{"id":24915,"date":"2023-02-02T18:48:18","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T17:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=74050"},"modified":"2023-02-02T19:35:58","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T18:35:58","slug":"bbc-cancels-autumnwatch-programme","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/bbc-cancels-autumnwatch-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC cancels Autumnwatch programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

The BBC has cited \u201cchallenging times financially\u201d as the reason behind its decision to take the popular nature show off air. <\/p>

By Megan Shersby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 02 February 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

In an announcement that has shocked fans of the show, the BBC has announced that it will be cancelling its Autumnwatch<\/em><\/a> show. However, Springwatch<\/em><\/a> and Winterwatch<\/em><\/a> will continue, with more money invested into them.<\/p>\n

The programme has aired for 17 years and is hosted by Chris Packham<\/a>, Michaela Strachan<\/a>, Gillian Burke<\/a>, and Iolo Williams<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A statement from the BBC said \u201cThese are challenging times financially. We need to make difficult decisions and focus our resources on content that has the highest impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSadly, this means that\u00a0Autumnwatch\u00a0<\/em>will not be continuing. Instead, we are investing more money into\u00a0Springwatch\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Winterwatch<\/em>, as they are most popular with audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are incredibly proud of the Watches<\/em> and would like to thank the presenters and production team who will continue on Springwatch<\/em> when it returns in May for three weeks, and Winterwatch<\/em> when it returns next year for one week, reduced from two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The announcement comes less than a week after the latest Winterwatch<\/em> series finished airing from Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk and Edinburgh in Scotland, and Chris Packham announced that he was taking a career hiatus.<\/p>\n

Whilst many have reacted with disappointment, Tim Bonner, the chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said that \u201cThe end of Autumnwatch<\/em> presents an opportunity for the BBC to rebalance its wildlife programming.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe BBC covers many rural issues well and produces lots of good countryside content, but there have been concerns about Autumnwatch<\/em>\u2019s unrealistic and anthropomorphic approach for many years. It won\u2019t be missed in the countryside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Main image: The four main presenters of <\/em>The Watches (left to right): Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan, Iolo Williams and Gillian Burke. \u00a9\u00a0Jo Charlesworth\/BBC<\/em><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n