Katona’s charmed by life on the farm

Atomic Kitten star plots her escape to the country

Kerry Katona is set to give Old MacDonald a run for his money as she plans to buy her own farm.

The reality TV star is eyeing up land where she can keep a flock of animals after appearing on upcoming MTV series Celebs on the Farm.

She hopes it will help with her mental health struggles. The former Atomic Kitten star says: “For me, having bipolar, I’m up and down all the time.

“There was something so therapeutic about being outdoors and being with the animals that really helped with my mental health – so much so that I’m about to buy my own house this year, and I want a farm.

“I want land where I can keep animals. There’s something so simple and wholesome about that kind of life and living off the land.”

Canny Kerry, 40, has already seen an opportunity to cash in on the idea, too. “It’d make a great telly show – Kerry and her kids living on a farm!” says the mum of five, who is engaged to personal trainer Ryan Mahoney.

“I want sheep, chickens, pigs, goats… even alpacas. “I don’t want a working farm, but I’d like two of each – like Noah’s Ark.”

There’s one animal Kerry won’t have on her farm, however. “Cows scare me,” she admits. “I had a panic attack with them on the show. I hated milking the cows. There was something so intimidating about them.” On Celebs on the Farm, Kerry gets her hands dirty, sleeps in a caravan and even helps birth some calves.

She says the experience – alongside the likes of Birds of a Feather actress Linda Robson, 62, I’m A Celeb’s Lady Colin Campbell, 71, former EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson, 55, and Hollyoaks’ Malique Thompson-Dwyer, 23 – was like a holiday.

“Being in my house is no different to being on a farm. In fact, the farm is easier,” says Kerry, who has Molly, 19, and Lilly-Sue, 18, with ex-husband and Westlife star Brian McFadden; Heidi, 13, and Max, 12, with Mark Croft, and Dylan-Jorge, six, with ex George Kay.

“If I ask my kids to go load the dishwasher, you’d think I’d asked them to murder somebody. But with animals, there’s no backchat.

“When they see you coming, their tails wag – whereas with my kids, I’m lucky if I get a hello.” Celebs on the Farm, MTV, every weeknight for two weeks from tomorrow, 9pm

MUCKING IN Kerry. Below, with celebs