Countryfile viewers ‘switch off’ as they blast BBC for ‘preaching’ at them in latest episode

COUNTRYFILE viewers were left switching off after they blasted the BBC for "preaching" at them in the latest episode.

Countryfile host Tom Heap interviewed a mix of doctors who have been struggling under the pressure of patient demand since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, many viewers were forced to "switch off" from the instalment as they "wanted to escape politics". 

During the episode, the 56-year-old presenter said after speaking with doctors in Wales: "While the lack of doctors is one issue, another is funding, even in seemingly affluent and well-connected places like here in the Surrey Hills." 

The host went on to interview a GP called Emma who looked after patients from Guildford and Dorking. 

"There just isn't the funding needed to expand the building," Tom explained when discussing the issues with her surgery. 

Emma showed the presenter her "temporary consulting room", which was a small room created inside a van for patients. 

When Tom asked her how it worked, she explained: "So I am seeing patients remotely from my van here and this is because we have so much demand.

"There is just no room in the building for us to see the patients at the rate they need to be seen."

The segment dominated a large part of the episode and many viewers felt Countryfile has been getting increasingly "detached" from the countryside. 

Others felt the instalment was too politically focused and took to Twitter to vent their fury. 

Taking to the platform, one person wrote: "What has Countryfile got to do with GPs? Surely people watch this programme for other reasons. BBC is always preaching! Switched off, I want to escape politics." 

Echoing their comments, someone else said: "BBC Countryfile is tonight's programme sponsored by the Labour party? Even a farming programme is going far left." 

While a third added: "How political is this? What about cows sheep crops farmers? Terrible show tonight."

Countryfile airs on BBC One on Sundays at 7pm.