Play all audios:
COUNTRYFILE STAR ADAM HENSON HAS OPENED UP ABOUT THE SUPPORT HE HAS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND HOW, OVER THE YEARS, HE HAS FACED SOME CHALLENGES WHILE RUNNING THE FARM 14:00, 31 May 2025
Adam Henson, known from BBC’s Countryfile, has candidly spoken out about the hurdles he's encountered in both his professional and personal spheres. While not on screen, Adam is hard at
work managing his family farm in the Cotswolds, a legacy started by his father Joe back in 1971. During an intimate chat with Reach PLC, Adam shared insight into the critical support
provided by loved ones and friends, admitting that steering the farm has indeed presented numerous obstacles over time. Further delving into his private life, Adam disclosed the tough period
following his wife Charlie’s cancer diagnosis. Adam conveyed his natural optimism, saying: "My characteristics are that I am an upbeat person, and I have got an incredibly supportive
family, wife and children and people around me.," reports Gloucestershire Live. Speaking of his professional dealings, he said: "And within the business, I have got a business
partner who I was at Agricultural College with and he is one of my closest friends and what we do is surround ourselves with people that are excellent within their own role in the business.
Whether that is a manager or a farm manager, and we work really closely with the team and we are all very honest and open with one another. Article continues below "I have had some very
difficult times in my life, both in business and personally. My wife was very ill a few years ago, my parents dying, and I lost a nephew." Sharing on how he's coped with these
trials, he noted: "We have gone through foot and mouth challenges, Covid, and we have had some tough times, but I've never had poor mental health because I've had that
fantastic support system around me." In an emotional disclosure, Adam and his wife previously opened up about the tremendous impact that the cancer diagnosis had on their lives. Back in
2021, the couple were confronted with the news they had been fearing when Charlie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Charlie confided to the Daily Mirror, expressing the shock they felt:
"It was both barrels," as she recounted the moment a significant tumour was discovered on her pancreas. "We knew people who'd died of pancreatic cancer, and I absolutely
felt this was going to be the end of my life." Adam shared his own turmoil: "I felt physically sick," while Charlie recalled the overwhelming confirmation of their worries,
saying: "Our darkest fears were confirmed. Adam had to practically carry me down the corridor. My legs were like jelly." The couple sought help from one of the nation's top
specialists, leading to Charlie being slated for a risky surgery, with the outcome hanging in the balance. On the day, Adam described the emotionally charged atmosphere: "There were a
lot of tears and a lot of emotion in the room." The family then travelled to London for Charlie's painstaking procedure, during which she prepared for the worst by penning final
letters to Adam, their kids, and her siblings. Article continues below However, two years on from those heart-wrenching times, Charlie has made steps towards normality, working part-time and
living in anticipation of her six-monthly scans. COUNTRYFILE IS AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON BBC IPLAYER.