THE cliff-hanging isolation of Meldon farmer Philip Heard and his family has become compulsive viewing for the nation.

Ironically, it has also been a cathartic experience — talking to camera has proved an emotional outlet for a household braced for the worst.

While Philip has done his daily rounds, anxiously checking stock for signs of foot and mouth, TV audiences have been out there with him. A short series of five minute Channel 4 programmes has done much to convey the fears and stresses facing a farming community in crisis.

Film director Karen Walsh has been busy videoing Philip, his wife Mandi and their three sons, Darcy, Lloyd and Giles as they have gone about their routine under the shadow of this latest farming disaster.

'It was a spur of the moment decision to say yes. She has been living with us and has become one of the family. She disinfects her boots and clothes every time we do,' says Philip.

'The children have got to know her. We have found it extremely helpful having her here. It has been someone else to talk to and take our mind off what is happening.'

What at worst could have been a taxing situation has proved beneficial to all sides.

'Karen fitted in very well. If there was something we didn't want her to film we would ask her to turn off the camera and she would. It was good to talk to the camera. Maybe it is a release. You can express the way you feel and then you feel better,' says Philip, who runs 700 head of cattle and 2,000 ewes.

Mandi has enjoyed the company of their media guest although she admits initially being less keen on the idea than her husband.

'I would have been here on my own a lot with lambing. I haven't been out for three weeks so it is fantastic to have someone to talk to. It's made a great difference.'

She believes viewers have found it easy to relate to the Heard's story because they are a family. 'Friends and family are going through the same,' said Mandi.

Karen Walsh said Bristol-Tigress Productions, who are making the programmes for Channel 4, felt it would be an interesting angle to explore the human side of what had hitherto been largely the preserve of hard news.

'We felt it was a story worth telling. There would be a lot of town people that didn't know what it was like and farming people who could relate to the problems.'

For two weeks Karen has lived on the farm — a self-imposed prisoner, her liberty limited by the boundary fence.

'When it was agreed we could make the programme it was accepted it was a one way ticket. When I came to the farm I'd stay until the very end and then I'd walk off.'

Originally it was intended to do four short video dates just after the Channel 4 news but it proved so successful they decided to make some more.

Each day a car has driven up to the gate from Bristol to collect the film for editing and deliver provisions. No one crossed the disinfectant barrier, and no one got out of the car which was sprayed each day as an added precaution.

'When I go out with Phil in the morning we both hold our breath. There is a great feeling when the animals are OK. You heave a large sigh of relief,' she says.

She said the Heards had been 'absolutely fantastic' to stay with.

'They have opened their hearts and welcomed me into their home. We couldn't have done these programmes without their honesty.'

She said Philip and his family were the voice for farming families throughout the country.

'They are telling the story that hundreds of farmers are going through,' she said, adding that the programme had found praise from both farming communities and town folk.

Karen, a vegetarian, says before she came to Meldon Farm she did her homework with the Heards on the telephone — but her real education came down on the farm.

'Being here I have learned so much more. It has enlightened me a lot. I have seen how deeply the farmers care for their stock. Philip runs a really good farm — you can see the animals are well cared for.'

She felt it was important that people could understand the farming crisis on a human scale.

In allowing themselves to be visited by television viewers the Heards have done much to make that possible.