Sky high budget? We can’t even get a drone, says Countryfile host
A COUNTRYFILE presenter has said he would like the BBC to give the show more money as its budget is “very tight for such a popular programme” and it has sometimes been impossible to find “a couple of hundred quid for a drone”.
Tom Heap remains confident that the rural affairs show, which has beaten The X Factor in ratings battles, has a future, but thinks that it needs to move with the times.
He said: “There is no reason that it can’t go on. I would say it needs to evolve to survive.
“I don’t think revolutionary change is what it’s about, but I think staying alert to changes that are going on in society and the countryside, both in the audience we are broadcasting to and those that we are filming [is important].”
He added: “I don’t see why it can’t continue.
“We have a very good slot and, as long as the lords of the BBC keep us there, that will help, and as long as they don’t cut the budget to the bone as well.
“The budget is tight, very tight, for such a popular programme.”
Asked if that has had an impact on the programme and their ability to do what they want, he replied: “Yes it does.”
He continued: “We would like to do bigger investigations and the budget makes that difficult, in terms of people time and camera time.
“If we are a journalistic outfit – we are called the investigations unit – sometimes a little bit more room on that [front] would be very handy.
“And when you are one of the BBC’S premium brands, that occasionally would feel a little bit constricting.”
Heap said that budget restrictions sometimes impact upon “smaller things”, adding: “We will be out filming something and there are times you can’t afford a couple of hundred quid for a drone, and you think that would really advance the piece.
“I wouldn’t be able to put my finger on individual issues, but some things maybe require undercovers, time to follow things, where you can’t just turn up and film on schedule, and those could be things we struggle to do.
“I’m sure all BBC programmes say they want more budget.
“We are not unique in that, but I do feel we are constrained.
“I don’t know the figures, but per audience member we must be one of the cheapest programmes on the BBC.”