Inside Strictly star Flavia Cacace and ex EastEnders star Jimi Mistry’s off grid life on their farm in Devon
STRICTLY star Flavia Cacace and ex EastEnders star Jimi Mistry have given a glimpse inside their off grid life on their farm in North Devon.
The pair – who met on the BBC One dance competition back in 2010 – used to live in a bungalow in Guildford, Surrey, with their two pooches Zak and Pablo.
But when their online fitness business FCMFIT was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, they decided to move down to the southwest of England.
The pair now live in a converted stone barn which boasts seven-acres of land.
They grow their own fruit and vegetables, and also look after their own animals.
Flavia and Jimi love to keep fans up to date with what they get up to on their Instagram account called @ourlifeatthebarn.
Their bio states: “Follow us @flavia_cacace @mistryeats and #pabloandzak on our life changing journey as we move to the country and follow our self sustainable dream”.
Earlier today actor Jimi revealed that they’re getting ready for the coming winter months.
He told fans: “Sorting our beds and Winter planting today.
“Today is all about clearing out the old spent plants from spring/summer and attempting to prepare and sow some seeds for over winter.
“Hitting and hoping but hopefully get some success…to be continued
.”
Earlier this week they also showed off their melons that they planted in early spring.
Jimi fold fans: “Well I may have only managed 1 but she is a beauty 
and smells so sweet. Will look forward to trying her later.”
They also grow beetroot, peppers, lettuce, sprouting broccoli, spring onions and courgettes.
From the produce they grow they’ve also been able to make their own chutney and ketchup.
The pair sell their own eggs from their hens and have a number of sheep that they look after.
Speaking out about why they decided to move, Flavia told Hello! magazine: “It was hard because we’d invested a lot of time and effort into our business but then we thought, how do we turn this whole thing into a positive?”
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She confessed: “We didn’t have a clue what we were doing.
“We bought some books and didn’t intend to grow anything or get any animals for the first year, but then Jimi’s mum said, if you water it, it will grow, and we thought, hey, we can do this.”
Jimi joked: “In the past, we couldn’t even keep a houseplant without killing it because we were never home.
“It’s second nature to me now to pick a vegetable or collect an egg and cook it.
“I couldn’t imagine buying them in the supermarket.”
Flavia and Jimi met on the eighth season of Strictly back in 2010 and were fifth to be eliminated from the competition.
Three years after meeting on the show the couple married in December 2013.
Jimi has played a number of roles on our TV since shooting to fame in 1996.
He played Dr Fred Fonseca on EastEnders from 1998 to 2000, as well as characters in East Is East, The Guru and Coronation Street.
Flavia is most known for being a professional dancer on the BBC One show after joining the team in 2004.
After ten years on the programme she decided to leave to focus on other things.
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