Just days before the return of "L'amour est dans le pré" (Love is in the Meadow) on M6 , Karine Le Marchand spoke to Télé Star about the difficulties faced by the women who participate in the show. After years spent collecting the stories of single people from the farming community, the presenter observes that female farmers can have more trouble than male farmers finding a partner willing to share their lives long-term. For Karine Le Marchand, one of the main explanations lies in a very concrete reality: when a female farmer owns her farm, it is generally up to her suitor to leave his own life to come and live with her.
"It's more complicated for a man to leave everything behind."
When questioned by Télé Star about the particular difficulties faced by female farmers, Karine Le Marchand directly addressed the issue of the lifestyle change required of suitors: "It's more complicated for a man to leave everything behind, his friends, his job... to go and live with a woman."
The farmer is indeed geographically tied to her farm. Her land, buildings, animals, and professional activity generally make moving several dozen or even hundreds of kilometers impossible. Building a relationship can therefore require a much more significant upheaval for her suitor: changing regions, leaving his job, moving away from his loved ones, and joining the daily life of a woman already established professionally.
Karine Le Marchand uncovers unspoken truths during portrait sessions.
Karine Le Marchand also details her approach to interviewing the farmers. The presenter isn't solely interested in the answers she receives. She carefully observes the candidates' physical reactions when she broaches certain topics : "I observe and pay close attention to non-verbal communication." Gestures, hesitations, and silences allow her to identify subjects on which a farmer might find it more difficult to express themselves : "When hands twist, silence falls, or shoulders tense up on certain topics, I know I need to dig deeper." This attention to the candidates' reactions allows the presenter to go beyond their prepared answers and better understand their expectations before the arrival of the prospective farmers.
Size, sexuality: Karine Le Marchand doesn't shy away from intimate topics
Karine Le Marchand also readily addresses much more personal questions. Certain preferences can become decisive during the interviews, and the presenter prefers to identify them during the initial introductions. She specifically mentions the issue of height for some candidates: "There can be a barrier with men who are shorter than 1,65m or 1,67m."
Sexuality is also among the topics discussed. Karine Le Marchand believes it can be an important element in a future relationship and therefore doesn't systematically exclude it from discussions : "Sexuality is also at the forefront!" These questions can take on particular importance when candidates have experienced a long period of being single or have specific expectations regarding their future relationship.
Speed dating is changing for season 21
Season 21 of Farmer Wants a Wife also brings a significant change to the traditional speed-dating format. The format has been revised to allow farmers and their potential partners more privacy during their initial interactions. Karine Le Marchand now follows the dates remotely via cameras. Stationed on a Parisian barge, she can observe the meetings before meeting the farmers to gather their first impressions. The presenter described this new role to Télé Star as "really fun, but very intense ." This allows her to follow the candidates' reactions without being physically present during their first one-on-one meetings.
A particular challenge for the women of "Love is in the Meadow"
After more than 20 seasons spent with single farmers, Karine Le Marchand knows the obstacles they face in building a lasting relationship. Geographical distance, professional constraints, and the demanding pace of running a farm inevitably complicate some relationships. But for female farmers, the equation can be even more complex. As the presenter explained to Télé Star , finding a partner also means finding a man willing to give up part of his daily life to come and live on his partner's farm. This considerable life change can be a significant factor from the very first dates and, according to Karine Le Marchand, explains why the women on " L'amour est dans le pré" (Love is in the Meadow) sometimes have more difficulty finding someone who will agree to share their lives with them.
