Countryfile achieves record ratings in 2015 and announces BBC One Daytime seasonal spin-off Countryfile Diaries
BBC One’s Countryfile has achieved record ratings in 2015 with its highest consolidated series average to date.
Published: 22 December 2015
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.
The programme had a 2015 consolidated series average of 6.0 million (30% share), achieved over 7.1 million viewers consecutively across seven weeks at the start of the year, and has continued to grow its audience this autumn with figures over 7.2 million from 8 November to 13 December. The highest-rating episode of the series was 7.8 million on 22 November.
Bill Lyons, Countryfile Executive Producer, says: “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.”
Countryfile Diaries will offer a further insight into country life witnessed through the changing of the seasons. The five-part BBC One Daytime series will be stripped across the week and will coincide with Countryfile Seasonal Specials. Viewers will get to see how each season affects the landscape, wildlife and the people who live and work in the countryside.
The series will launch in spring 2016, when our landscape is undergoing an extraordinary transformation, awakening from its winter slumber. A day in spring is a lifetime for some, and the beginning of life for others. Survival is down to one simple thing – timing.
Dan McGolpin, Controller of BBC Daytime, says: “Countryfile is one of the best-loved shows on television and Countryfile Diaries will allow BBC One 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.”
Countryfile Diaries locations and presenters are still to be announced. The 5x45 spring series has been commissioned by Dan McGolpin, Controller of BBC Daytime, and Lindsay Bradbury, commissioning editor. The executive producers are Lindsay Bradbury and Bill Lyons for BBC One.
Note to Editors
- Countryfile in Dorset episode (22 Nov 2015) was the 2015 highest rating episode with a consolidated audience of 7.84m/36%
- Countryfile had a consolidated audience of over 7.1m from 18 January to 1 March 2015
- The Countryfile 2014 consolidated series average was 5.7m/26.4%
- The Countryfile 2015 consolidated series average is 6.0m/29.7%
- Figures are based on when Countryfile moved to a peak BBC One evening slot in 2009
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