Countryfile has once again been hit by fan backlash from viewers who claim the show does not have enough farming and farming content, and are unhappy with Sunday night’s “disappointing” installment.
The popular BBC documentary series has previously faced fan complaints for several recent episodes for the same reason.
An episode that aired in April featured a segment about people in the countryside who had limited access to NHS dentists, which many viewers felt was not “suitable” for the show which generally focuses on agriculture and wildlife.
And Sunday’s show reignited the debate, as in the episode Joe Crawley addressed The Three Rivers Race, a sailing competition held each year in Norfolk.
The presenter followed the racers from preparing at the Horning Sailing Club before the start, to sailing across the Broads and battling the tide, currents and weather.
Countryfile has once again been hit by fan backlash from viewers who claim the show does not have enough farming and farming content (presenter Joe Crawley pictured above in the episode)
In the episode, Joe headed to The Three Rivers Race, a sailing competition held every year in Norfolk.
The presenter followed the racers from preparing at the Horning Sailing Club before the start, to sailing across the Broads and battling the tide, currents and weather.
The Three Rivers Race is the toughest inland sailing competition in Europe, pitting more than 100 competitors against each other.
However, fans of the show were unimpressed with the theme of the episode and took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their disappointment with the show:
‘What’s happening with Countryfile? Once again we present a topic that has nothing to do with agriculture and agricultural issues.
“I also don’t understand why archive clips with so many presenters are needed to use #countryfile.”
‘#Countryfile should be published monthly, as topics of interest are very scarce these days.’
“I’m glad they only show ‘highlights’ and not the entire #countryfile of the race.”
‘Swallows and Amazons is a more interesting #countryarchive.’
‘#countryfile Disappointed that there isn’t much countryside this week.’
“As exciting as England’s last two games #countryfile.”
Fans of the show were unimpressed with the theme of the episode and took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their disappointment with the show.
‘It’ll probably be fun to participate. I’m not so sure I see #countryfile.’
‘#countryfile What an event. I need a defibrillator.’
But one mildly impressed viewer wrote: “As far as bits about sailing under low bridges go, that was a good #CountryFile.”
The Three Rivers Race is Europe’s toughest inland sailing competition, in which over 100 competitors battle it out by navigating 50 miles down the Rivers Bure, Ant and Thurne in a 24-hour period.
Sunday’s episode of the show also features clips from Countryfile’s archives about the history and nature of the area, including interviews with those who live and work in the Broads.
Previous complaints from fans include when the BBC series aired an episode featuring a segment on archeology in March.
In the segment, host Anita Rani searched fields to discover ancient relics and worked alongside experts to measure electrical current in the soil, called resistivity.
John Craven also played a prominent role in the episode, as he investigated a prehistoric settlement that was given the nickname “British Pompeii.”
Located at Must Farm, the site was perfectly preserved thanks to a Bronze Age fire and John was offered the opportunity to handle a pot from the site.
On
‘The whole program is rubbish now. Tonight everything had to do with agriculture, etc. I love an archeology show, but not on Countryfile. The BBC has ruined it, along with many others.