The new series of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Spring starts on Wednesday – and veggies are in for the chop.

Hugh wants to encourage non meat-eaters to change their ways, and one of his guinea pigs will be committed vegetarian Susan Ampaw.

Poor Ms Ampaw, one of the students at Hugh’s butchery workshop, will have to assist him in preparing livestock for traditional British dishes such as shepherd’s pie.

This series is a follow up to the success of Chicken Run, when Hugh campaigned for free range hens.

Five inner-city families will start allotments and tend pigs while adhering to a strict budget. Hugh hopes to show viewers the evils of industrialised meat production, and teach them how to eat quality free range meat without feeling the credit crunch.

Whether he convinces Ms Ampaw to undergo a Damascene conversion however remains to be seen.

River Cottage Spring starts on Wednesday on Channel 4 at 9pm.