During Sunday’s episode of BBC’s Countryfile, beloved presenter John Craven shared exciting news that left viewers impressed. The latest Countryfile calendar, a highlight of the show’s annual photography competition, has already raised an incredible £1,776,082 for Children in Need.
The Countryfile calendar competition, running for more than 30 years, has become one of the UK’s most prestigious photography contests. Last year’s winner, Ursula Armstrong, earned first place with her striking image “Seal of Approval,” which graces the cover of the 2025 calendar.
For the 2026 edition, Countryfile invited viewers nationwide to submit their best photos showcasing the UK’s wildlife, insects, plants, and landscapes. The chosen twelve images appear in the new calendar, priced at £11.99 including postage.
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Broadcast from Northumberland, John Craven highlighted the calendar’s smashing success and urged anyone yet to purchase a copy to do so before the January 31 deadline. Expressing gratitude, he said, “So from all of us, to everyone who has bought one of our calendars and helped us raise that amount, a very, very big thank you.”
Though many celebrated the fundraising triumph, some fans humorously noted the calendar promotion came a bit late into the new year. On social media, viewers joked about last-minute calendar shopping and potential discounts.
The call for entries for this year’s photography competition was launched in June 2025 during the show, with presenter Anita Rani encouraging submissions capturing “the weird and wonderful landscape” of locations like Spurn Point. John reflected on the beauty of the British countryside and the theme of “wild encounters” for this year’s contest.
Countryfile continues to air Sundays at 6pm on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.