Countryfile viewers BOYCOTT show as Helen Skelton makes 'mind-blowing' blunder
HELEN SKELTON suffered an unfortunate blunder during the latest episode of BBC One's Countryfile, which caused viewers to "turn off".
Helen Skelton confuses an image of space with a screensaver
The 33-year-old host was presenting a feature about why dark skies are so important for wildlife
Visiting the Hampshire Astronomical Group to "gaze into the cosmos", Skelton didn't realise that what was displayed on a screen was in fact real, believing it to be a screensaver.
Skelton said: "It provides perfect conditions to gaze into the cosmos. They have five telescopes of varying sizes here, and Graham Bryant is going to show me their biggest one, because apparently, size does matter!"
Bryant then explained: "The bigger the telescope, the more light you're going to be able to gather, the fainter the objects you're going to be seeing."
'This is terrible' Countryfile viewers BOYCOTT show as Helen Skelton makes 'mind-blowing' blunder
That's so good. I thought it was a screensaver.
Pointing at a large screen, Skelton asked: "So this is what that telescope can see?" prompting Bryant to reply: "It is, yes."
"That's so good. I thought it was a screensaver," beamed Skelton.
Bryant concluded: "No, that is an image of the Orion Nebula star forming region, and in the centre there are lots of stars there," as Skelton replied: "Mind-blowing isn't it!"
Viewers instantly took to social media after the baffling mistake, with fans wondering how Skelton even managed to make the obvious error.
Helen Skelton believed the image of space to be a screensaver on Countryfile
One viewer tweeted: "#countryfile 'that's so good I thought it was a screensaver...' Give me strength. Back to @NetflixUK - this is terrible."
"#countryfile screen saver what a div," posted another Countryfile fan.
A third said: "No love, windows 10 screen savers aren't that good #countryfile."
"That's 'wallpaper'. Screen 'savers' move to stop screen burn. Get right on my t**s when people say that. #countryfile," raged a fourth.
Countryfile continues on BBC One next Sunday at 7pm.