A CRITICALLY acclaimed North-East documentary is set to be broadcast on national TV.

The BBC has adapted the 85-minute feature Addicted to Sheep which documented a year in the life of tenant hill farmers in the North Pennines.

Tom and Kay Hutchinson were the focus of the intimate portrayal as they strove to to breed the perfect sheep.

Directed by Magali Pettier, the film was shown at sold out screenings at Sheffield Doc/Fest last summer and has been aired 200 times in cinemas, village halls, film clubs and festivals.

This week it will reach a new audience as a shortened version is broadcast on BBC4 on Tuesday (February 8) at 9pm, and repeated the following day at 11pm.

Ms Pettier, a French dairy farmer’s daughter, said: “Naturally, we were a little bit nervous at first as we had worked so hard to make our 'labour of love' which we felt had the pace that reflected the lives that farmers lead.

“But what was also important for us was that as many people as possible find out about tenant hill farming, where our food comes from and the challenges that farmers face in general. And so after reflection, we thought a TV version would help us do that.”

The full-length film, which has just been released on DVD, continues to be shown at independent cinemas, community screenings and festivals across the UK.