Countryfile viewers slam ‘biased’ BBC for airing New Zealand Brexit ‘scare story’ over concerns for farmers’ subsidies
Angry fans of the show insisted the corporation was peddling fears over leaving the EU, suggesting it could have a negative impact on farmers
COUNTRYFILE has been slammed by viewers for peddling scare stories about Brexit on its Sunday night programme.
BBC viewers hit out at the "biased" corporation for putting forward another 'Project Fear' scare story.
Host Adam Henson returned to visit New Zealand to take a look at the effect of the removal of government subsidies for farmers.
"With Brexit just around the corner, there's a chance that British farmers might lose theirs too," Mr Henson said in last night's programme.
"So it's a poignant moment to find out how New Zealanders adapted to this huge change."
He went on, asking a local farmer, John Cameron: "In the UK, we've just had Brexit and we'll be coming out of Europe soon.
"There's a concern that our support for farmers will be lacking from Government.
"What would be your advice to those people?"
He was positive about being open to new challenges for growing different produce - just as Brits are excited about the prospect of making new trade deals on the world stage.
"We're very very conscious of the world market," Mr Cameron replied. "It's being open to those opportunities... I'm not going to say no to anything. Things change.
"I think it's about having the adaptability and the foresight, with people and partnerships to make those choices."
But viewers were unhappy with the segment, and accused BBC bosses of peddling Brexit fear stories.
One person said: "Tune in for the first time for ages and they're using a New Zealand trip for a Brexit scare story. The biased BBC sigh..."
Another said: "Countryfile signed up to project fear over Brexit?"
And frustrated viewers slammed the BBC for spending taxpayers' money on flying the presenter to New Zealand in the first place.
One viewer, Janet Smith, tweeted: "So why are Adam and the BBC film crew fannying about in New Zealand on the licence fee? Irrelevant."
Another said it seemed like farmers in New Zealand were coping "just fine" without the subsidies anyway.