Who is Ellie Harrison and why did she leave Countryfile? [updated Guide Lolndon]

ELLIE Harrison burst onto the scene when the bubbly presenter joined the Countryfile team.

However, the popular host left fans shocked when she quit the much-loved BBC programme after 13 years at the job.

Who is Ellie Harrison?

Born November 17, 1977, Ellie Harrison, is a TV host from Gloucestershire.

Her father was a carpenter and she was brought up in the countryside where her family grew their own vegetables and kept chickens.

After finishing uni, she began her career in TV presenting.

In 2009, Ellie landed the plum job of being a Countryfile presenter on the hit BBC One show.

What TV shows has Ellie Harrison appeared on?

Ellie began her career as a secretary at Channel 5 whilst trying to become a country singer.

The first show she presented was Michaela’s Wild Challenge which won a children’s Bafta.

She then went on to work as a freelance presenter across various channels.

Ellie is best known for presenting Countryfile on the BBC, and has also appeared on The Great British Winter and the Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet.

She has also hosted Britain’s Sharks and Britain’s Whales, and is the presenter of Secret Britain.

Who is Ellie Harrison’s partner Matthew Goodman?

Matthew Goodman is a GP from Brighton.

He previously dated This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby.

Ellie and Matthew have been together since 2005, but aren’t married.

In 2o20, She revealed that she underwent a painful scarring procedure on her arm to express her dedication to Matt.

The art, called “scarification”, saw a professional carve into her arm with a blade.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, she admitted that there were only a few places in the country that you can get it done. She quipped: “I’m not surprised. Frankly, it’s shocking.”

Ellie revealed that the reason she got it done was to represent the amount of time she and her partner Matt Goodman had been together.

A row of small circular scars line up on Ellie’s arm and represent the years she’s been with Matt.

Does Ellie Harrison have any children?

Together with partner Matt, she has three children.

The couple have two daughters, and a son.

The presenter and her family live in Gloucestershire, where she grew up.

Ellie keeps her family life away from the spotlight and as such the names of her children are unknown.

As part of an interview for the BBC show Secret Britain, Ellie opened up on how her work often takes her away from her family.

While talking of the most challenging part of her job, she said: “Long days, especially in the summer when there is so much light to use.”

Why did Ellie Harrison leave Countryfile?

In October 2023, Ellie shocked fans when she revealed she was leaving Countryfile after 13 years.

Speaking in her regular Countryfile magazine column, Ellie wrote: “After 13 years, my final column is a fond farewell to Countryfile – I’ll miss the people, places and stories.

“Thirteen-and-a-half years after I arrived four hours early for my first Countryfile shoot, which culminated in me commuting up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) to deliver Matt Baker a sandwich of freshly harvested mushrooms, it has come time for me to bid you farewell.

“It has been a decision I’ve drawn out, such is the bond with the programme, and boy will I miss the geography field trips. But like all endings, I’ll take all the lessons from these days forward with me on my journey.”

She went on to shine a light on “thornier” issues such as biofuels and meat production, before reminding readers that “our countryside is a gift”.

Ellie concluded by revealing her reasons for leaving the show, which was to focus on her family, her business and new opportunities.

“There are many things I’ll miss,” she wrote. “I’ve come to realise that I don’t need to navigate to a whole new ocean or even a new sea, but to chart a new course somewhere in these waters, raising my three wonderful children, growing our family business and following my own creative calling to produce art of my own making.

“The winds of change are blowing, my hands turn the tiller and I close my eyes to take comfort from Invictus: ‘I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.'”

A BBC spokesperson said: “Ellie is a much-loved and valued member of the Countryfile family and will be missed.

“We would like to thank her for her commitment to the programme and for sharing her passion for wildlife and the great outdoors.

“We will be celebrating her contribution in a special show on December 3 and wish her all the best.”