At the height of its popularity in the early 80s, sheep herding TV programme One Man and His Dog regularly drew in eight million viewers each week that’s two million more than the Apprentice final last week. Now, it’s lucky to get a million and a half for its one-off shows.
The first warning bells sounded back in 1999 when the show was axed as a regular series, causing a huge outcry. The show’s two presenters at the time, Robin Page and Gus Dermody, called the decision “a real tragedy”, blaming the programme’s afternoon transmission time for its poor showing. During its heyday it was broadcast during the evening.
“What has been happening is that it has been put out at a silly time. I have had complaints from farmers who have said they could not watch it on a Saturday afternoon because they are working,” Dermody said at the time.
This week, it was announced that the plan is to incorporate the show into BBC1’s Countryfile on Sunday evenings, once the last series of special shows comes to an end on BBC2.
Host Matt Baker, who is also the presenter of Countryfile, is delighted the programme will be part of Countryfile: “It will be showcasing a lifelong love of mine to a much wider audience than in the past. I have no doubt that these skilful dogs and their characterful handlers will captivate viewers.”
Fife farmer and author James Oswald understands the attraction it held for viewers. “I guess people who don’t work with sheep are fascinated by the skill involved in training a sheepdog and the connection between the dog and the shepherd.
“I suspect some people are watching it for the ‘car crash’ effect too waiting for things to go horribly wrong!
“The fact that it’s always set in the rolling countryside or in a lovely estate makes it nice to look at too it’s peaceful viewing a million miles away from our hectic, everyday lives.
“In some ways I think it might be better to have it as part of Countryfile as that is such a big flagship programme on at a prime time, and attracts huge viewing figures.”
James admits that his own sheepdog, Dogmael, is never going to win any prizes.
“He’s useless! He’s half sheepdog and half Huntaway cross a kind of New Zealand sheepdog but he has never been trained properly. I’ve trained the sheep to come to a bucket of feed, which is the other way of doing it!
“My dad had a couple of very good sheepdogs that I used to work with but it takes a long time to train a dog properly. Also, a proper sheepdog costs around £5,000 and even a pup will set you back about £1,000 when I was setting the farm up I just didn’t have that kind of money.”
Ewan Pate, The Courier’s farming editor, said: “One Man and His Dog had huge appeal for the general public simply because of its gentle rural nature. It harked back to a skill which endured unchanged as mechanisation took over every other aspect of farm life.
“For farmer viewers it had its own fascination, especially for those who have tried to use a dog to control sheep and know how difficult it is without turning the air blue. The contestants all make it look easy but none of them can ever take anything for granted sheep are fickle beasts.
“But so are dogs and humans. Put all three together in an arena even one as bucolic looking as the normal One Man and His Dog setting and the potential for disaster is never far from the surface.
“It has been fascinating to watch over the years and here’s hoping the new Countryfile format still manages to capture the highs and lows of canine controlled sheep movement. It would be a great pity if the pen gate was ever to finally swing shut on televised sheepdog trialling.”
Bill Lyons, executive producer of Countryfile, is keen to reassure fans that One Man and His Dogs will still have a special place on TV. “It has been a much-loved part of the BBC’s schedule since 1976 and this move to a prime-time slot on Sunday evenings on BBC1 reinforces the special place that the programme has in the BBC’s coverage of country life.”
And fans needn’t despair quite yet. The BBC has decided on a one-off Christmas special in a completely new format it will be longer and an “affectionate tribute” presented by regular host Robin Page and will show a sheepdog trial specially created by the BBC featuring a “champion of champions” with winners from other events held across the country. There will also be a showcase of the top dogs in the sport, with short films showing them in their daily work with their owners.
One Man and His Dog Live! will be shown on BBC2 on September 15 and 22 at 5.10pm. Countryfile is currently on BBC1 on Sundays at 8pm.