THIS FARMING MAN
What’s happening down on the farm? We look at John Craven’s 30 year Countryfile milestone
JOHN CRAVEN is used to getting his hands dirty on Countryfile. His 30-year stint on the BBC1 series has seen him mucking in on farms and trying his hand at sheep sheering.
He’s also taken a spin on a vintage motorbike and helped children clear beaches, while his first Countryfile report was about organic farming.
The veteran broadcaster joined the presenting team in 1989 – a year after the show first started – and has been a regular ever since.
In fact, there have been three John Cravens on Countryfile over the years.
A John Craven from Norfolk featured on an early programme and impressionist Jon Culshaw turned up as John for the show’s 20th anniversary.
Countryfile was originally transmitted during
a lunchtime slot and it became cult viewing among students before later moving to its now regular Sunday evening place in the schedule in 2009.
John joined after presenting more than 3,000 episodes of BBC1 children’s show Newsround and before that he was a familiar face on MultiColoured Swap Shop and Saturday Superstore and famously hosted a phone-in on the latter with Margaret Thatcher.
She later judged music videos on the programme’s “pop panel”. The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, appeared on Countryfile last month to mark 50 years of the Riding for the Disabled Association and Prince Charles invited the team to his Gloucestershire farm in 2013 for a special edition marking the programme’s 25th anniversary.
Dame Judi Dench has also appeared on Countryfile for a special about Shakespeare.
John later said: “In my long career, few things have topped the experience of standing in a 16th century hall where Shakespeare’s touring company once played and doing a bit of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet with Dame Judi Dench.”
Other famous faces who have taken part over the years include Jennifer Saunders, comedian Josh Widdicombe, performer David Essex, writer Jilly Cooper and now prime minister Boris Johnson. Rock star Iggy Pop is also said to be a Countryfile fan.
John is now 78, but still enjoys presenting the popular BBC1 series ... and happily plays Santa every year at the team’s Christmas party.