Countryfile’s Adam Henson has candidly revealed the harsh realities of managing a farm in the UK in 2025, expressing that it has been an arduous time for the industry.
The beloved 59-year-old presenter acknowledged the significant challenges faced by outdoor enterprises and farms across the UK, particularly due to the adverse conditions. These challenges have resulted in decreased revenue, especially as the country approaches its peak tourist season.
Having been a part of Countryfile since 2001, Henson delved further into the mental fortitude required to be a farmer, particularly one under the public eye. He, along with fellow personalities like Matt Baker and Jeremy Clarkson, has elevated the awareness of the agricultural profession.
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Reflecting on the year, Henson conveyed to Minerva Magazines: “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.
“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. We plant crops not quite sure what the yields will be.
“We don’t know the price we will get. And so it is a bit of a gamble. You try to do your very, very best to grow good crops and breed good animals and look after them to our best your ability. But yes, it can be tricky at times.”
In addition to the challenges on the farm, Henson has also faced personal tragedies, including his wife Charlie’s diagnosis with pancreatic cancer last year. In response to this devastating news, the couple chose to marry a few weeks later.
Following the pancreatic cancer diagnosis, which has a bleak five percent survival rate for individuals living beyond a decade, Charlie penned farewell letters to be read by loved ones after her passing, as reported by the Daily Mirror.
Sharing her experience, Charlie expressed, “It was both barrels. We knew people who’d died of pancreatic cancer, and I absolutely felt this was going to be the end of my life. Our darkest fears were confirmed. Adam had to practically carry me down the corridor. My legs were like jelly.”
Discussing their wedding in the same interview, Henson conveyed the mixed emotions they experienced during the ceremony.
He recounted, “We cried a lot. Those vows cemented my emotions and let me say from the heart how I feel about Charlie.
“The registrar wasn’t aware of our situation and said she’d never had such an emotional couple. For us, it was a way of saying goodbye to everyone.
“There were a lot of tears and a lot of emotion in the room. Charlie wore an ivory dress and looked stunning when she walked in with her mum.
“We were both crying through the vows, and the next very emotional time for me was giving a speech at the reception.”
Adam Henson’s segment on Countryfile airs today (Sunday, April 13) at 5.15pm on BBC One.