Flockstars

In the first episode of the knockout competition, two Flockstars, along with their four legged friends, will be trying their best to guide sheep around the Flockstars trialling course in the quickest time. The first team to take on the challenge are professional Border Collie Hoggy and Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole, mentored by professional shepherd Emma. They will be going head to head with Midge and TV Presenter Amanda Lamb, mentored by shepherd Ed, with the remaining six Flockstars watching nervously from the sidelines of the showground. Brendan’s training gets off to a rocky start after surprising the sheep with his dance moves. With too much energy, he overexcites the dog and in turn the sheep. His training session turns to chaos. Brendan says: ‘I’ve got to really change my personality to try and control the dog.” Once he relaxes, Brendan starts to make real progress with Hoggy. But his trials don’t go smoothly and he nervously enters the first round of the course, having never succeeded at any of the main obstacles. Outside in the cold and rain, the glamorous Amanda Lamb finds it hard to adapt to her new outdoor lifestyle. Amanda asks her mentor Ed, “Do they have shepherding in the Maldives? Do you think we could switch location.” Trying to get her flock into the pen during training proves a tough hurdle to overcome and getting them over the bridge on the course is something Amanda finds impossible to crack. Midge and Amanda barely complete the course in time and are not confident going into the first round against Brendon and Hoggy. The first round of the competition takes place in the Flockstars arena. Amanda and Brendan will send their dogs on an outrun to fetch their flock, bring them cleanly behind the starting post, guide them over a stone bridge and around topiary corner. The clock stops when all the flock are inside the pen and the gate is closed. Unless of course the flock decide they would rather try and escape

In the second episode of this knockout competition, the opening heats continue with two more Flockstars. Along with their four-legged friends, they enter the Flockstars’ showground, attempting to guide a flock of sheep around the trialling course in the quickest time and qualify for the next round. Stepping up to the plate this week are multi MOBO award-winning Fazer from N-Dubz (aka Richard Rawson) alongside sheepdog Jack, who go head to head with Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph and her dog Gyp. Before the competition gets under way, we see Richard arrive in showbiz style to the Flockstars Farm training ground to meet his dog and professional shepherd mentor Ioan. Sheep are a new discovery for the boy from Camden so shepherd Ioan needs the urban rapper to start being a bit more country. Ioan asks, ‘Have you seen sheep before?’ to which Richard responds, ‘I’ve seen them on TV!’ After a slow start, Richard and Jack begin taking huge leaps forward together and their sheep herding teamwork seems to be falling into place, in part thanks to Richard’s tremendous determination to win. Richard says: ‘I’m gonna go fully in and be the best at it. I think if I ever stop music I’m gonna become a shepherd and call myself Ed Shearer!!!’ Lesley Joseph was brought up opposite a farm and feels very at home in the countryside. Despite this, she feels like a fish out of water on her first day of training at the Flockstars Farm as she is chased by cows and frightened by pigs Lesley quips: ‘They don’t attack humans, do they?’ Finally, she is stung on the nose by a bee, while working on beehives wearing full beekeeper’s regalia. As the days of intensive training pass, she begins to make some progress but struggles to keep Gyp under control so must learn to give loud, powerful commands. She soon discovers that without sufficient firmness, Gyp runs rings around her. Lesley says: ‘We’re both a bit

In the third episode of this knockout competition, the opening heats continue with two more Flockstars. Along with their four-legged friends, they enter the Flockstars’ showground, attempting to guide a flock of sheep around the trialling course in the quickest time and qualify for the next round. Stepping up to the plate this week are acclaimed actress and Coronation Street legend Wendi Peters alongside sheepdog Bill who go head-to-head with ten-time Paralympic Gold medallist Lee Pearson and his dog Skye. As training gets underway for Wendi, she struggles to form a bond with Bill and as the weeks pass, uses every trick in the book to get him onside. It is a case of one step forward and three steps back for the Corrie legend. Wendi explains: “Just when you think you’ve got it and you’ve cracked the voice, everything goes horrible wrong.” Sensing Wendi’s lack of confidence, Bill often does things his own way and Wendi’s frustration only makes matters worse, when she loses her patience and flops her arms around, she causes her own problems. But in the last few days of training, Bill and Wendi finally start to click. Wendi says: “There’s a lot to think about. If I can get those sheep over the bridge, I will be thrilled.” Paralympic legend Lee Pearson might have won 100 gold medals on the back of a horse but working one-on-one with a sheepdog is a completely different proposition for him. Using his very loud voice and shouting commands to his dog Skye doesn’t seem to be doing the trick for Lee, much to his annoyance: “I’ve got a really big mouth so if he doesn’t do as he’s told, I will probably deafen people within half a mile!” After weeks of training, Lee starts to tone it down and Skye begins responding better to a calm voice. For their first round challenge in the Flockstars showground, Wendi and Lee face up to testing obstacles including the Wooden Bridge and Topiary Corner, vying to be

In the fourth episode of this unique knockout competition, the first round of opening heats reaches its climax. The last two contenders battle it out with their four legged friends as they enter the Flockstars’ showground, attempting to guide a flock of sheep around the trialling course in the quickest time and qualify for a place in the semi-finals. This week sees former Eternal singer Kelle Bryan and sheepdog Bill, go head to head with national treasure and legendary DJ for over 50 years, Tony Blackburn and his dog Bess. Before she can begin training, Kelle has to face up to a phobia, admitting that she is scared of sheep! To bring her out of her shell and find her inner shepherd, she is sent to help shepherd Ioan with some shearing. Kelle says afterwards: “It did give me more of an understanding of sheep and their temperament. It’s gonna give me a totally different view when I’m out there with them. I’ll feel a lot more in control.” Six weeks of intensive training begin and Kelle slowly starts to get to grips with her commands and after nearly 60 hours in the field, becomes word perfect. However, Max has other ideas and doesn’t always listen. Legendary DJ and King of the airwaves for over 50 years, Tony Blackburn explains his passion for animals: “I love animals. I love dogs. They normally take to me…better than humans!” The first stage of training is teaching Tony the four basic commands, which is easier said than done when Tony struggles to grasp the lingo. Tony explains; “I’m not used to yelling at animals. I like it my way… I like the cuddles.” Despite all of this, Tony still enjoys every moment: “Ioan’s been a terrific mentor and I don’t want to let Bess down. “ For their first round challenge in the Flockstars showground, Kelle and Tony face up to testing obstacles including the Flowery Arch and Topiary Corner, vying to be the fastest one to get their flock of sheep successful

Richard Rawson and Amanda Lamb along with Jack and Midge, battle it out two courses, in an effort to secure a place in the final.

Kelle Bryan and Lee Pearson along with Max and Skye, battle it out two courses, in an effort to secure a place in the final.