SPRINGWATCH viewers were left horrified after a hedgehog “brutally massacred” a bird during a segment on the show.
The eighteenth season of the critically-acclaimed show, hosted by Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan, continued on Wednesday night – and fans were soon left squirming.
The new series is set to air on BBC Two from Monday to Thursday for the next three weeks, bringing watchers some of the best of British springtime wildlife.
During yesterday evening’s episode, Chris and Michaela were at Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk.
While most were delighted to see it back on their screens, others were left “traumatised” after a hedgehog tore a baby skylark “limb from limb” on camera.
Despite the insightful segment, viewers weren’t impressed and soon flooded Twitter with their views.
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NOT ON MY WATCH
Springwatch viewers all have the same complaint as nature series kicks off
Alongside an array of shocked-faced emojis, one person penned: “The hedgehog predating the skylarks nest on Springwatch has me conflicted. What a TV shocker!”
Echoing their comments, someone else said: “I’ve gone off hedgehogs after I watched one crunching on skylark chicks on Springwatch.”
While a third remarked: “Hedgehogs are cunning predators. Who knew?”
Earlier this week, the show was given an unlikely nod from multi-award-winning actor, Tom Hanks.
The long-running nature series was previewed on The One Show – and the Toy Story star was full of praise for the show.
After the feed cut away from Springwatch hosts Chris and Michaela, Hanks questioned: “Can we just say how great the BBC is?”
“You’re not going to get that live every night in the United States. That is just something else.”
Viewers shared the clip of Hanks’s reaction on social media, with many approving of his take on the BBC.
“He’s right, you know,” wrote critic and broadcaster Scott Bryan, before adding: “British TV every day is some of the best in the world.”
Springwatch is available to watch on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
