TAYSIDE’S TOURISM industry has been delivered a blow after the BBC confirmed a rural affairs programme focusing on the River Tay will not be shown on terrestrial TV in Scotland.

Tomorrow’s episode of the BBC’s flagship rural affairs programme, Countryfile, will feature several places of interest along the River Tay from Dundee to Kenmore.

It was hoped the programme would assist in providing a tourism boost for Tayside.

However, it will only be shown in England, as Landward will go out in Scotland—but satellite and digital viewers will be able to watch the programme.

A BBC spokesman said, “Countryfile isn’t going to be shown up here.

“It is occasionally shown when Landward is not transmitting but this particular episode won’t because Landward is transmitting.

“But people with digital and satellite will be able to see it on BBC1 England.”

Tomorrow’s episode sees presenter Ben Fogle beginning his journey at Broughty Ferry in the Maritime Volunteer Service launch Badger.

MVS Tay’s Head of Unit Bob Richmond outlines the story of Badger’s pioneering river trips, and the part they have played in opening up this stretch of water to an appreciative public.

The launch then travels to the Tay Bridge where David Kett recounts the story of the 1879 disaster and the macabre fascination that this still holds for young and old worldwide.

The programme also features the story of the Mona disaster in 1959, when, during the course of a violent storm, the lifeboat was overwhelmed by mountainous seas in St Andrews Bay and lost with all hands.

Fogle goes white water rafting on the challenging rapids that flow down to Grandtully in Perthshire before salmon fishing on the loch.

The crew will also visit Taymouth Castle and Elcho Castle.

Digital and satellite viewers can watch the Countryfile programme at 11 am tomorrow.

Details of Badger’s Tay river trips, together with photographs of some the locations featured in the programme, can be found at the www.badgerdundee.org.uk website.