Anita Rani, the beloved presenter of BBC One's Countryfile, has opened up about the personal heartbreaks she has endured away from the screen, including a miscarriage and the end of her marriage. The 48-year-old broadcaster, who has been a familiar face on television since the early 2000s, shared her struggles in recent interviews while continuing to front a new four-part special exploring England's east coast.
A New Chapter After Divorce
Anita married Bhupinder Rehal in 2009, but the couple separated, with the split confirmed in 2023 after more than a decade of marriage. In an interview with The Times, she described herself as 'entering chapter two' of her life. Following the divorce, she took a solo trip to the Dolomites, saying, 'Becoming single in my mid-forties has made me re-evaluate everything.'
The Pain of Miscarriage
During her marriage, Anita suffered a miscarriage in 2018. She told Red magazine that the experience 'completely shifted my perspective on life and how I was living it.' At the time, she was balancing a packed schedule with Countryfile and preparing for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. Reflecting in 2020, she said: 'All year I felt anxiety and insecurity like never before. What made those feelings worse was the terror of not knowing or understanding what I was going through. I didn't recognise myself. It's only now, after a year of reflection and paying attention, that I fully understand what the problem was: I was sad. Deeply, truly and cripplingly sad.'
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, to Indian parents, Anita's father Bal emigrated to the UK at age four. Her parents ran a textile business, where Anita and her siblings worked before she rose to fame. She developed a passion for journalism at Bradford Girls' Grammar School and hosted her first radio show at 14. After studying broadcasting at the University of Leeds, she worked as a researcher for the BBC, later joining the BBC Asian Network as presenter of the weekend Hot Breakfast Show.
Her first major TV role was hosting The Edit on Channel 5 in 2002. She then became a regular reporter on The Cricket Show on Channel 4 before co-presenting Cricket AM on Sky Sports with Simon Thomas. Over the years, she has appeared on The One Show, Watchdog, Four Rooms, and, most notably, Countryfile, which she joined over a decade ago.
Recent Projects and Specials
Anita also presents Friday and Saturday editions of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. Last year, she took part in Celebrity Race Across the World with her father Bal, completing a 5,900km journey across Central and South America. In 2015, she reached the semi-final of Strictly Come Dancing with professional partner Gleb Savchenko.
On Sunday, July 5, 2026, Countryfile kicks off a four-part special with Anita travelling along England's east coast. Her first stop is Northey Island in Essex, where she explores an important bird refuge, examines the dangers of rising sea levels to coastal habitats, and visits projects creating more space for nature. Countryfile's Anita Rani's East Coast Road Trip: Northey Island airs at 6pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.
