THE town's farmers' market was celebrated on screen over the weekend.

The latest episode of 'Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker' aired on Channel 4 on Saturday, April 20 and follows the search for the new tenants of a vacant Northumberland farm.

The show features seven contestants competing for a 10-year lease of the farm on Wallington Estate near Capheaton, Northumberland.

The applications were shortlisted by The National Trust, and they must prove they have what it takes to be the next tenant.

The third episode, which was filmed in March 2023, featured contestants spending time with producers and traders at Hexham Farmers' Market to learn the culture of various agricultural industries.

Peter Samson, manager of the farmers' market, said: "We provided a way for contestants in the show to explore different bits of directly selling produce to the public."

A few contestants were placed with Askerton Castle, a pasture for life and organic meat producer. Others were placed with Northumberland Honey Co. to look at honey sales and the diversification of agricultural produce, while others interested in sheep farming were placed with Deneburn Meadows to explore the local wool market.

Peter added: "I would like to think the participants themselves got a good feel for what it's like to engage with your customers directly and get the feel for talking to other producers. 

"I think Hexham came across well, there were some beautiful shots of the centre of Hexham. It came across as friendly, caring and a really good community." 

Janie French of Hexham Community Partnership, which owns Visit Hexham, said: "North East Screen and Visit Northumberland are doing a great job in raising the region's profile with TV and film producers. Hexham looks wonderful on screen and we benefit from a bounce in visitors every time we make it on to screen; I've been told by traders that we are still getting visitors who came to visit because of our appearance on 'Vera' at the start of the year. 

"Having professionally shot images of Hexham beamed out to millions of viewers is priceless - it gives people a really authentic feel for the place. This part of Northumberland remains less well known than the coast, but it's stunning and we hope to welcome more film crews in the future."

Hexham Farmers' Market is held in the marketplace every second and fourth Saturday of the month.