Across its nearly 38-year run, Countryfile has not only celebrated the British countryside but has also seen members of its presenting team confront serious health struggles, from a long-term injury to cancer ordeal

Countryfile presenters including Matt Baker, Adam Henson and John Craven (Image: BBC)
Countryfile has long been a trusted source of insight into rural life, farming practices and environmental issues across Britain, featuring a wide range of presenters during its remarkable 37-year run.

Although familiar faces such as former host Julia Bradbury, 55, and current presenters Matt Baker, 48, Adam Henson, 60, Charlotte Smith, 62, and John Craven, 85, are best known for their upbeat appearances celebrating the countryside, many have faced significant personal challenges away from the cameras.

From cancer battles to living with serious health conditions, we take a closer look at the hardships they have overcome.

Julia Bradbury has spoken openly about her previous cancer diagnosis. (Image: INSTAGRAM/JULIABRADBURY)

Julia Bradbury’s cancer battle

Julia Bradbury has been open about her journey back to health, following her breast cancer ordeal. In her new ITV series Wonders Of The Frozen South, she grew emotional as she reflected on how far she had come five years on.

Following her 2021 diagnosis, she had a mastectomy to remove a 6cm tumour and confesses she previously questioned whether she would ever regain sufficient strength, both physically and mentally, to travel and film again.

Arriving at Paradise Harbour in Antarctica represented a profound milestone for her, symbolising what she characterised as “living my second life, the one after cancer, to the full”.

Arriving at Paradise Harbour in Antarctica represented a profound milestone for her, symbolising what she characterised as “living my second life, the one after cancer, to the full”.

John Craven said his health issues ‘crept up’ on him (Image: BBC)

John Craven’s health journey

In January 2022, John Craven candidly discussed several health concerns that had gradually “crept up” on him. Discussing his vision, he disclosed that his eyesight began to decline during his 40s, prompting him to start wearing glasses.

“At first, I worried what people would say about my wearing spectacles on TV, but there wasn’t a single comment,” he told the Daily Mail.

By his 60s, John noticed his hearing had “begun to fail”, revealing: “I couldn’t make out conversations in crowded places, the sounds of nature became muffled and ‘say it again’ started to become a common response.”

He now uses a hearing aid and is particularly satisfied with how it eradicates “wind noise” while filming outdoors. Despite these hurdles, John maintains that he is in good health and has no intention of stepping down from his role anytime soon.

Matt Baker suffered a nasty fall while performing in panto (Image: GETTY)

Matt Baker’s ongoing injury struggle

TV presenter Matt Baker continues to grapple with the consequences of a serious fall that took place shortly before Christmas 2022. The accident occurred while performing a stunt with chairs during a production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, causing him to land heavily on his coccyx.

The mishap resulted in a herniated disc, requiring ongoing rehabilitation. In an interview with The Sun last September, he stated: “I’m just trying to do rehab all the time and stretch and do strength training exercises and that.”

Matt disclosed that he’s been unable to bend forwards and has struggled to get out of bed on certain days.

Committed to getting back into fitness, the presenter revealed he had been building a rustic gym in his stable.

Charlotte Smith received chilling news from a doctor in 2010 (Image: BBC)

“For the last few years, I’ve been dealing with chronic back pain, and I’ve honestly felt like a massive part of me has been missing,” he shared in an Instagram video last month.

“So I’m going to work through what feels like a bit of a sticky wall to get myself back in the game. I’ll take it gently, and thankfully, due to gymnastics, I know what I’m doing. #gym #training #farmlife #countrylife.”

Charlotte Smith’s misdiagnosis

For numerous years, Charlotte Smith believed her life was limited following a diagnosis of a rare and potentially fatal lung condition, Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).

Recalling a distressing conversation with a doctor in 2010, the broadcaster revealed: “The doctor was honest and told me all the stats, including it being 10 years, on average, between diagnosis and needing a lung transplant or even death.”

Following an operation for a collapsed lung eight years later, Charlotte discovered that her original diagnosis had been wrong.

In a 2018 interview with The Sun, she disclosed: “They had to do an operation this time and they discovered that I am very lucky. I do not have that disease.

Adam Henson pictured with his wife Charlie (Image: JONATHANBUCKMASTER)

“I was misdiagnosed – which actually I’m very relaxed about because to be told you don’t have something is much better than being told you do.”

Despite the welcome news, medics remained baffled by her lung problems. “They have holes in them and they don’t really know why,” she said.

“So I have about 80 per cent of the lung capacity a fit person would.”

Adam Henson’s family ordeal

While not directly affected himself, Adam Henson confessed he “went through the mill” when his wife, Charlie, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Charlie started displaying symptoms during the Christmas period in 2020, and by February 2021, medics had detected a 4.5cm tumour. Healthcare professionals warned her that her survival prospects were poor.

Thankfully, surgeons successfully treated her, removing part of her pancreas in what Adam described as “a very complicated operation.”

Thanks to surgery and months of recovery, she found herself to be “fit and healthy” within two years.

Speaking about the continuing treatment regime, Adam told BBC Gloucestershire: “She has to take certain enzymes when she eats, because the piece of the pancreas that has been removed means her enzymes aren’t active enough to digest her food properly.

We went through the mill but we have come out the other side. It was a very, very difficult time for her in particular but for us as a family.”