Adam Henson, the familiar face of Countryfile and operator of the 50-acre Cotswold Farm Park, recently shared his true feelings about fellow celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson. Known for owning Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds since 2008, Clarkson only began hands-on farming in 2019, a journey documented in his Amazon Prime series, Clarkson’s Farm.
During a recent episode of The FarmED Podcast, host Alex Dye probed how Adam thinks the farming community perceives him and whether he fits the “Marmite” description—someone people either love or hate. Adam embraced the comparison with good humor, admitting, “Yeah, completely. Probably not as Marmite as Jeremy Clarkson, but I am quite Marmite, I think.”
He explained that working on Countryfile, which covers a wide range of countryside topics rather than focusing solely on farming, sometimes stirs frustration among farmers. “Farmers watching it get frustrated that we’re not robust enough in some of our communication about farming, the technology, the finances, the struggles, and we’re not championing British farming enough,” Adam said.
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Yet, he acknowledged that his approach also earns applause from others, highlighting the divide in opinions. Adam clarified that Countryfile’s primary goal is to attract viewers, stating, “The show’s purpose isn’t solely to champion the farming industry. It’s designed to generate viewing figures, and whatever drives those numbers, the BBC will make more of.”
Beyond his reflections on farming fame, Adam shared exciting news from his own farm park. Writing in BBC Countryfile Magazine, he revealed the pregnancy of Lexy, his beloved Suffolk Punch mare—a breed considered critically endangered. Lexy is due to give birth in May, and Adam expressed hopes for a smooth delivery and a healthy foal, underscoring the significance of this addition to preserving a rare British heavy horse breed.
Fans can catch Adam Henson on BBC One’s Countryfile Sunday evening from 6pm to 7pm.