TV star sees recipe of brewery's success

By David Lennard

ONE of television's most popular presenters has been in Suffolk to learn about the success of one of the county's breweries.

For generations of youngsters John Craven was the man who kept them informed of events in this country and around the world when he presented BBC1's Newsround.

But he is now best known for presenting the television series Countryfile, which is shown on BBC1 on most Sunday mornings.

The programme has a strong following and a decision to remove it last Sunday sparked an outcry from angry viewers up and down the country.

Programme planners decided to show the inauguration of the new Pope, but even though it was a momentous event of international importance, it failed to win the support of Countryfile fans and angry viewers telephoned the BBC to complain.

A BBC television spokeswoman said: “The number of complaints we received after removing Countryfile from the schedules was the highest number about one particular programme for a long time.”

Mr Craven put the controversy behind him yesterday when he visited St Peter's Brewery in South Elmham St Peter, near Halesworth.

He was filming an item about the important role smaller breweries such as St Peter's - whose beers and ales have won numerous awards at beer festivals all over the country - played in the rural economy.

Mr Craven said: “The rural economy is changing fast and with more and more farming enterprises becoming ever more mechanised, it means that less people living in the country are going to be employed on farms.

“Smaller breweries like the one here in Suffolk are a great success in providing real ale for people all over the country and in providing employment for local residents.”

The Countryfile programme with the item about St Peter's Brewery is due to be shown on BBC1 on

May 8.

david.lennard@eadt.co.uk