Extraordinary Portraits BBC TV series stars Devon farmer

Alec Burrough, an 88-year-old farmer from East Devon, is one of only six ‘extraordinary’ people in the UK selected for a series on BBC1 presented by Tinie Tempah.

The six-part part series is being broadcast every Sunday and recognises every day heroes being immortalised in art.

Tonight's 30-minute episode will focus completely on Alec, who has his portrait painted for the episode by artist Caroline Pool.

Alec has been selected because his love of farming sees him continuing to work full-time at Peradon Farm, alongside his son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren on their family farm.

He kept working throughout the pandemic, despite being singled out by the government as one of those who should shelter, due to his chronic lung condition.

Tinie Tempah, the presenter of the new series

Alec said: “It’s such an incredible honour to have been chosen to appear in the series and to have my portrait painted in this way.

"I don’t feel special; I’m just doing what I’ve always done.

"Farming and family have both kept me going and that’s what gives me a sense of purpose in life.”

The elderly farmer drives the same Nuffield tractor that he’s driven for more than 50 years to carry out his farm tasks and he has witnessed many changes in farming over the decades.

He said: “I moved to this same farm with my family as a young boy and we started with a few cows, farming with horses and ploughs in a time before tractors.

"Now everything is mechanised and our farm has diversified into holiday lettings and renewables, as well as continuing to produce over a million litres of milk a year.

"It’s amazing to think it’s the same farm and I’ve seen it all in my lifetime.

"Certainly, nobody could say farming is ever boring!”

Peter Coventry of Chatterbox Media produced and directed the series.

He said: “The series was intended to recognise the everyday heroes in our society who normally go unnoticed, rather than the rich and famous who usually have their portraits painted.

"Farmers need grit and determination to work the long hours they do in often harsh conditions and for Alec to keep doing it at nearly 90 with as much dedication as he does is truly extraordinary and deserves to be celebrated.”

‘Extraordinary Portraits’ will be shown in BBC1 tonight (Sunday, April 3) at 6.30 pm.

Peter Coventry of Chatterbox Media, who produced and directed the series, said: “The series was intended to recognise the everyday heroes in our society who normally go unnoticed, rather than the rich and famous who usually have their portraits painted.

"Farmers need grit and determination to work the long hours they do in often harsh conditions and for Alec to keep doing it at nearly 90 with as much dedication as he does is truly extraordinary and deserves to be celebrated.”