rich history, heritage, myths and legends, Fern attempts to discover the secret behind the magic of modern Cornwall.

Photo credit: Twofour Broadcast
Photo credit: Twofour Broadcast

In the first episode Fern will explore the part of the county she first fell in love with as a child; the south, looking back at childhood holidays in Looe and reliving the exciting speedboat rides of her youth.

Fern also speaks with geologist Dr Anjana Khatwa on the stunning Lizard Peninsula to uncover what sets the county's physical landscape apart from the rest of the UK, and she explores an era when Cornwall was its own Kingdom and learns about Cornish rebellion against English rule that nearly led to the death of the Cornish language.

Throughout the series Fern also meets artists, a witch, and a clotted cream maker.

Photo credit: Twofour Broadcast
Photo credit: Twofour Broadcast

'Living in Cornwall is slower and much funnier than anywhere I have lived,' explains Fern. 'I have lived full time in two villages. Once in my twenties and now in my sixties. It's still the same. Village life is a gift. A parcel of gossip, history, laughs, gardening, farming and the much-contested Annual Produce show. My Cooking Apples got a first in 2019!'

My Cornwall with Fern Britton airs on Thursday 5th August at 8pm on Channel 5

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