Countryfile
| Countryfile | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | News magazine |
| Presented by | |
| Opening theme | David Lowe |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | William Lyons |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) | BBC Studios |
| Release | |
| Original release | 24 July 1988 – present |
| External links | |
| Countryfile at the BBC |
bbc |
Countryfile is a British television programme which airs weekly on BBC One and reports on rural, agriculture and environmental issues in the United Kingdom.
The programme is currently presented by John Craven, Adam Henson, Matt Baker, Tom Heap, Ellie Harrison, Anita Rani and Helen Skelton.
History
The show was first broadcast on 24 July 1988. While farming remained a core ingredient, Countryfile held a much broader brief – to investigate rural issues and celebrate the beauty and diversity of the British countryside.
Anne Brown fronted Countryfile for its first year under its original producer Mike Fitzgerald.
Broadcaster John Craven started fronting the Sunday morning programme in 1989. The programme was originally 30 minutes in length, now each episode lasts for 60 minutes.
In April 2009, Countryfile moved to an early Sunday evening slot, with Matt Baker and Julia Bradbury joining John Craven as co-presenters. Tom Heap and Ellie Harrison also joined in 2009. In 2014, Helen Skelton became a presenter and in 2015, Anita Rani joined the programme.
The programme currently airs 52 weeks of the year and includes a five-day weather forecast live from the BBC's weather studio in London.
Countryfile was originally produced by BBC Birmingham, moving to its new home of BBC Bristol in 2012.
Overview
Episodes are typically centred on two lead presenters visiting a place or region, and uncovering the stories, characters and traditions which make that area distinctive. Typical subject matter includes wildlife, conservation, farming and food production, the arts, countryside crafts, social history and leisure activities. Presenters and guests are often wearing British country clothing, episodes may include several segments with other presenters, uncovering other stories in the region. Compilation programmes occasionally air with a thematic focus, with a reduced number of original segments typically featuring one lead presenter only, and several other segments repeated from previous shows.
Journalism remains an integral part of the programme's agenda. Tom Heap presents a weekly investigation into the big issues affecting the British countryside. Recent examples include the impact of animal diseases, the move towards renewable energy, environmental disasters, threats to rural services as well as changes to farming policy and practices.
Farmer Adam Henson joined the programme in 2001 following a search to find a new presenter amongst programme viewers. In 2009 he started fronting the weekly "Adam's Farm" strand which gives viewers an insight into the challenges of running a mixed farm in the Cotswolds. His father, Joe Henson, was one of the original founders of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
In 2013 the programme marked its 25th anniversary with a special edition guest-edited by HRH The Prince of Wales. Countryfile: A Royal Appointment saw the team joining the Prince on his Gloucestershire farm where he shared his passion for the British countryside, rare breed animals, organic farming and hedge-laying. Countryfile also accompanied him on a trip to County Durham to find out what’s being done to help struggling hill farmers before heading to a London comprehensive where pupils are growing and cooking their own food with remarkable results. The Silver Jubilee celebrations continued well into July when 250 viewers were invited to a traditional summer fayre held on Adam Henson's farm. The anniversary was marked by a new title sequence and re-versioned music composed by David Lowe.
October 2013 also saw the programme uniting with another BBC institution. Ireland went on to win Countryfile's One Man and His Dog, which was broadcast on 27 October.
Magazine
The BBC's Countryfile magazine was launched in 2007 and is now published by Immediate Media Co.[1][2] The current editor is Fergus Collins.
Photographic competition
The Countryfile Photographic Competition remains a highlight of the programme's year. Viewers are invited to submit entries and the best make up a wall calendar sold in aid of Children in Need. The 2015 calendar raised over £1.5 million for the charity.
Spin-off programmes
| Year | Name | Presenters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2012 | Country Tracks | Joe Crowley, Helen Skelton, Ellie Harrison, Liz Bonnin, Mark Beaumont, Jodie Kidd & Ben Fogle | |
| 2016— | Countryfile: Spring Diaries | John Craven, Keeley Donovan, Jules Hudson, Margherita Taylor & Paul Martin | |
| Countryfile: Summer Diaries | |||
| Countryfile: Autumn Diaries | |||
| 2017— | Countryfile: Winter Diaries | ||
Spin-off programmes have included Countryfile: Summer Diaries, Country Tracks and Secret Britain.
In December 2015, it was announced that the BBC had commissioned a daytime Countryfile spin-off programme, called Countryfile Diaries which began airing in March 2016.[3][4][5] This spin-off series is presented by John Craven, Paul Martin, Jules Hudson and Keeley Donovan.[6]
Ageism case
In November 2010, the BBC faced an employment tribunal following allegations of sexism and ageism brought against the corporation by ex-reporter, Miriam O'Reilly. O'Reilly sued the BBC due to the allegations following her dismissal from the programme in 2009, along with other female reporters, Michaela Strachan, Juliet Morris and Charlotte Smith.[7] It followed the decision to move the programme to a prime-time slot with a refreshed presenting team.[8] Former BBC One controller Jay Hunt told the tribunal the claims were "entirely and categorically untrue" as well as "profoundly distressing and utterly offensive," arguing that the only reason for O'Reilly's departure was because she was not recognisable to a peaktime audience.
On 11 January 2011, the employment tribunal found in favour of O'Reilly's claims on the grounds of ageism and victimisation, but not sexism.[9][10] The BBC accepted the tribunal's findings after what O'Reilly described as "an incredibly stressful 14 months."[11] The Daily Mail reported that O'Reilly would receive compensation of up to £250,000.[12]
On-air team
Main presenters
- John Craven (1989—)
- Adam Henson (2001—)
- Matt Baker (2009—)[13]
- Tom Heap (2009—)
- Ellie Harrison (2010—)[14]
- Helen Skelton (2014—)
- Anita Rani (2015—)
Reporters, relief presenters and co-presenters
- Jules Hudson (2009-)[15]
- James Wong (2009-)[16]
- Joe Crowley (2014-)[17]
- Charlotte Smith (–2009, 2014-)
- Sean Fletcher (2015—)
- Naomi Wilkinson (2015—)
Former presenters
- Clare Balding (2011–2012)
- Julia Bradbury (2004–2014)
- Chris Baines
- Anne Brown (1988–1989)
- Ian Breach
- Michael Collie (1989–1995)
- Ben Fogle (2001–2009, 2014–2015)
- Caroline Hall
- Joe Henson (-2015)
- Shiulie Ghosh (1993–1995)
- Katie Knapman (2009-2013)[18]
- Juliet Morris (until 2009)
- Miriam O'Reilly (until 2009)
- Rupert Segar
- Michaela Strachan (1999–2009)
- Roger Tabor
International broadcast
Countryfile started airing on BBC Knowledge New Zealand in early 2016.
References
- ↑ "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Immediate Media Co – The Special Interest Content and Platform Company".
- ↑ "BBC Countryfile Magazine Subscription".
- ↑ "BBC commissions Countryfile spin-off after show posts record ratings". Telegraph.co.uk. 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "'Countryfile' Lands BBC Daytime Spin-Off, 'Countryfile Diaries', Following Huge Ratings Success". The Huffington Post UK. 23 December 2015.
- ↑ "BBC One's Countryfile gets spin-off daytime show". BBC News.
- ↑ Harry Fletcher (9 March 2016). "John Craven is hosting Countryfile's new spinoff". Digital Spy.
- ↑ 'Fir and loathing on the Countryfile set' The Independent 13 November 2010.
- ↑ 'BBC producer wanted 'pretty' to replace 53-year old Countryfile star' Daily Mail 12 November 2010.
- ↑ "Former BBC presenter wins ageism claim". The Spy Report. Media Spy. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- ↑ Countryfile's Miriam O'Reilly wins BBC age discrimination claim
- ↑ "Miriam O'Reilly wins Countryfile ageism claim". BBC News. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- ↑ 'Axed Countryfile presenter Miriam O'Reilly wins age discrimination case against the BBC' Daily Mail 12 January 2011.
- ↑ "BBC - Press Office - Countryfile moves to peak time on BBC One".
- ↑ http://ellie-harrison.com/production/countryfile/
- ↑ "BBC - Press Office - Countryfile moves to peak time on BBC One".
- ↑ "BBC - Press Office - Countryfile moves to peak time on BBC One".
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04v6lr7
- ↑ https://uk.linkedin.com/in/katie-knapman-7117502b
