Jimmy’s JOURNEY

1975

Born in Ilford, east London. The Doherty family move to Essex when Jimmy is three, allowing him to keep polecats and royal pythons in the garage

1980s

Works at a butterfly house at a local wildlife park

2002

Leaves his PHD in entomology to set up a pig farm with his girlfriend Michaela (above), a TV runner. Sells rare-breed meat at markets as The Essex Pig Company

2004

Jimmy’s Farm, following trials and tribulations with the pigs, airs on the BBC, followed by a book, On The Farm

2009

Marries Michaela. They will have four daughters, between 2010 and 2018

2011

Publishes another book, A Farmer’s Life for Me: How to Live Sustainably, Jimmy’s Way

2012

Jimmy becomes a presenter on Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped, investigating food production

2014

Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast,

a cook-a-long with his childhood friend Jamie Oliver (left), airs on Channel 4

2020

The wildlife park closes over lockdown. His children entertain the animals

2021

Look out for new series of Spring at Jimmy’s Farm and Food Unwrapped, plus a tapir calf at the wildlife park