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Hollywood tough guy Vinnie Jones has spoken of the 'joy and pride' that the farming life provides him despite being 'irritated' with local residents who encroach on his farm.

Discovery+'s Vinnie Jones in the Country will return on Monday (November 18) for a second series following the success of last year's show.

Ahead of the programme's return, which explores the actor's passion for rural and countryside living, Mr Jones said he was 'in heaven' being a farmer in the Sussex town of Petworth.

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"Even when I was playing football and in trouble, this (the farm) was always my escape," he adds.

"With undisturbed nature (on-farm) as far as the eye can see.

"It might be beautiful, but trust me, it's hard work too.

"But nothing brings me more pleasure than the beauty of nature and watching the crops grow. 

 "It is heaven."

The show has focused on the actor's attempts to renovate a 'knackered' 2,000-acre farm with a host of 'overly-ambitious' farmyard build projects, while demonstrating his warmth, humour and passion for the countryside along the way. 

Having established his cast-iron persona on the pitch during his career as an FA Cup winning footballer for Wimbledon, the Sussex farmer has revealed his softer side on the programme in raising awareness for mental health in farming for the Farming Community Network, talking about his struggles with alcohol addiction and the death of his wife to cancer. 

"Since the things that have happened to me personally, mental health always knocks on the door," he added.

"I have thrown myself into the farm.

"I tell people how I have dealt with mental health and how I am still dealing with it.

"Like with alcoholism, for which I am now 12 years sober, I have dealt with the tragedy and still stay sober.

"I tell people how I keep going, keep swinging and keep busy.

"But what I have learnt lately is sometimes you have to stand back a bit because you can get exhausted.

"If I do not have something in the diary for tomorrow, I start panicking.

"We have to keep swinging." 

Country life has also started to influence his acting roles after starring in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen for Netflix as gamekeeper Geoff Seacombe, and he has confirmed he will return for the show's second season next year.

He had, once upon a time, been a gamekeeper in his younger days, and his father was also a gamekeeper too; marking a 360 turn for the former Leeds United midfielder in a fitting tribute to his family and heritage.

With Vinnie Jones in the Country now just days away from returning to screens, a short trailer for the show has provided a glimpse of what viewers can expect including more renovation work on-farm, Mr Jones getting close to the wildlife he cherishes, his enjoyment of country sports, as well as disputes with residents who 'encroach' on his land and 'fail' to stick to the footpaths.   

"For the wildlife to do really well, the locals have to realise they need to stick to the footpaths," he added. 

"I have private land which they (locals) just walk over. It is nuts.

"The locals are calling for my head.

"The locals need to wind their necks in. That makes me angry now.

"Not referees."   

Vinnie Jones in the Country is back on November 18 for Discovery+. 

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