Countryfile has again been hit by fan backlash from viewers who claim the program doesn’t have enough farming and agricultural content – and they’re not happy with Sunday night’s ‘disappointing’ segment.
The popular BBC documentary series has previously faced fan complaints over a number of recent episodes for the same reason.
One episode broadcast in April included a segment about people in rural areas having limited access to NHS dentists, which many viewers felt was not ‘suitable’ for the show which usually focuses on farming and wildlife.
And Sunday’s show has reignited the debate as the episode saw Joe Crawley take on The Three Rivers Race, a sailing competition that takes place every year on the Norfolk Broads.
The presenter followed the race participants from the moment they got ready at the Horning Sailing Club before the race started, to sailing the Broads and battling the tides, currents and weather.
Countryfile has again been hit by fan backlash from viewers who claim the program doesn’t have enough farming and farming content (host Joe Crawley pictured above in the episode)
In the episode, Joe went to The Three Rivers Race, a sailing competition that takes place every year on the Norfolk Broads
The presenter followed the race participants from the moment they got ready at the Horning Sailing Club before the race started, to sailing the Broads and battling the tides, currents and weather.
The Three Rivers Race is the toughest inland shipping competition in Europe, in which more than 100 participants compete
However, fans of the show were unimpressed with the episode’s subject matter and took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their disappointment with the program:
‘What happens to Countryfile? Once again with a topic that has nothing to do with agriculture and agricultural issues.
‘I also don’t understand why so many presenters need archive fragments to use #countryfile.’
‘#Countryfile should be shown monthly, because interesting topics are very scarce these days.’
“I’m glad they only show ‘highlights’ and not the whole race #countryfile.”
‘Swallows and Amazons is more interesting #countryfile.’
‘#countryfile Disappointed as there isn’t much countryside this week.’
‘About as exciting as England’s last two games #countryfile.’
Fans of the show were unimpressed with the episode’s subject matter and took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their disappointment with the program
‘It might be fun to participate. I’m not so sure about watching #countryfile.’
‘#countryfile What an event. I need a defibrillator.’
But one viewer who was somewhat impressed wrote: ‘As the bits about sailing under low bridges go, that was good #CountryFile.’
The Three Rivers Race is Europe’s toughest inland sailing competition, with more than 100 competitors competing by covering 50 miles of the rivers Bure, Ant and Thurne within a 24-hour period.
The Sunday episode of the show also features excerpts from the Countryfile archives about the history and nature of the area, including interviews with those who live and work on the Broads.
Previous complaints from fans include when the BBC series aired an episode in March that included a segment on archaeology.
The segment featured host Anita Rani scouring fields to uncover ancient relics and working with experts to measure the electrical current in the ground – which is called resistance.
John Craven also played a prominent role in the episode, as he investigated a prehistoric settlement nicknamed ‘Britain’s Pompeii’.
Located on Must Farm, the site was perfectly preserved by a Bronze Age fire and John was given the opportunity to handle a pot from the site.
Via
‘The whole program is nonsense now. Tonight it was all to do with farming etc. I love an archeology programme, but not on Countryfile. The BBC has ruined it, along with many others.’