Countryfile viewers in hysterics as Simon King tells presenter Ellie Harrison to ‘spread her legs’ for perfect snap

COUNTRYFILE viewers were in hysterics watching yesterday’s show after Simon King told presenter Ellie Harrison to “spread her legs” while teaching her photography skills.

The pair were stationed on a hillside taking pictures of birds when naturalist Simon encouraged her to “become a tripod” in a bid to stabilise her handheld shots.

He began: “The faster you can get your shutter speed to work then the more likely you are to freeze movement.”

Simon demonstrated by taking clear shots of a swooping jackdaw.

Ellie said: “That movement is quite hard. You’re sort of holding your camera then realising you have to be moving constantly.”

Her colleague then imparted his advice, saying: “This is the other thing, make yourself into the stabilising device.

“So what you’re doing, get your elbow, tuck it in here, spread your legs a bit, like that, be that tripod, and then use your body to do the track.”

Viewers couldn’t help but have a childish giggle at the unfortunate choice of words, with one writing: “#countryfile spread your legs Ellie… blimey…direct.”

Another joked: “‘Spread your legs Ellie.’ This photographer doesn’t waste any time! #countryfile.”

As a third laughed: “Simon telling Ellie to spread her legs. Oooh Matron #countryfile.”

The award-winning show has been on air since 1988 and is currently the nation’s most-watched factual TV series with 6million viewers.

It airs 52 weeks of the year and features a stellar line-up of presenters including Matt Baker, Ellie Harrison, John Craven, Anita Rani, Tom Heap, Helen Skelton and Adam Henson.