BBC launches Countryfile weekday series after record ratings

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/23/bbc-countryfile-weekday-ratings-daytime

Version 0 of 1.

The BBC is launching a new Countryfile spin-off series after the rural affairs show achieved its highest ever ratings in 2015.

The broadcaster already airs Countryfile seasonal specials, but from spring 2016 these will be followed by five 45-minute daytime episodes across the following weekdays, called Countryfile Diaries.

The new show will put the focus on the changing of the seasons, and how this affects the landscape, its wildlife and the people who live and work in the countryside.

Related: Countryfile turns to 'hard core' issues after claims it is squeamish on rural life

The BBC1 show enjoyed its highest ever ratings in 2015 – attracting an average of 6 million viewers.

This consolidated series average equates to a 29.7% audience share.

Executive producer Bill Lyons said: “The Countryfile family is a big one reaching a huge audience every week.

“It’s wonderful that Countryfile has become the most popular weekly factual series on television, but it’s all down to the enduring love affair between the British people and their countryside.”

Viewing figures have risen since 2014, when Countryfile attracted a consolidated average of 5.7 million – with a 26.4% share.

The highest-rated episode of the series was filmed in Dorset and aired on November 22, with 7.8 million viewers – a 36% audience share.

Dan McGolpin, controller of BBC daytime, said: “Countryfile is one of the best loved shows on television and Countryfile Diaries will allow BBC1 daytime viewers to further enjoy the full splendour and sheer variety of life in the British countryside during key moments of the year, starting with spring 2016.”

The BBC said in October it has made Countryfile cover more “hard core” subjects following a report that criticised the corporation for being too “squeamish” about covering the realities of rural life.

An independent report had criticised the corporation for being too “simplistic” in its coverage of countryside issues.

Criticism included coverage of the trial badger cull which mostly used images of healthy badgers while one expert cited in the report, Country Life editor Mark Hedges, said coverage was often sanitised which “did the countryside a real disservice in the process”.

In responsede, the corporation told the BBC Trust: “Countryfile makes a particular feature of covering specialist rural stories, including ‘hard core’ agricultural and environmental subjects.”

The BBC cited a range of stories including campylobacter in chickens, rural crime and the lack of affordable housing in the countryside.

The corporation also said it had moved to “deepen and sharpen” the journalistic approach used on the Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch series.