Countryfile fans have taken to social media to vent their frustration with the BBC’s rural affairs programme after a recent episode left them feeling short-changed.
The episode in question, which aired on Sunday, January 5 , leaned heavily on archive footage from past instalments of Countryfile.
In the show, a segment saw John Craven exploring Farmoor Reservoir in Oxfordshire, uncovering an impressive array of bird species. He also spoke to a biologist who had established several ponds within the reserve.
The episode also featured a selection of UK wildlife stories pulled from the Countryfile archives, including a throwback to 2018 when Matt Baker journeyed to the UK’s largest national park in the Scottish Highlands to look after herds of reindeer.
However, not everyone was thrilled with the nostalgic approach, and many viewers vented their frustration online.
A comment from one viewer on X read: “Ohh the archives… again and again and again.”
Another disgruntled fan complained about the reliance on old content, saying: “Unsure as to why they keep showing archived episodes? I want to see something new! ” Meanwhile, a third questioned why the show didn’t cover current events: “You’d think with such a farming crisis going on at the moment they would want to highlight it more rather than pulling out archives?”
The use of archived material was labelled “boring” by another viewer, and yet another shared their growing frustration: “I’m getting a little fed up with #Countryfile at the moment. Constantly putting on archives episodes rather than anything new.”
However, some people enjoyed the walk down memory lane. One fan said: “Oh I do love when we can take a look back at previous segments.”
This isn’t the first time Countryfile has chosen to air archive footage instead of new material. A past episode also showcased some old clips, including one from 2022 where John Craven visited Naddle Forest in the Lake District to spot red squirrels and discuss the population struggles of the species.
An even older clip from 2015 was also aired. It featured Ellie Harrison delving into the lives of the European pine marten, regarded as one of the UK’s rarest native mammals.
Viewers also questioned the necessity of airing old footage, as Countryfile has a large team of presenters.
The hosts of Countryfile include Helen Skelton, John Craven, Anita Rani, Charlotte Smith, Matt Baker, Adam Henson, Ellie Harrison and Sean Fletcher. The programme is broadcast on Tuesdays on BBC Two and Sundays on BBC One at varying times.