THEY ARE glad to be here but the Wharfedale couple who have famously made their home in Tuscany are certainly going back.

Richard and Sarah Turnbull, formerly of Bradford Road, Otley, are back in Wharfedale for a two-week whirlwind visit of family, friends and countless TV and radio stations.

Since their move to an olive farm in Tuscany was documented in the Channel 4 series 'No Going Back', the couple have reached near-celebrity status.

Richard said: "The interest in us is bizarre. We have been meeting all these legendary people like Jimmy Savile and Terry Wogan, yet they are interested in us."

While the couple are here they have been to the launch of their first UK retail outlet for their home-grown, organic olive oil. The Rocky Valley Delicatessen in Ilkley will be stocking the Turnbulls' Casa del Sole olive oil. And as soon as the couple return to Tuscany they will be harvesting their olive crops.

Sarah said: "It hasn't been a great year for olives this year because of the drought but, yes, we will be harvesting when we get home."

And the olive trees have provided an unexpected source of income. Sarah said: "We had a lady who came to stay and she asked if she could sponsor one of our trees.

"Now she gets a monthly weather report and will be guaranteed olive oil from its harvest."

Viewers of the programme have been able to follow the ups and downs of the Turnbulls' first year renovating and developing their farmhouse into accommodation for themselves and paying guests.

Their hard work has paid off. They are nearly fully booked for next summer and will start work shortly on renovating their own living quarters.

Richard said: "There were more good things that have happened than bad and it's a bit of a shame that so many of the bad things were shown on television.

"The fact is we bought an 18th century farmhouse and we have fully developed it. There are many things we are proud of."

The couple are aiming to expand the holiday side of their venture with weekend breaks that will include relaxation and massage, skiing trips and shopping visits.

Those who witnessed Richard's attempts at a barbecue for his guests or his struggle with the pizza oven will be relieved to hear that his teething problems have been overcome.

Richard said: "Yes, I have got the hang of the pizza oven - we have had a lot of fun with it - and the barbecue fiasco is a distant memory. I have got back on the horse, so to speak, and am happily cooking with it."

Perhaps the couple's biggest achievement was the birth of their second child, Marco. Sarah had found the pregnancy more difficult second time round with the pressures of working on the farm and in the heat.

And viewers of the series witnessed Sarah's fears at giving birth in a strange land.

But Sarah said: "The hospital was fantastic. They are a lot more laid back over there in attitude but everyone was on standby the whole time."

The couple's eldest son Gregory, four, has settled at pre-school and has picked up the language well.

Richard said: "He got by for the first few months at school just by grinning at everyone. "Now he plays in the football team and loves it."

But, Richard added: "He does think that every family has a camera crew following them round."

The couple said they found the cameras easy to ignore, which is why the programme could show some more revealing footage of their relationship.

Richard said: "Everybody argues - it's just we did it in front of millions."

Sarah said: "I think a lot of people identified with us for that - I've had a few e-mails saying 'how do you put up with him?'"

"And I've had hundreds saying the opposite," Richard joked. "But yes we are still together," he added.

For now the couple are enjoying their time in Otley.

Sarah said: "It's very strange to be back. Everything is so different yet familiar at the same time. I feel quite nostalgic this time.

"Tuscany can be quite hard work, everything is new, we are learning all the time. Here we don't have to think."

Sarah said she misses the Chevin and fish and chips, but the family has no real regrets at leaving their Otley life behind.

Sarah said: "I was missing out on time with Gregory when we lived here, and I looked around and saw others doing the same. You can't get that time back."

The couple says they can't imagine leaving their Tuscany home.

Richard said: "As long as we continue to enjoy it we will stay."

And they certainly are enjoying it.

Asked if they had any advice to offer to others with a similar dream, Sarah said: "If you don't like what you're doing change it - that's all we did."

l The Turnbull family have a website. For more details on their Tuscan adventure or to book a holiday visit www.casadelsole.co.uk.