Lea Valley normally produces more than 80 million cucumbers annually, over 65 per cent of the UK's production, according to Lea Valley Growers Association. This year the association, which represents local growers, estimates the area will produce just half of that. Some growers say it’s been their toughest season yet, and there are concerns their future hangs in the balance. \n\nTony Montalbano’s Sicilian grandfather founded his family cucumber growing business when he first came to Lea Valley in the 1960s, and it was later passed down to Tony by his father. Tony wanted to make his family proud, but when gas prices rose sharply this year, he couldn’t afford to heat his eight acres of glasshouses. \n\nWe follow Tony through his season as the weather warms up and he plants his crops, facing unexpected challenges and trying to find out what the future of the English-grown cucumber will be. Tony’s biggest fear is failing his family. Will his family farm survive?
Source: BBC 1
Belonging: Born To Race
Ruben and Lewis have dreamt of having a place on the Formula 1 circuit since they were kids. Backed by their supportive fathers, they're\npreparing to take the next steps in rea ...
24-09-2023
BBC 1
Family: Born To Race
Ruben and Lewis have dreamt of having a place on the Formula 1 circuit for as long as they can remember. They’ve been racing since the age of four and have won hundreds of ...
24-09-2023
BBC 1
Belonging: England's Next Lionesses
England football legend Jill Scott inspires the next generation of Lionesses to success at her childhood club in the north east. Boldon CA Girls is the grassroots football club ...
07-08-2023
BBC 1
Family: Athletes Of The Sky
Nine-year-old Harry isn’t like his friends at school. While they are playing computer games at home, he is down the allotment looking after his pigeons.\n\nHarry from Newc ...
30-06-2023
BBC 1
What Happened Next: The Real Phoenix Nights
The Railway Club, a working men’s club in Clacton, Essex, is a local institution. The hub of a thriving community, it has been a lifeline for many working people in the ar ...
19-01-2023
BBC 1
What Happened Next: Hanging Onto Home: What Happened Next
Along with his wife and two daughters, Yacob Woldehiwot lives in what he describes as his dream home - a fourth-floor flat in west London. It’s a spacious one-bedroom prop ...
16-01-2023
BBC 1
Family: England's Greatest Showman
At 79, Nipper has led an incredible life. The head of East Anglia’s largest family of travelling showmen, he is fairground aristocracy. His stock-in-trade is the ghost tow ...
01-12-2022
BBC 1
Series 1: Cold Swim?- Tynemouth
Retired north east cop Jacqui is just one of the millions of people across the UK who have taken up cold water swimming. After 30 years of service, she has had to deal with horr ...
21-11-2022
BBC 1
Made In England: Northern Sole
Cumbria has a long-standing relationship with shoe manufacturing. Roy Bell started his career in the industry as soon as he left school in 1970 at Millers Shoe Factory in Cocker ...
17-11-2022
BBC 1
Mental Health: Becoming Dad - Watford, Kent
One in ten men in the UK struggle with their mental health following the birth of a child. Yet, unlike mums, postnatal depression in dads often goes unacknowledged and undiagnos ...
14-11-2022
BBC 1
Mental Health: Becoming Dad - Watford, Kent
One in ten men in the UK struggle with their mental health following the birth of a child. Yet, unlike mums, postnatal depression in dads often goes unacknowledged and undiagnos ...
14-11-2022
BBC 1
My Hometown: Bimini Bon Boulash: Homecoming Queen
Drag queen Bimini Bon Boulash rose to fame on series 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. They didn’t win the drag competition but they have since been walking the catwalk at ...
02-07-2022
BBC 1
The Night Shift: Night Nurses - Birmingham
Birmingham Heartlands hospital has one of the busiest intensive care units in the region. The team look after the most critically ill patients across the Midlands, offering arou ...
09-08-2022
BBC 1
The Night Shift: Down At The Docks - Bristol
Bristol Port Company brings in huge cargo ships from around the world carrying products ranging from food and wine, to cars and aeroplane fuel. It is in operation 365 days a yea ...
15-08-2022
BBC 1
The Night Shift: Life Blood
Supply and demand – it’s the crucial equation that the NHS Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT) must balance as hospitals reopen after\npandemic lockdowns and the ne ...
02-02-2022
BBC 1
My Hometown: Graft: Uncovering My Roots
Growing up in Leeds shaped rapper Graft’s music, and after a rapid rise to fame, he was crowned the winner of BBC’s The Rap Game. Now he has embarked on a new journe ...
25-07-2022
BBC 1
My Hometown: Livvy Haydock: My Hometown
Livvy Haydock is known for documenting crime and interviewing violent criminals. In recent years she’s tracked down kidnappers, drug smugglers and moped gangs robbing peop ...
25-07-2022
BBC 1
Series 1: The 007 Shoe Factory - Northampton
Crockett and Jones is one of only five remaining family-owned and run shoemakers in England, still manufacturing its shoes entirely in England. It is an official partner with th ...
24-10-2022
BBC 1
My Hometown: Jayde Adams: Coming Home
Observational comedian Jayde Adams has spent the last 20 years carving out a successful career in comedy for herself. Most of that has been in London, but now she is moving back ...
11-07-2022
BBC 1
Series 1: Coping In Construction
We pass construction sites every day, but most people don’t know that behind the flurry of activity and noise, the industry has the worst suicide rate of any job in the UK ...
07-10-2022
BBC 1