Countryfile Ellie Harrison's life – dating Holly Willoughby's ex to exit reason (2024)

Countryfile recap Ellie Harrison's time on the show

For 13 years, Ellie Harrison was a favourite on Countryfile, captivating audiences with her passion for nature and outdoor activities. However, the mother of three chose to bid farewell to the popular BBC programme to embark on new ventures.

In her final Countryfile column, she revealed that her attention will now shift towards raising her children, expanding her family business, and pursuing her "creative calling" to create art of "her own making".

Ellie, who hails from Gloucestershire, assured viewers that they would see her "again someday", highlighting that her unique "bond with the programme" made her decision particularly challenging. As Ellie transitions to new horizons, we delve into her off-screen life, from her overlooked country music career to her relationship with a dashing doctor.

Country music aspirations

At 45, Ellie is widely recognised for her expertise in wildlife and outdoor exploration, so many fans might be unaware of her hidden musical prowess. Before carving out a niche in presenting, Ellie pursued a career in country music, juggling various jobs as she strived to make a name for herself as a singer in an acoustic band, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE Countryfile fans fume 'I'm off' over clothing special [DISCUSSION]

Ellie Harrison backstage at BBC Children In Need (Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

However, destiny had other plans. After securing a secretarial role at Channel 5, Ellie's television career took off.

Following a stint covering for Michaela Strachan on Michaela's Wild Challenge, Ellie was quickly recruited for a variety of other programmes, including The One Show, The Great British Winter, and Country Tracks.

Ellie Harrison, known for her expertise in rural affairs, secured a regular role on Countryfile in 2009. Reflecting on the more challenging aspects of her journey on the beloved programme, Ellie penned: "There are some thornier lessons that come with me: a belief that tradition doesn't get a free pass and needs to prove its place in the countryside; a question about land ownership and payments (it's right that we challenge outcomes that see millionaires being paid to burn biofuels with the windows open); the difficulty of showing the full and graphic process of meat production; and the ever-downward trend in wildlife numbers."

Presenter Ellie Harrison (Image: PA)

"But there are the joyful reminders, too, that our countryside is a gift, brought to you via the arteries of our ancestors' footwork across the land, as well as the realisation over the years that even the most opposing views in the countryside share nearly everything in common. Imagine the combined force of so much knowledge if it were taken to the changemakers."

GP partner

Ellie is in a decades-long relationship with her GP fiance Matthew Goodman, previously connected romantically with television figure Holly Willoughby. Having been an item since 2005, the couple haven't yet walked down the aisle.

Don't miss...
Countryfile star Adam Henson's heartbreak over 'struggle' on wedding day [INSIGHT]
Countryfile's Anita Rani 'loves' being 'single with no children' after split [INTERVIEW]
Countryfile fans fume BBC is 'box ticking' as they issue the same complaint [DISCUSSION]

Ellie Harrison presented Countryfile (Image: BBC Studios/Pete Dadds)

Officially unwed, Ellie has nonetheless shown her loyalty to Matthew in a unique manner - via scarification on their tenth anniversary. For those unacquainted, scarification is deliberate skin cutting resulting in scars forming specific designs or patterns.

Chatting with Mail Online, Ellie confessed: "I presented my arm to him in this kind of cling film wrap. You have to scrub [the cuts] out and put Vaseline on, then clingfilm to keep the wounds open and clean. He was a bit shocked, I must say. He said he was conflicted because I'd hurt myself in this pursuit, but he was obviously really quite emotional."

Further, she shared: "We're not married, but this was my great offering to him. Obviously, if he leaves me I'll have to create a different story about what it's about! He's the most handsome man on Earth. He's my beloved and I hope we die together. Not yet. But that's my wish - that we end up dying together."

Ellie and Matthew are parents to three children - daughters Red, 13, Lux, 11, and a seven year old whose name remains private. The family resides in the scenic Cotswolds, where Ellie maintains a smallholding and an old apple orchard.

• Countryfile confirms death of guest after heartwarming moment
• Countryfile star quits BBC show after 13 years as she teases 'see you again'
• Countryfile's Ellie Harrison explains real reason for show exit
• Countryfile fans threaten to boycott as Ellie holds back tears in final episode
• Countryfile's Adam Henson makes viewers queasy as they issue same complaint