Countryfile’s Ellie Harrison ‘never felt so stressed’ feeding huge pack of hungry birds
COUNTRYFILE host Ellie Harrison had to keep calm in incredibly stressful conditions tonight as she went to feed a massive intimidating pack of swans.
Ellie Harrison hosts Countryfile
The star was on her own without experts or a camera crew as she approached a large group including Bewick’s swans, mallards and shelduck.
She was instructed to approach them whistling, with a wheelbarrow full of food. All she had for company was a camera attached to the barrow.
“Slow and steady wins the race,” she remarked as she calmly paced towards them.
“Demeanour’s quite important. I’ve been told the way to act is bored, which is definitely not what I am right now.”
Ellie had a lot of mouths to feed
She kept her cool despite the tension
I’ve been told the way to act is bored, which is definitely not what I am right now
As she began dishing out the food, the birds began to gather around in swathes.
“I can’t leave the arms of this wheelbarrow because if I step out the way of it, they won’t like that,” she nervously commented.
“I’ve never felt so stressed feeding the birds.”
When the supply was out, she had to calmly walk away from them again.
Ellie Harrison - Countryfile - 18th October 2015
The birds could have flared up easily
Ellie ultimately had no problems
“Fair play Ellie, I'd be petrified,” remarked one viewer on Twitter, while another called her “brave”.
Tonight’s show was a dedicated Winter Special, also featuring Matt Baker and John Craven.
The team is in Tyne and Wear for next week’s episode, which airs Sunday at 7pm on BBC One.