Tim Bonner: The BBC, trust and rogue badgers

The cancellation of Autumnwatch by the BBC comes as a direct result of falling ratings. The last series finished with barely a million viewers and the BBC said it was taking the decision to focus its resources on programmes that have more impact. There are many of us who would argue that the dwindling popularity of Autumnwatch was in part the result of anthropomorphic and unrealistic content, which jarred with many in its potential audience. Nature programmes rely on the development of trust between the viewer and the maker. Programme makers can manipulate the way they present footage and presenters can introduce their bias. We trust David Attenborough absolutely which is why we watch his programmes in our millions. With Autumnwatch and the other BBC 'watch' programmes that trust is more tenuous and increasingly viewers seem to be voting with their feet.

Whilst it happened many years ago, the iconic Springwatch footage from the RSPB's Minsmere Nature Reserve of a badger swimming out to an island and predating 19 nests, including those of a threatened avocet, sums up the problem many of us have. Badgers predate nests and will go to considerable efforts to find and eat the eggs of ground nesting birds. This is not controversial or unusual yet when the film was broadcast BBC presenter Chris Packham described it as a 'rogue' badger. This caused hilarity and frustration in equal measure, but it does sum up very neatly the issue with the BBC 'watch' programmes. At times there seems to be a desire not to present the reality of nature red in tooth and claw, but an idealised, utopian countryside where the fox lies down with the vole and the badger with the avocet.

This is obviously a generalisation and there is much on Autumnwatch and the other watch programmes which is straightforward, interesting and educational. Something is clearly grating with viewers, however, and the cancellation of Autumnwatch gives the BBC the opportunity to rebalance its rural coverage with more programmes which present a more realistic view of wildlife, the countryside and rural issues. There are plenty of critics of BBC Countryfile, but the fact it regularly draws six million viewers shows that it does generate interest and trust in a way that Autumnwatch has failed to. The future of BBC rural programming matters because the BBC remains the single most influential media outlet in the country. The public has given its verdict and the BBC should take note. Nature and countryside programming should be fair, unbiased and never a platform for promoting its presenters' views and prejudices.

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