Former Strictly Come Dancing finalist JB Gill has issued a passionate message of defiance on behalf of farmers following a tumultuous year for those in the agricultural world.
The JLS singer lives with his family on a working farm in Sevenoaks, Kent, which he purchased in 2012, and has fronted several farming shows away from the stage over the years.
His passion for farming is undisputed, but it hasn’t come without its challenges. Fellow famous farmer Jeremy Clarkson, for instance, has claimed that this year he faces his worst harvest ever due to the weather.
Elsewhere, farmers up and down the country have been protesting the Labour government’s proposed changes to inheritance tax on farmland.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the measures almost a year ago, and ever since, Westminster has faced protest after protest from those who’ll be impacted, with many warning it poses a threat to the future of British farms.
While the JLS star avoided mentioning Labour’s specific measures on the agricultural world, he did concede to GB News at this year’s NTAs that the current state of affairs for farmers is far from ideal.
“Well, I think farmers have always been hit hard, and the thing about farmers is that they’re incredibly resilient,” he told GB News. “They find a way, and they manage to get food. And ultimately, we all have to eat to survive.
” So, we’ll always find a way. I’m not as impacted as perhaps some other farmers because we only have really a small holding, so it’s a smaller lot of land.
“But of course, I think especially during lockdown, you look at that and you see how everybody was affected by the lack of things like flour and eggs and our access to basic foods that you take for granted.
“I think as soon as we start to see the impact on things like that, we’ll really start to respect and support – not that we don’t support, but I think, it really comes to the forefront.
“So, as I say, farmers, I’m sure, as a community, we’ll find a way to make things work and keep going.”
Lauding other famous faces from the farming world for throwing their backing behind British farming, Mr Gill went on: “If I can do anything that I can, people like Kaleb [Cooper] and shows like Springtime on the Farm, Clarkson’s Farm and so on, do what they can shed a light and to shine a light and support them, we’re here.”
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And is the most important message to back British farming? “Always,” Mr Gill replied. “Listen, we’ve got some of the highest welfare standards in the world.”
He went on: “We’ve got some of the best land, we’ve got four incredible seasons – most countries don’t have that.
“Most countries have two seasons. Dry and wet, rainy, and so we’re very, very blessed, very lucky that we can say that.”
No stranger to a challenge, Mr Gill made it all the way to the Strictly Come Dancing final last year alongside Lauren Oakley. The dancer stepped in for Amy Dowden, who had to withdraw due to an injury.
Despite having thrown himself headfirst into the world of the ballroom, Mr Gill admitted it doesn’t mean he’s able to pick a winner from this year’s line-up.
“Do you know what? It’s going to be amazing,” Mr Gill said. “It’s interesting because I can’t call it, honestly.
“I think once we see the partners, then we’ll be able to get a better view of it. But I’ve got my good friend Harry Aikiness-Aryeetey-“
“He’s going to be good,” Mr Gill’s wife Chloe chipped in during the discussion before the JLS star concluded: “Harry is used to training. He’s obviously physically very fit. So I think as long as he can get the steps down, he’ll be alright.”
Ms Gill has no problems pinpointing her frontrunner for the contest. “I think Vicky [Pattison] is going to be amazing. She’s coming,” she tipped.
