Countryfile host Adam Henson has candidly discussed the “difficult” criticism he often encounters from some viewers who are “fed up”.
The-59-year old presenter, a staple on the popular BBC show for almost 24 years, acknowledges the hurdles of appealing to a diverse audience.
With an estimated four million regular viewers, Adam understands the necessity of communicating in a manner that is comprehensible to both those with and without a background in farming.
However, this approach can sometimes lead to frustration among viewers over the language used.
Robert Fenicks, host of The Tweedl Pod, observed that Adam frequently “gets a bit of stick” from the farming community and sympathised with the difficulty of dealing with such feedback. He suggested to Adam that jealousy might be a factor in these reactions, reports Devon Live.
In a conversation back in September, Adam shared: “It is difficult and what you have to remember as a presenter is to not be biased about anything, within the BBC you have to be balanced with your viewpoint, you can’t campaign for anything particularly.
“But also, we’re talking to an audience of three-and-a-half million people, some of which are farmers, countryside people, gamekeepers, others are living in a flat in Hackney or Coventry, wherever it is.
“They could be eight or 80 and they may have never been onto farms. So we have to use language that doesn’t insult the expert but informs the uninformed.Adam stressed the delicate balance required in their communication approach”.
Adam has spoken about the careful communication needed when discussing farming and rural life.
He said: “They could be eight or 80 and they may have never been onto farms. So we have to use language that doesn’t insult the expert but informs the uninformed.Adam stressed the delicate balance required in their communication approach.”
He added, “Sometimes the rural and farming community don’t understand that and get a bit fed up and say, ‘why don’t you just say it as it is boy’ and you know are a bit brash with me sometimes about it. But I try and explain that.”
Born into a farming family, Adam grew up on Bemborough Farm in Cheltenham. His father Joe was the driving force behind transforming the farm into the popular Cotswold Farm Park in 1971.
The park, known for its lambing experiences, luxury glamping options, and large play areas, has since become a top visitor attraction. In 1999, Adam took over the tenancy of the farm before joining the Countryfile team in 2001.
‘Countryfile’ airs at 6pm on BBC One.
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