BBC Countryfile's Anita Rani says 'I'm crying' as fans flood show with backlash

BBC Countryfile has come under fire tonight - after being likened to Top Gear when Anita Rani took part in a motoring segment along some of the Lake District's most dangerous roads. Fans flooded Twitter/X with complaints over the BBC segment on April 14.

The episode, on Sunday night, saw Anita and Matt Baker slammed by fans of the countryside show, who were left raging with the segment and likening it to a "knock off" Top Gear. "This is one of the UK is most dramatic roads," Anita said at the top of the segment.

"And for some drivers, the mountain passes are less than lovable if the online reviews of Wrynose and Hardknotts are anything to go by," Anita added. Anita and Matt giggled at some people's accounts of problems they encountered in the area.

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Matt and Anita read reports from their fanbases and viewership, which rangedfrom people having to throw passengers out of the car to get to the top of the hill, to another driver who found themselves at the bottom of a house without warning.

Anita said: "Oh my god, I'm crying", before the voiceover said: "Too late to turn back now, for us the only way is up." After experiencing driving some of the road together, Anita meets up with local residents to get some much-needed advice on how best to tackle these winding passes and hear some of the vehicle mishaps that have happened over the years.

This road allows access to stunning countryside features, including England’s deepest lake, Wastwater, where Anita joins a local group of wild swimmers. Over in the Cotswolds, Adam Henson was busy on the farm looking after spring arrivals with lambing, kidding and calving all underway.

The BBC has previously addressed the recent Countryfile backlash, sharing a statement from bosses to defend the episode. The comment read: “Countryfile covers a wide range of rural affairs issues affecting rural areas and communities.

“In this programme, Countryfile investigated the lack of NHS dentistry provision in Devon and Cornwall. Our film acknowledged this is a national problem but focused on the stories of those living in rural areas. Previously the programme has produced diverse films including shortfalls in Special Education Needs provision and the difficulties recruiting Midwifery staff in rural areas.”