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Plough On!

Documentary following a County Down man’s dream of becoming the World Ploughing Champion – from the fields of Northern Ireland to a shot at glory in the Czech Republic.

After years of training and sacrifice, County Down man Andrew Gill is chasing a dream – to become the next World Ploughing Champion.

Plough On! follows Andrew’s journey all the way from the rolling fields of County Down to the global stage of the 70th World Ploughing Championships in Prague, Czech Republic.

It’s an intimate look into a high-stakes world where precision, patience and passion collide – and where the difference between victory and defeat comes down to a matter of millimetres.

Andrew lives in Dromore, County Down – a ploughing heartland steeped in Ulster-Scots heritage and the birthplace of Harry Ferguson, the inventor whose tractor revolutionised farming worldwide.

For Andrew, every furrow is another step toward a goal that’s taken years of dedication.

His story is made all the more extraordinary by the fact that, at just 23, he was diagnosed with leukaemia. With the unwavering support of his family, Andrew overcame the disease and went on to represent Northern Ireland at world championships in America, Ireland, Latvia and Estonia.

Like many families in Northern Ireland, the ploughing legacy runs deep in the Gill family, with Andrew’s father William, a former European vintage champion, guiding his son through the long road to competition day.

Along the way, Plough On! introduces a cast of characters who embody Ulster’s ploughing spirit – from Andrew’s cousins Sam and Davy Gill, former world champions now running their own ploughing academy, to the next generation learning the craft.

Plough On is a celebration of skill, heritage and ambition – and a story of family, resilience and a deep bond with the land.

Release date:

28 minutes

On TV

Wed 3 Dec 2025 22:40

Credits

Role Contributor
Producer Lauren McConnell
Director Andrew Pugh

Broadcast