It’s Countryfile Live! BBC hope to cash in with four-day festival
SINCE it first aired 27 years ago, Countryfile has established itself as a ratings juggernaut.
And the BBC is hoping to capitalise on the popularity of the show – which attracts more than seven million viewers a week – by staging a four-day spin-off event.
Countryfile Live, which will take place in August next year at Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace, has been billed by executives as an ‘Aladdin’s cave of countryside-related content’.
It is set to feature talks, activities and exhibits, working in partnership with the National Trust.
The idea is similar to the Top Gear Live shows fronted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. Re-packaged as Clarkson, Hammond & May Live following Clarkson’s sacking from the programme earlier this year, the stadium shows make more than £11million annually.
The BBC said yesterday that Countryfile Live was likely to attract ‘thousands’ of visitors following the success of the weekly Sunday evening show – which is Britain’s mostwatched factual programme.
It has been created by BBC Worldwide, the Corporation’s commercial arm which is responsible for maximising profits. Tickets are expected to go on sale later this year, but it is not yet known how much they will cost.
In 2014/15, BBC Worldwide generated profits of £138.6million through selling content around the world, including the global rights to shows such as Top Gear and Doctor Who.
Talent agent Tony Fitzpatrick last night questioned whether the live event was merely a money-spinner, saying: ‘Does Countryfile need a commercial spin- off? People are happy to watch at home.’
Stephen Davies, director of live events at BBC Worldwide, said: ‘Bringing Countryfile to the public in this unique way is something that we’ve wanted to do for ages.’
The show’s current presenters include Matt Baker, John Craven, Ellie Harrison, Tom Heap and Adam Henson. Julia Bradbury left the programme in 2014 after five years.