Anita Rani, a familiar face on BBC's Countryfile for over a decade, is set to front a four-part special exploring England's east coast. The first episode airs on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 6pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.
Anita's East Coast Adventure
In the special, titled Countryfile's Anita Rani's East Coast Road Trip: Northey Island, Anita visits Northey Island in Essex. There, she encounters a vital bird sanctuary and examines the threats posed by rising sea levels to coastal environments. She also explores initiatives working to expand habitats where nature can flourish.
The 48-year-old presenter was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, to Indian parents. Her father, Bal, arrived in Britain at age four. Her parents ran a textile business, where Anita and her siblings worked during their youth.
Anita's Early Career
Anita developed a passion for journalism at Bradford Girls' Grammar School and presented her first radio show at age 14. She studied broadcasting at the University of Leeds, then took a research position with the BBC. She later joined the BBC Asian Network and hosted the weekend Hot Breakfast Show.
Her first major TV role was fronting Channel 5's live news and entertainment programme The Edit in 2002. She then became a regular correspondent on Channel 4's The Cricket Show and co-hosted Cricket AM on Sky Sports with Simon Thomas.
Over the years, Anita has worked on The One Show, Watchdog, Four Rooms, and Countryfile, where she joined the presenting lineup over a decade ago. She also hosts Friday and Saturday editions of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.
Personal Struggles
Anita married Bhupinder Rehal in 2009, but they separated in 2023. In an interview with The Times, she said she was "entering chapter two" of her life. After the divorce, she took a solo trip to the Dolomites, stating: "Becoming single in my mid-forties has made me re-evaluate everything."
In 2018, Anita suffered a miscarriage. She told Red magazine that it "completely shifted my perspective on life and how I was living it." She struggled to cope while maintaining her busy schedule with Countryfile and the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.
Speaking 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."
Other Appearances
In 2015, Anita competed on Strictly Come Dancing, reaching the semi-final with professional partner Gleb Savchenko. Last year, she participated in Celebrity Race Across the World with her father, Bal. They completed the 5,900km journey across Central and South America, arriving at the final checkpoint in Colombia about six hours behind the winners.
