I don't get Will And Grace. It's one of those US comedy shows that by-passes my funny bone. Having survived eight seasons in its homeland, I must assume I'm in a minority in sitting stony-faced throughout.

The basic premises puts a twist on our very own Man About The House. Instead of a man flat-sharing with two women, we have a gay man flat-sharing with a straight woman. This week's joke is that Grace goes on a TV talk show hosted by Jack (who belongs to the camper-than-a-row-of-tents brigade) and says, through insensitive editing of the programme: "I hate gays".

This is not well received in the homosexual community. They boo her, throw things at her in the street, call her homophobic. She becomes the object of the mother of all hissy fits.

"Shame on you, bad queens," she tells them. "I love you people, I've always loved you in a very unhealthy way."

As for Karen, the one with the squeaky voice, won't someone please gag her, along with the audience whose hysterical laughter makes them sound like a pack of demented hyenas?

How much more peaceful and gentle is life in the countryside, namely the area along the 157 miles of the River Wye as it flows from the mountains of mid-Wales to the Severn Estuary. As one local puts it in the Natural World film: "Anyone who doesn't fall in love with the Wye Valley, there has to be something wrong with them."

I doubt you'll see a more beautifully shot - so beautiful at times it's painful - film for some time as it follows four people (cidermaker, salmon fisherman, sheep farmer and beekeeper) along the Wye over the four seasons.

There's no intrusive narration to disturb the idyllic, lyrical shots of rivers, fields, sunsets, sunrises and a whole menagerie of wildlife on land, air and in the water. Just the quartet talking about their life and work.

The climate makes it ideal for cidermaker Mike. He takes quality control very seriously, or maybe that's an excuse for constantly tasting the cider.

He begins the season with a spot of wassailing, which sounds like something Rampling Syd Rumpole would have done on radio's Round The Horne. It's a ritual in the orchard that involves lighting fires around the oldest tree and toasting it so it bears fruit.

Hill farmers Derek and Vanessa are fond of their animals, notably very photogenic, but thick, sheep. "I'm not saying they're stupid, but they do rely on us," says Derek.

The couple have delivered tens of thousands of lambs but say it's still a joy to see a healthy lamb arrive. Mind you, it's a busy time. They're up 24 hours a day with 500 ewes to lamb

Meanwhile, Mike is still on quality control. "I do have the temptation to taste too much," he admits, pointing out that "it's more alcoholic than it looks".

Beekeeper Gareth has problems with wasps and hornets attacking his hives. It's fascinating to see the intruders get a less-than-warm welcome. "If a wasp tries to get in, it's a bit like a gatecrasher at a club, the bouncers - the guard bees - usually defend the colonies and it will take two or three bees to see off a wasp," he says.

Ghillie and fisherman Lyndon has a hard time too. The salmon don't come for the first time in 20 years. It's a sign that changing weather patterns are affecting wildlife.