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Countryfile Live

The team are at Countryfile Live, set in the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace. Steve Brown goes backstage at the first ever British charcuterie awards.

The team are at Countryfile Live, set in the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace. Matt Baker tries his hand at scurry racing, where it takes skill to handle the horses and make the scurry take corners at speed.

Ellie Harrison meets the artist whose skill is taxidermy without the animals.

John Craven takes along his pet dachshund Dora and explores Churchill's love of dogs.

Steve Brown goes backstage at the first ever British charcuterie awards and meets the producers putting British meats on the map.

Adam Henson is with Blenheim's head shepherd finding out how to manage a flock of 1,500 sheep on a World Heritage site.

Tom Heap looks at the impact plastics are having on the environment. Anita Rani is joined by the winners of the Young Presenter Talent search.

Anita and ten-year-old Matilda get hands-on with hedgehogs and discover why, despite being endangered nationally, their numbers are on the rise in the grounds of the Blenheim estate. Thirteen-year-old Archie teams up with Anita to find out why fishing has increased 50 per cent amongst under-16s. While Archie gets some angling advice from a teenager helping to get more youngsters involved, Anita meets comedian and fishing fanatic Paul Whitehouse for his top tips. Anita and Archie then go head to head in a fish-off.

55 minutes

Last on

Mon 27 Aug 2018 00:45

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:02

    Coldplay

    Charlie Brown

Scurry Trials

Scurry Trials

Matt tries his hand at scurry driving - a fast and furious sport where a lightweight carriage is pulled around a track at high speed by a pair of horses.  

Lucy and Philippa Scott, big stars of the scurry world, give Matt a crash course so he can compete at Countryfile Live itself.  

Matt gets tips on how to handle the horses, how to steer the carriage and, most importantly of all, just how far out you have to lean when taking a bend... 

Plastics

Plastics
With so much packaging waste generated by events like Countryfile Live, Tom investigates whether it's really possible to lead a plastic-free life - and how much it would cost.
He opens his kitchen cupboard doors to Fran Cusden who's spent the last year trying to cut plastic out of her own day-to-day life. But can she de-plastic Tom's life?
Armed with some useful tips, Tom hits the high street to see if he can do away with plastic packaging waste in his weekly shop.
And back at Countryfile Live, he finds out what the industry is doing to stop plastic going to landfill and to make sure packaging can be properly recycled.

Young Presenters

Young Presenters
The winners of our young presenters competition join the team to report on two big talking points at this year's Countryfile Live.
First up is the rise in popularity of angling among teenagers. Thanks to the introduction of free rod licences for 12 to 16 year olds, more and more youngsters are taking up the pastime.
Meanwhile, Blenheim Palace proves just the right place to be to take a look at the state of the UK's hedgehog population. The estate here has been welcoming rescue hedgehogs into its woodland for the past couple of years.
Will night vision camera traps help capture a glimpse of these much-loved creatures...?

'Fauxidermy'

'Fauxidermy'

Ellie meets Helen Powell who describes herself as a `fauxidermist’!  

Ellie joins Helen at Blenheim where they walk in the ancient woodlands in search of the estate’s deer and inspiration to help create a realistic reproduction. 

And a quick trip around the Countryfile Live grounds to visit all the fabric stalls helps the pair gather material for another of the works Helen will be completing at the show. 

Churchill and Dogs

Churchill and Dogs

John finds out more about Winston Churchill’s love of dogs from Blenheim Palace researcher Antonia Keaney as they walk the newly-opened 'Walk in Churchill’s Footsteps' trail.

Antonia reveals how Churchill couldn’t bear to be separated from his beloved poodle Rufus.  

As they continue their journey, John and Antonia meet artist Caroline Green, who is creating a watercolour celebrating Churchill’s love of both art and his dogs.

Charcuterie Awards

Charcuterie Awards

The first ever British charcuterie awards are being held at Countryfile Live this year.  

Steve is there to sample some of the tasty meat treats and to meet some of the producers, including awards co-founder Henrietta Green to find out what the awards mean to her. 

Steve also meets Graham Waddington, renowned for using only native British breeds in his products...how does he think he'll do in the competition?


Blenheim Shepherd

Blenheim Shepherd

Adam steps away from the bustle of the show to Blenheim’s wide open parkland where the estate's celebrated sheep are reared.

There, he meets head shepherd Charles Gerring and helps him sort through some of this year’s lambs to see if any are ready to be sent to market. 

Later, Adam meets Charles back in the show ground where some of his flock are on show to the public.

The Challenge: Tom vs Adam

The Challenge: Tom vs Adam

In a popular Countryfile Live tradition, Adam and Tom go head-to-head in a two-part challenge. 

First up is a den-building contest in the National Trust's ’50 things to do’ woodland. Their efforts will be marked on style and effectiveness. 

Then it's time for a hay bale building challenge that sees the competitive pair move fourteen bales in 90 seconds. 

With these two both vying for glory, it's any one's guess who's going to take home the coveted Golden Boot.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Matt Baker
Presenter Ellie Harrison
Presenter Steve Brown
Presenter Adam Henson
Presenter Tom Heap
Presenter John Craven
Presenter Anita Rani
Executive Producer William Lyons
Series Producer Joanna Brame

Broadcasts