COUNTRYFILE viewers raged about a perceived decline in quality as they branded the latest episode ‘boring’.
The long-running BBCnews magazine programme began in 1988, reporting on farming and agricultural issues.
The show’s presenting line-up includes John Craven, Adam Henson, Matt Baker, Tom Heap, Helen Skelton, Anita Rani and Sean Fletcher, as well as reporters and relief presenters.
Each episode typically involves two presenters visiting a region or place while uncovering what makes that area distinctive.
Sunday’s episode saw Joe Crowley and Sammi Kinghorn present stories from the north Northumberland coast.
This included a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the National Nature Reserve at Lindisfarne.
Meanwhile, Sammi also visited a local smokehouse that has been serving kippers for nearly 170 years and tried her hand at preparing some herring.
In Oxfordshire, Adam Henson met a farmer exploring whether a pasture-based system can work for dairy-goat milk production
After tuning in, however, some viewers were left disappointed and took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their thoughts.
One wrote: “I used to like watching #countryfile. I have had a few years off from it and looked in tonight. What have they done to this program? So boring!”
Another commented: “Just watching #Countryfile. Wow. It’s the ‘Crispy Creme Donut’ of#ClarksonsFarm. It’s like Jackanory…., through the round window let’s look at perfect farming. Where is the honesty?”
A third person added: “Pedestrian and not engaging as it used to be.
“And a presenter not knowing a kipper is a herring, despite having them for breakfast”.
A fourth viewer wrote: “#countryfile s**t tonight!!!”
Countryfile airs Sundays on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.