A WEST Cumbrian farmer is hoping to find love after signing up to a BBC dating show.

David Bushby was due to star in the second series of Love in the Countryside last night.

The dairy farmer is hoping to find Mr Right after struggling to get back on the dating scene following a break-up.

David runs Watson Hill Farm, which lies between St Bees and Egremont, with his family.

But finding love while working long shifts on the rural farm has not been easy for the 35-year-old.

He said: “I was in a long-term relationship for seven years.

“It’s that sense of how do I find someone else, especially someone who appreciates the hours I work. I’m surrounded by sea and hills.

“I thought why not give it a go and see if I can find anyone in the process. It was so much fun.

“It was a confidence building thing. It was nice to meet people you have a connection with.”

He added that he was looking for a partner who would embrace the farming lifestyle and move to the area to live with him on the family farm.

Filming took place earlier this year after David’s profile was put online and prospective dates were invited to take part in the show.

David travelled down to London where he speed dated six applicants and then chose three potential partners who came to visit him on the farm.

He gave his chosen dates a taste of farming life, as well as showing them the local sights.

David could not reveal if he had found love on the show but said he was looking forward to the episode being aired on TV.

He said: “I’m nervous but quite excited. It seems like a long time coming and now it’s finally time to show everyone what it’s all about.”

“I’m going to have a few friends round to watch it with me.

“I’m really looking forward to it because everyone has been asking about it for months.”

The series is presented by Sara Cox, who grew up on a cattle farm in Lancashire.

She returns to her farming roots to act as matchmaker for a group of men and women struggling to find a partner to share their rural lives.

A reliance on the land for their livelihoods and being isolated from the urban dating pool has limited their chance of finding romance.

The programme aims to to help them meet their match and overcome the potential difficulties of introducing a partner to the realities of country life.

  • Love in the Countryside is on BBC Two at 9pm tonight.