BBC show Countryfile was met with some bizarre complaints just because some spoke Welsh in an episode. On Sunday, the hit programme featured community projects in Anglesey and Gwynedd, with the featured people speaking Welsh as a first-language.
Presenter Ellie Harrison interviewed people from Ynni Ogwen - a co-operative venture designed to produce electrical energy for the benefit of the local community in Bethesda. She also spoke to volunteers at Yr Orsaf - a community benefit organisation in Penygroes. The show also featured Bethesda Rugby Club and Cor Meibion y Penrhyn. Almost inexplicably, there was some criticism online about the interviewees replying in Welsh - despite the fact that English subtitles were shown on screen.
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But the inclusion of Wales' mother tongue prompted complaints from a rather vocal minority - with one viewer ridiculously claiming a few seconds of Welsh, which was subtitled into English, made the episode less inclusive.
One man fumed on Twitter: "Countryfile is a political platform, why subject us to Welsh speaking with subtitles? BBC wasting our licence fee on a programme I will no longer be watching."
Another tweeted: "Why does Countryfile think people speaking Welsh excites the rest of Great Britain?" A third posted: "These Welsh speakers on Countryfile aren't being very inclusive for those that don't speak it."
But those views proved to be in the minority, with many praising Countryfile for giving the language a platform on BBC1. One man said: "Great to see Cymraeg being spoken on Countryfile. Language is such an important part of culture and it's good to see it embraced rather than eroded."
One woman tweeted: "I'm shocked at all the negative responses to Welsh being spoken on Countryfile. (It's the) first language for the majority in that part of Wales."
Another man praised the showcasing of Welsh: "Good to see Countryfile having Welsh speakers. Sadly my Welsh is not good enough so had to rely on the subtitles but good on you BBC."
The episode is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer.
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