BBC Countryfile sparks frustration as fans blast show format decision: 'Cannot understand!'

The decision puzzled fans of the magazine show who couldn't "understand" why the show had to resort to resurfacing old items despite such a sizeable cast of presenters.

One clip was from 2022 and saw John Craven heading to Naddle Forest in the Lake District to observe some red squirrels as he delved into the population struggles the animals face.

Another was pulled from a far older 2015 instalment in which Ellie Harrison explored the lives of the European pine marten, "the UK's rarest native mammals".

"Pine martens were once widespread across the UK but in the 19th century, they suffered a massive decline," the former Countryfile presenter explained in the historic episode.

She continued: "Loss of habitat and persecution pushed the pine marten to the brink. For more than 50 years, they were thought to be extinct in England."

Harrison has since quit the series, announcing way back in October 2023 that she was moving on to pastures new, and yet the Beeb show continues to regurgitate her older episodes.

Fed-up fans soon took to X to complain about the show's trend and it seems it isn't the first time viewers have criticised the format.

One wrote: "With such a large team of presenters, I cannot understand why Countryfile has to "delve into the archives" to fill the hour #countryfile."

"Amuses me that they don't call it 'repeats,'" another responded. Several others had made similar remarks in recent weeks, too.

One such comment read: "What is happening to Countryfile? Yet again featuring a subject that has nothing to do with farming and agricultural issues. I also don't get why archive clips are needed with so many presenters to use #countryfile."

"Far too many old clips on today's #countryfile though it's good to see Ellie," another shared.

"A repeat but not a repeat, by that I mean a bunch of old clips with some new bits of commentary in between. Yawn #Countryfile," someone else fumed.

Some enjoyed having a look-back at past episodes though, with another commenting: "Old clips of Ellie are the only old clips i need #countryfile." (sic)

Last week saw complaints of a different nature as the programme saw host Adam Henson visiting his Cotswolds farm to check on the breeding ewes and realised he had to let 15 of them go.

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After a thorough check through his herd, Henson came to the tough decision and explained: "Farming is all about cycles, and four months on from lambing once again, we're busy with the sheep.

"So they've been what's called weaned and they're living on grass and they're perfectly happy in there. And then over here are their mums, so these are the weaned ewes that will now go back to the Ram this autumn to give birth in spring 2025.

"And what we've got to do is get this flock in and check them over and make sure they're all fit and healthy, ready to go back to the ranch. Each year, all sheep farmers expect to have to replace some of their older or unproductive ewes.

"So today we're sorting through half of our breeding flock.... around 150 sheep. I'd expect 25 percent of these to be unsuitable to breed again. Today. I'm hoping it's less."

He ended up having to let 15 go, causing viewers to fume about the "brutal" segment.