Adam Henson Opens Up About BBC Pay and His Passion for Farming Stories
Countryfile presenter Adam Henson has revealed that the BBC's financial remuneration for his work is modest, as he spoke candidly about his motivations for pursuing his career. The 60-year-old made the remarks during a Q&A session alongside fellow farmer Olly Harrison at the Cotswold Farm Park.
Near the end of the event, a member of the audience asked whether he considered sharing farming stories a profession or a duty. The audience member said: "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?"
Henson: 'It's a Joy, Not a Job or a Responsibility'
Adam responded by saying he had spent his entire life recounting tales of farming life, well before his television career began, reports the Mirror. He explained: "I don't think it's either things. I think it's a joy. I grew up on this farm, running around pulling on my little wellies, chasing my dad out the door. Farm Park opened in 1971."
"So, as a young boy, you know when this was all happening, and I used to follow him around. And I'd love showing people our newborn lambs and handing them a baby chick and help bottle feed a lamb. And so 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."
He added: "And then I get the pleasure of travelling all over the UK and into Dysons yesterday watching robots picking strawberries and that for me is a huge honour and pleasure and a gift and the BBC don't pay me much to do it. So, it's got to be a joy."
Henson's Profile Overshadowed by Clarkson's Farm Success
While Adam has dedicated years to championing British farming, his prominence has been somewhat overshadowed in recent years by the success of Clarkson's Farm and its presenter, Jeremy Clarkson. Since launching, the hit series has generated fresh public enthusiasm for agriculture, with many drawing parallels to how Formula 1: Drive to Survive revitalised interest in Formula 1.
Adam has previously commended both Clarkson and his programme, maintaining there is room for both shows to champion British agriculture. In conversation with the Oxford Mail, he suggested it was not about Clarkson's Farm being superior or more significant than Countryfile, but rather that both programmes play a vital role in highlighting farming across the UK.
He explained: "It seems to me from the people around him and from his own voice that he's really found a passion in farming. He's a great advocate for British agriculture, and he's tied up with some great people who work on the programme with him. Clarkson's Farm is very funny, it's quite theatrical in the way it's produced, but it's brought agriculture and farming to a whole new section of society. And for me as a farmer who loves telling the story about British agriculture, you've now got programmes like Countryfile and Clarkson's Farm, you've got YouTubers, you've got people on Instagram."
