COUNTRYFILE presenters Anita Rani and Matt Baker received backlash from viewers after they set off on a ‘dangerous’ and daunting drive through the lake district.
On the latest edition of the BBC One show, fans drew comparisons to Top Gear as the pair visited Wrynose and Hardknott Passes.
During the episode, Matt and Anita checked out reviews from other tourists and discussed how dangerous the roads can be when driving on them.
In a voiceover, Anita informed the audience at home: “This is one of the UK’s most dramatic roads.
“And for some drivers, the mountain passes are less than lovable if the online reviews of Wrynose and Hardknotts are anything to go by.”
Matt read out different people’s accounts of problems they encountered in the area as Anita continued to drive on.
The host then chuckled uncontrollably at some of the reviews, which ranged from people having to throw passengers out of the car to get to the top of the hill to another driver who found themselves at the bottom of a house without warning.
While Anita remarked, “Oh my God, I’m crying,” her voiceover added: “Too late to turn back now, for us, the only way is up.”
However, the BBC hosts later spoke to people who rescue drivers who find themselves in trouble in the area to highlight the issues on the roads.
Throughout the episode, Matt and Anita also discussed the issue with several locals, who all agreed with the dangers highlighted earlier in the show.
At one point, Anita – who has been hosting Countryfile since 2015 – boldly compared her car to a Ferrari.
One brave local even showed Anita a Facebook page dedicated to pictures of vehicles that have found themselves in tricky situations in the area.
As the episode rolled out, fans of the show took to X(Twitter) and vented about the segment, which saw Anita and Matt speeding through the dangerous roads as they headed up the mountain.
One user quizzed: “What’s this, Countryfile does Top Gear?” as another echoed: “Is this Top Gear all of a sudden? #Countryfile.”
A third viewer echoed the comparison as they asked: “Is this Top Gear or Countryfile?”
Other viewers were simply not impressed that the show promoted what they claimed to be a dangerous drive as someone else wrote: “Countryfile promoting non-essential driving over the Lake District passes! WTAF?”
Another chimed: “Countryfile – let’s go and drive up #hardknottpass and encourage tourists to do the same – you f****** idiots!”
Meanwhile, a sixth person penned: “Strange that there are NO other cars on the pass #roadclosed #countryfile.”
As another viewer added: “Countryfile can’t have BBC millionaire presenters meeting oncoming traffic! Leave your cars at home and walk/bus it.”
Elsewhere on the programme Countryfile, viewers were distracted by a guest’s very unusual name on Sunday (April 14) evening.
During the episode, viewers visited The Woolpack Inn in Eskdale and its owner, Paddington Berger.
But as the show followed her movements around the popular pub, one viewer wrote on X: “Is she called Paddington? Did my ears lie?”
Another added: “Paddington who #Countryfile.”
A third tweeted: “This name is next level! 10/10!”
Countryfile is on BBC One on Sunday nights at 6pm, and previous episodes are available on BBC iPlayer.