Countryfile viewers have grown tired of the BBC show, with many claiming during the latest episode it has drifted away from its roots.
Some went as far as to complain they “can’t watch this anymore” as Sunday’s episode followed John Craven as he celebrated two centuries of railways.
The instalment, which aired on August 3, saw Craven travelling to Wensleydale Railway, which had been revived by volunteers after years of neglect.
Despite the interesting dive into the railway’s unique history, several viewers fumed that the episode wasn’t centred on countryside issues, with some complaining the programme has “lost the plot”.
“I see little or no farming on #countryfile,” one fumed on X, with a second asking: “Motor bikes and trains. Have they run out of PROPER country life related subjects? #countryfile.”
“#countryfile we just need #MichaelPortilo now to make this program into a train spotting,” another penned.
A fourth viewer questioned: “What on earth is going on with #countryfile I might be wrong but isn’t it supposed to be about life in the countryside not a bad imitation of the dreadful #theoneshow.”
“Can’t watch this anymore. It’s really gone downhill and lost its raison d’etre #countryfile,” another furious fan added.
However, others joked about the flood of complaints and defended the show’s varied topics.
“Sunday wouldn’t be Sunday without the weekly tweets of people whinging that #Countryfile doesn’t confirm to their very narrow view of what a “countryside”-focused programme should cover,” one noted.
“How is a rural preserved railway not “proper country life”…..(whatever that means)?” another probed. (sic)
Meanwhile, recent Countryfile episodes have seen complaints of another nature.
Last month, the programme followed Matt Baker as he visited the zero grazing farm where cows spend most of their time inside.
The show featured clips from various older episodes, including a 2021 episode in which host Baker travelled to see the Lilburn family in County Down, where husband and wife Richard and Pamela operate a zero grazing system.
The system means the cows remain inside for most of their lives and are kept in confined spaces.
Richard told Baker: “They have fresh beds, comfortable mattresses. They have food on tap, they have scratchers and foot baths,” before labelling the farm a “five star hotel for cows”.
Plenty of fans didn’t agree with notion, and took to social media in floods to criticise the “cruel” system.
Once again, X was soon awash with complaints. One wrote: “‘It’s a 5 star hotel for cows’ ahh the old cliche. ‘Fresh grass’ only in summer. Cows don’t want to be locked in 24 hours a day and milked multiple times per day on rotation.
“They also don’t want to be impregnated and separated from their young calves constantly.”
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A second penned:” It’s bad enough having battery hens but keeping those poor cows inside for the majority of the year is downright abuse. #countryfile.”
“So, battery farming for cows?? Sick, deranged people who care only for the coin in their pocket and don’t give a damn about animals. Even the usual BBC agenda and spin can’t help this one. Just awful,” a third shared.
