Jack Hargreaves

Following on from the hugely popular Out of Town, Old Country saw Jack Hargreaves continue his exploration of rural life in Thomas Hardy country – reflecting on its character, traditions, history and folklore, and the skills that had passed from generation to generation.

For over 20 years Out of Town was a television program that provided a window on country life in rural Britain. Fishermen and farriers, horsemen and horticulturalists were prominently featured as presenter Jack Hargreaves took the Southern Television cameras around the country to explore pursuits and activities in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s many of which have long since disappeared. When Out Of Town was first broadcast by ITV, these programs soon won a large following for the entertaining and informative way that they gave a gentle insight into country life, but as time has passed since the last transmission in 1981 they have become a nostalgic historical record of life in Britain from a bygone age.

Further Out of Town offers memorable snapshots of the British countryside from a bygone age. This brand-new series showcases digitally restored film sequences from Jack Hargreaves' hugely popular television series, introduced by his stepson, Simon Baddeley. Running for over twenty years, the original Out of Town programme saw Jack Hargreaves exploring country life in Britain, his easygoing presentation style and extensive knowledge and love of the countryside enthralling viewers of all generations. When the series ended, Jack saved from destruction many hours' worth of Out of Town film footage. It is this material - much of it unseen for decades - that has been painstakingly restored and revisited to produce six new episodes of Further Out of Town, featured here.

How was a British educational television show created by Jack Hargreaves. It was produced from 1966 by Southern Television, for whom Hargreaves was a presenter and Deputy Programme Controller. It lasted until 1981, when the company lost its franchise to TVS.