Countryfile at Ragley Hall

Buy photos » Countryfile presenter John Craven filming at Ragley Hall. (s)

RAGLEY Hall will be star of BBC's Countryfile Christmas special on Sunday evening (December 23).

The show, on BBC 1 from 5.30pm, will look at how the stately home and country estate near Alcester celebrates the festive period and prepares for a staff Christmas party.

The BBC selected Ragley from 20 country estates around the UK it approached for the show, which attracts 8 million viewers.

The crew and presenters, which included Ellie Harrison, Julia Bradbury, John Craven, Tom Heap and Matt Baker, spent three days filming at Ragley late last month.

The majority of the filming took place inside the hall with the Hertford family and staff, showing the hall being decorated and the food being prepared for the Christmas party.

However the crew also spent time at the Sawmill to film Ragley’s log, woodchip and Christmas tree production, the farm to see the sheep being moved and housed by the shepherd, and at Ragley Estate Meats to show the butchers at work.

The episode will also feature Alcester Male Voice Choir performing at the party.

Ragley commercial manager Emma Maguire said: “The estate is always extremely busy in the run up to Christmas with decorating the hall and playing host to numerous parties and events so it was a great opportunity to showcase Ragley."

Visit www.ragleyhall.com for more information.

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