cover feature 20 years of countryfile

years 20 John Craven and the Countryfile team gather down on the farm to raise their glasses and share memories on a very special anniversary. Interviews: Cavan Scott

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Michaela Strachan First joined Countryfile: 1999 Before Countryfile: The Hitman and Her, The , Wacaday, Disney Time, The Really Wild Show

Are there any particularly memorable Countryfile moments for you? It has to be visiting Uganda for the Send a Cow campaign to see the difference one cow could make to a village. The reception we received was unbelievable. Cows are usually sent in “A mile into calf, so the calf goes to the next needy family and they can use the manure the moors with to grow their veg and the milk for their children. These people’s lives were no cover, we turned around by one cow, which I The Countryfile team are rarely in the found really humbling. I live in Africa same place at the same time, so they and often see people who’ve lost hope. were soaked. took the opportunity for a good catch up Give them a cow and you give them back both hope and respect. Give And people someone one cow in the UK and they’ll From the moment the bull slobbered down Adam Henson’s dinner jacket, we say, what can I do with this? think TV is knew this might be the most surreal moment in Countryfile’s long history. On Any moment you’d rather forget? a blustery, wet day on Adam’s farm in the Cotswolds, we gathered seven of the The worst thing about Countryfile is the glamorous!” weather. I’m not a big girl and I feel the programme’s regular presenters to celebrate Countryfile’s 20th anniversary. cold. I remember one shoot when I was One by one, the cars drew up, depositing famous faces decked out in black ties, filming on moorland with goat herders. It snowed overnight and we were full of cocktail dresses and the all-important welly boots. As storm clouds gathered above, we the joys of, well, winter as we thought wondered if the heavens were about to open and put a dampener on the festivities, but we would get amazing shots. But as we shouldn’t have worried. If 20 years of reporting on rural news and the delights of the we began our walk into the middle of nowhere it began to rain. A mile into the great British countryside have taught John Craven and co anything, it’s to not be put off moors with no cover, we were soaked. by the elements. And as if on cue, the skies began to clear. We eventually found a cafe where we were taking off our thermals, ringing them out and them drying on the Countryfile first hit the small screen Almost a year after its launch, realise is that, thanks to almost radiators. The worst thing was having on 24 July 1988, replacing the John Craven, who had recently constantly being on the road, the to put half-dry thermals back on. And people think TV is glamorous! Farming programme, which had left after a mammoth Countryfile team very rarely see each run for 25 years. From its very first 17-year stint, joined Countryfile as its other and so before we knew it they And then after all that they recently report, from Swaledale, Yorkshire, main presenter and has remained were huddled together, swapping sent you cold water swimming… on the growing tensions between there ever since, broadcasting stories, laughing and catching Well, I’ve actually done a polar plunge anglers and canoeists (see page from the length and breadth of the up on each other’s gossip. And in before where you cut a hole in the Antarctic ice and jump in, so the 18), the idea was to provide a slot to British countryside for 48 weeks the middle of it all sat Mr Craven, production team thought I’d be fine. explain to the nation exactly what of the year. It has become a firm holding court and beaming with But in the Antarctic you don’t get was going on in the green fields of favourite on BBC One, drawing pride that Countryfile had brought your head wet, which is what really DID YOU KNOW? rural Britain. From farming and audiences of more than two million them all together. Even the odd makes you cold. Of course, on In 2002 Michaela food to outdoor sports, the show per week, whether that’s outdoor shower couldn’t wipe the smiles Countryfile they wanted the reaction covered the of me being completely dunked. It was aimed to be all-inclusive, educating enthusiasts or, as a number of the from their faces and so, as we raised World Gurning blooming freezing! Championship, viewers about how rural affairs presenters suggest with a wink, a glass to Countryfile, they started to which takes place affected their lives, as well as those fighting off hangovers on a recall their time on the programme But you enjoy it most of the time? annually at the encouraging people to get out there Sunday morning. and revealed what the show, and the Of course I do! One minute I’m jumping Egremont Crab and explore the countryside. But one thing most viewers won’t countryside, really means to them. in cold ponds and the next I’m learning Fair, Cumbria. about artistic taxidermy. That’s what To her complete Photography: Sean Malyon Photographer’s assistant: Ana Rancaño Stylist: Georgina Healy I love about Countryfile. Every week amazement she Props: Sofa from Wesley Barrell % 01993 893100 www.wesley-barrell.co.uk; rug (used in group shot) from Laura Ashley % 0871 983 5999 www.lauraashley.com, dresses from selections at Debenhams and brings something different and you Littlewoods, dinner suits from Moss Bros, wellies from Hunter % 01387 269591 www.hunter-boot.com, all jewellery from a selection at Glitzy Secrets % 0208 303 7161 www.glitzysecrets.com, egg basket walked away with (used in Miriam’s shot) by Great British Baskets % 08451261018 www.greatbritishbaskets.co.uk, picnic rug (used in John’s shot) by Tweedmill Textiles % 01745 816777 www.picnic-rugs.co.uk always discover something new. the women’s crown!

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John Craven First joined Countryfile: 1989 enjoyed a really strong relationship with Before Countryfile: John Craven’s the industry during the crisis. They opened Newsround, Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, up to us because they knew we weren’t Saturday Superstore being sensational at all. I like to think Countryfile is really the only current affairs Was the countryside important to you programme that is true to rural Britain. when you were growing up? Others operate from metropolitan Britain, Although I was brought up in the taking a city dweller’s view, but we come outskirts of , we were soon out from the heart of the countryside. into Wharfedale on our bikes. I’ve lived in rural areas for most of my life and feel After all this time you must have had passionate about the countryside’s future. some run-ins with country animals… You could say that. The trouble is they You must have seen both the don’t always read the script or follow programme and the countryside change direction. I was leading along one of considerably since you joined the show? Adam’s oxen on camera on this very The biggest change was going up from farm last winter. I’m used to most farm half an hour to an hour. We were worried animals, but an ox with huge horns, about whether we’d be able to fill an weighing several tons, is a different beast. hour every week, but of course it’s been All of a sudden it decided to have a go no problem at all. However, some of the at me and tried to pull me away. Adam themes have been constant. One of the fortunately was on hand and rescued me first pieces I did for Countryfile asked from being dragged across the field by whether organic farming had a future, and this great ox. But that’s not the worst of 20 years on we’re still asking the same it. A few years back I was interviewing a question. Nineteen years ago it was still female vet about how girls were strong quite freaky – all sandals and hippies enough to handle big animals. Of course, – but now it’s much more mainstream, she had her hand up the rear end of a cow although the credit crunch is again putting and as she answered my question the its future in doubt. cow evacuated. We were both drenched!

What have been your most memorable You must be proud of your time times on the show? on Countryfile… It had to be said that my arrival on I’m incredibly lucky. Over the last two Countryfile coincided with the beginning decades I’ve seen just about every bit of a spate of diseases, from of rural Britain, and through BSE to foot and mouth and DID YOU KNOW? Countryfile I have this magic bluetongue. I hope I haven’t The programme’s key that lets me into every been an unlucky charm. anniversary show farm, business or even social I will never forget the horror on 27 July 2008 problems in the countryside. of foot and mouth disease; the will see Countryfile Countryfile is a programme sadness, the smell and the clocking up a total that people respect. They know “I’m incredibly lucky. Over the last way that farmers opened up to of 973 episodes. we’re going to come back again us. At first a lot of the farming Another milestone tomorrow, that we’re not a fly-by- community was suspicious is looming, with night show. Very rarely have we two decades I’ve seen just about of Countryfile; we had, after the 1,000th been refused permission to talk all, replaced the Farming show due to air in to somebody and we’re nearly every bit of rural Britain” programme, but I think we February 2009. always invited back again.

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DID YOU KNOW? Tom Heap During the foot and Joined Countryfile: 2004 mouth epidemic of Before Countryfile: Rural correspondent 2001, Countryfile for the BBC went live every Sunday to bring Filming in the countryside must bring its you the very latest own challenges… news on the crisis. The biggest challenge is that the This tradition countryside is so noisy. I recently has continued to went to Anglesey to film my attempts at the present day, kite-surfing. It’s a beautiful spot but it is when Countryfile next to RAF Valley. After Heathrow, Valley reported on is the busiest airport in the country, with the threat of more take offs and landings per hour. It’s bluetongue one fine if I’m writing something for Countryfile week before the Magazine, but filming there was a disease hit the UK. nightmare. We had to keep stopping and starting thanks to all these guys sitting on the runway with their afterburners.

This must all be different to reporting on rural issues for BBC News… It is, and sometimes it does feel like I’m getting paid to have fun, but Countryfile is just as much about the issues of the countryside as it is about action activities. We’re living in a very interesting period for food and farming. After 25 years of surplus we’re entering times of shortage and tension which change the whole way farmers work, giving them power they arguably haven’t had for a generation. That will have a radical effect on the food we eat as well as the countryside we play in.

Charlotte Smith DID YOU KNOW? Joined Countryfile: 1998 The Countryfile Before Countryfile: Radio Five Live editor, team are on You and Yours the road for 48 weeks of the year, How has the programme changed since while production you joined? takes place in the Immensely. Twelve years ago if you were Mailbox studios doing the lead piece, the researcher would in . have spent a weak preparing it, you’d Previous to 2004 Adam Henson have a week to record it and then a week the Countryfile Joined Countryfile: 2001 Loch Lomond and out to Mull to watch putting it together before it went out. Now, office was in the Before Countryfile: Cotswold farmer basking sharks and dolphins swimming you film it over Monday and Tuesday, edit famous Pebble around you is a real treat. When I do those it on Friday and it goes out on Sunday! Mill studios. What do you love most about working kind of shoots I have to pinch myself and Of course, these days the TV’s full of on Countryfile? say: “Is this real? Am I really getting paid landmark rural series like Coast, but It has to be the way I was welcomed by to do this?” I’m still proud to say we were doing it the Countryfile team, particularly John first on Countryfile. Craven. Presenters can, understandably, You do seem to spend a lot of time in be quite nervous about their position, but the saddle on the show… What’s your craziest Countryfile memory? John just welcomed me with open arms, You’re right. I’ve ridden on the beaches I was recording a report standing next gave me tips and helped all the way along of Sligo, across the Brecon Beacons and to a cow, which sounds simple enough. the line. He still does . This was my of course I have recently been training for DID YOU KNOW? However, at the time the show’s logo was first real job in television and if I’d walked the Exmoor Endurance Ride. The thing is, Countryfile ran a a C in a circle like the copyright symbol. into the Countryfile office and been I was useless on a horse as a child. presenter search For some reason we decided we’d stick stamped on, I would have come running My dad got me a pony but about a mile in 2001 and Adam the Countryfile C on the cow using back to the comfort of the farm and this from home, it would buck me off, trot was persuaded veterinary glue. You should have seen me beautiful environment I live in. But I never home and I would walk back to the by his girlfriend to and the director running around a field have been. It’s been a struggle at times farmhouse crying. It put me off for life, send in an audition chasing this cow while the farmer leant but I’ve had a lot of help. or so I thought. The spit, dust and cracking tape. After a series over the gate, enjoying the spectacle. Even whips of cowboy life was my childhood of auditions and after we gave up on the logo idea the cow What’s your favourite location? dream, so I used a motorbike for years a viewers’ vote, refused to stay in shot. We never got the The west coast of Scotland. I love the to avoid horses, but Countryfile has got Adam beat off piece on film. Looking back I have no idea gentleness of the rolling Cotswold hills me back in the saddle and I’m starting to 3,500 hopefuls to why we thought sticking a C to the side of where I live, but to go up to Scotland, past enjoy it again. land the job. a cow was a good idea in the first place!

y 34 COUNTRYFILE  august 2008 AUGUST 2008 COUNTRYFILEy 35 cover feature 20 years of countryfile Miriam O’Reilly Joined Countryfile: 2001 Before Countryfile: Runner on Tiswas, news producer, BBC Radio WM, Panorama, The Parent Programme

What do you love most about the countryside? No matter where I go to shoot, I always leave thinking “this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.” Just driving here today, I was filled with joy when I saw the fields stretching out in front of me. It might sound really soppy but I just don’t think there’s anything more stunning than the British countryside, whatever the season. Juliet Morris Joined Countryfile: 2006 However, the best thing about our Before Countryfile: Newsround, countryside is the people who take care BBC Breakfast News, Holiday, House of it. I think the work farmers carry out Detectives, 999 in caring for the countryside is grossly underestimated. I love their stoicism, Do you have a favourite location you’ve how they keep going no matter what’s visited while recording Countryfile? thrown at them. You know, that’s what I love about this show. I’ve done a lot of travel programmes What do you think has prompted the but have mostly filmed abroad. I grew current trend of reconnecting with up in the West Country but was amazed the countryside? about how little I knew of my own country. I think it’s one of the good things that It’s wonderful having these magical came out of foot and mouth disease. places on our doorstep and I’m loving People started to really think where their discovering them for Countryfile. My food came from and there’s now more favourite location so far has to be the information about our food than there’s Isles of Scilly. Saying that, I can’t wait ever been, certainly much more than to discover more. I’ve never been to the when Countryfile started 20 years ago. Highlands so I’d love to go there. I get up As soon as people started asking in the morning and look out of the window questions about their food, we saw the and I feel so privileged. huge growth in local produce. Now that the supermarkets have started to take What’s your finest Countryfile moment notice, UK farmers will come into their so far? own, enjoying more bargaining power I’m not so sure it’s my crowning moment than they’ve had before. If you’re a but I was sent to Scotland to cover the local food producer you have what the stone skimming championship. I was supermarkets want, so it’s a very exciting pants. The stones kept going backwards time for the countryside. It’s not just a way rather than forwards. It proved to me how of life anymore. It’s big business. many people actually watch Countryfile, because everyone I meet seems to have seen me completely fail.

Skimming stones sounds quite tranquil though… It isn’t always so relaxing. The Haxey Hood, for example was positively lethal; two entire villages from Lincolnshire wrestling over a leather rope. You have to remember that a lot of these guys DID YOU KNOW? DID YOU KNOW? had been drinking since first thing in the The Countryfile One of Miriam’s morning. It was crazy; a massive scrum weather bulletin is first Countryfile of madness. I tend to think I’m quite the only forecast reports saw brave and up for things so I’d venture on the BBC that her exposing close and suddenly it would lurch towards looks forward to overfishing me. I’m amazed that health and safety the whole week by European haven’t closed down events like that. But ahead. The bulletin fishermen off the it’s fantastic that we are still allowed to is especially aimed West African coast celebrate traditions and keep them alive. and won her the at those who enjoy Foreign Press, Watch a behind the scenes the great outdoors, Royal Television report about our anniversary so you can plan Society and British cover shoot in a special birthday ahead whether Environment edition of Countryfile on Sunday 27 July you’re a farmer or Media Awards. at 11am on BBC One. a rambler.

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