Former JLS star has a passion for farming

The School of Artisan Food on the Welbeck Estate has passed on specialist butchery skills to former chart-topping singer turned award-winning farmer JB Gill.

Mr Gill, 30, was once a member of one of the UK’s biggest boybands, JLS.

They dominated the charts for five years, having five number one singles, more than ten million record sales worldwide and winning many awards.

Four years ago, Mr Gill swapped careers to set up a farm in the Kent countryside, where he lives with his wife, Chloe, and two-year-old son, Ace.

Their smallholding successfully produces award-winning KellyBronze turkeys and free-range Tamworth pork.

He is passionate about supporting the British farming industry and has previously urged people to buy British food.

As part of a visit to Welbeck, he toured its venison farm and explored the estate before joining a venison-in-a-day event.

The hands-on course showed him how to transform venison into familiar cuts, favourite dishes and classic charcuterie.

Julie Byrne, the school’s managing director, said: “JB is committed to the same ethical food principles that we champion here at the school.

“As a producer of quality, sustainable meat himself, it makes perfect sense for him to find out how to prepare and use venison, one of the most tasty meats available in Britain that is also wild, sustainable and very lean.”

Now an established member of the farming community, Mr Gill has used his success within the entertainment industry to highlight his passion to educate children about the origins of their food and he is the lead presenter on CBeebies’ BAFTA-nominated television series, Down On The Farm.

His enthusiasm for farming life and knowledge of countryside issues has seen him regularly contribute to BBC’s Countryfile and Springwatch programmes.

Mr Gill also works closely with The Prince’s Countryside Fund, which seeks to celebrate and promote the value of family farms, rural affairs and the countryside to British society.