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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Countryfile's Adam Henson opens up on 'very challenging' and 'horrible' struggle
Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, who has been fronting the BBC show since 2001, has opened up about a 'very challenging' year for the farming and tourism sectors Countryfile's Adam Henson has described 2024 as a "very challenging" year for the tourism and farming industries, primarily due to the extreme weather conditions. The past year recorded the sixth wettest spring in history, followed by an underwhelming summer that only saw a brief heatwave in August. In fact, the 2023-24 season witnessed the highest number of named storms since the naming system began a decade ago. The persistent rain carried on into September and autumn, wreaking havoc on the harvest, according to Adam. He said: "Yeah, it's been very challenging for, well, tourist enterprises, outdoor tourist enterprises and farms right across the UK, just because it's been horrible. "We've certainly got some fields with quite a lot of crops in them that we haven't actually harvested and we never will." In a conversation with Minerva magazine, Adam mentioned that nowadays, over 60 per cent of farmers take on a second job as a safeguard against poor seasons. "Duncan, my business partner, over the last 30 years, continued developing the farm park, and then to grow and expand on the types of diversification we've got," he elaborated. At 59-year-old, Adam reflected on the wisdom he gained from his father Joe Henson, who hosted a TV programme called In The Country. He remembers his dad emphasising that adaptability is crucial for enduring tough times. Adam shared how witnessing his father's career flourish through television work and the popularity of the Farm Park taught him the importance of having diverse sources of income at the farm. Adam took a hands-on approach to the family venture in his teens. "I love the Farm Park – the camping and glamping element too as well as the farming. We have a beautiful spot here and I love to share that." But he warns that farming comes with its shares of highs and lows. "To be a farmer, I think you have to be incredibly committed. I grew up in Wiltshire and lots of my friends are farmers and they never knew whether they're going to have a good year," he said. Adam himself faced a dire situation when the Foot and Mouth crisis threatened his family farm's survival. Speaking to The Countrywoman's Guide, Adam described that period: "For us, Foot and Mouth was a really hard time. "We were tenants of the farm and we were heavily invested in Cotswold Farm Park, as we'd borrowed a lot of money, on top of our heavy overdraft, to push forward the business forward." The outbreak struck soon after he and his business associate Duncan had taken out loans to grow their enterprise. With over 2,000 cases recorded nationwide and upwards of six million sheep and cattle culled to prevent the contagion, the UK was reeling. According to Adam, the epidemic left his business hanging by a thread. "It was horrible, and we were in trouble," he admitted. "The farm closed, the bank was closing in on us, as was our landlord. "We sat around the kitchen table with our wives – all our assets were tied up in the farm, if we lost the business, we lost our houses and our livelihoods."
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Countryfile's Adam Henson shares insight into famous relatives including EastEnders actor uncle
Countryfile presenter Adam Henson has shared a rare insight into his famous family, including his uncle Nicky Henson, who starred in EastEnders among other shows Adam Henson, known for his regular appearances on Countryfile, has recently provided a glimpse into his family life, which boasts connections to EastEnders and television stardom. The 59-year-old presenter, who first hit screens in 2001, grew up familiar with the glam world of showbiz thanks to his father, Joe Henson, who featured in programmes like Animal Magic, and shared the screen with broadcasting legend Angela Rippon. In a chat with Minerva magazine, he reminisced about rubbing shoulders with celebrities who visited the farm on account of his dad's media work, and discussed his uncle, Nicky Henson, a notable actor guest-starring in series such as Inspector Morse, Lovejoy, and Fawlty Towers. Nicky also had a role on EastEnders as Jack Edwards in 2006. Adam recalled: "My dad used to work on the telly with Johnny Morris on Animal Magic and a program called In The Country with Angela Rippon. "So the telly wasn't alien for me. And my uncle was a famous actor, Nicky Henson. So we used to have celebrities coming to the farm," reports Gloucestershire Live. Sadly, Nicky Henson passed away in 2019 following a lengthy battle with cancer. Prior to his passing, he reflected on his life post-diagnosis in an interview. He expressed gratitude for his extended time, saying: "For the last 18 years, I've regarded myself as 'being in extra time', which I never expected to have, so I'm very thankful for it. "I got my first cancer on Christmas day 18 years ago and didn't think I was going to survive, after I was told I had a large tumour and would have to be operated on." The actor's health battle involved major surgery to remove the first tumour, which entailed taking out half of his colon and a third of his stomach. Although he initially recovered, a follow-up scan a few years later revealed another tumour, prompting a six-month course of the medication Gleevac to shrink it to a size suitable for surgery. Adam credits his wife and father for encouraging him to take the leap into showbusiness, suggesting he apply for a presenting role. Prior to his TV debut, he had taken over the family farm in 1999, two years before landing his breakthrough role on Countryfile. In an interview with Minerva, Adam shared: "My wife worked in television and did a presenter search. So she and my dad persuaded me to apply and we agreed that it wouldn't matter if I had a go at trying to get a job presenting, but never thinking I'd get the job. "And amazingly I managed to land it and been doing it ever since." Adam is set to return to Countryfile alongside co-presenters Matt Baker and Sammi Kinghorn, airing tonight (Sunday, May 4) at 7pm on BBC One.
