Adam Henson, the beloved presenter of Countryfile, recently opened up about his BBC pay, revealing that he doesn’t earn much from the broadcaster. During a Q&A session alongside fellow farmer Olly Harrison at the Cotswold Farm Park, the 60-year-old shared his heartfelt motivations for continuing to tell farming stories.
Near the end of the event, an audience member asked: “You are two of the most important farming storytellers we’ve got in this country and you both have massive audiences. When you wake up in the morning, do you think that’s a job or a responsibility?”
Adam responded candidly, explaining that storytelling has been part of his life long before his television career began. “I don’t think it’s either thing,” he said. “I think it’s a joy.” He reminisced about growing up on the farm, running around in his wellies, following his father’s footsteps. “The Farm Park opened in 1971,” he added. “I used to love showing people our newborn lambs, handing them a baby chick, and helping bottle-feed a lamb.”
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He emphasized that storytelling about farming feels natural to him: “I grew up telling farming stories and talking to people about animals. I’m not very bright, I don’t read the news, I’m not very political, but I love telling people farming stories.”
Reflecting on his work, Adam said, “I get the pleasure of travelling all over the UK. Just yesterday I was at Dyson’s, watching robots picking strawberries—that for me is a huge honour, a pleasure, and a gift. And the BBC don’t pay me much to do it. So, it’s got to be a joy.”
Despite his long-standing dedication to British farming, Adam’s profile has somewhat been eclipsed recently by the surge in popularity of Jeremy Clarkson’s Clarkson’s Farm series. The hit show has brought renewed public interest in agriculture, much like “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” did for motorsport.
Adam has expressed admiration for Clarkson and the show, highlighting that there’s room for both programs to promote farming across the UK. In an interview with the Oxford Mail, he said it’s not about which program is better, but that each plays a vital role.
Clarkson, he said, “has really found a passion in farming. He’s a great advocate for British agriculture, and he works with some fantastic people on the show.”
Adam noted that while Clarkson’s Farm is theatrical and humorous, it has successfully introduced farming to a wider audience. “And for me, as a farmer who loves telling the story of British agriculture, now we’ve got Countryfile, Clarkson’s Farm, YouTubers, and Instagram personalities all championing farming stories.”