Countryfile presenter Adam Henson has shared a rare insight into his famous family, including his uncle Nicky Henson, who starred in EastEnders among other shows
Adam Henson, known for his regular appearances on Countryfile, has recently provided a glimpse into his family life, which boasts connections to EastEnders and television stardom.
The 59-year-old presenter, who first hit screens in 2001, grew up familiar with the glam world of showbiz thanks to his father, Joe Henson, who featured in programmes like Animal Magic, and shared the screen with broadcasting legend Angela Rippon.
In a chat with Minerva magazine, he reminisced about rubbing shoulders with celebrities who visited the farm on account of his dad’s media work, and discussed his uncle, Nicky Henson, a notable actor guest-starring in series such as Inspector Morse, Lovejoy, and Fawlty Towers. Nicky also had a role on EastEnders as Jack Edwards in 2006.
Adam recalled: “My dad used to work on the telly with Johnny Morris on Animal Magic and a program called In The Country with Angela Rippon.
“So the telly wasn’t alien for me. And my uncle was a famous actor, Nicky Henson. So we used to have celebrities coming to the farm,” reports Gloucestershire Live.
Sadly, Nicky Henson passed away in 2019 following a lengthy battle with cancer. Prior to his passing, he reflected on his life post-diagnosis in an interview.
He expressed gratitude for his extended time, saying: “For the last 18 years, I’ve regarded myself as ‘being in extra time’, which I never expected to have, so I’m very thankful for it.
“I got my first cancer on Christmas day 18 years ago and didn’t think I was going to survive, after I was told I had a large tumour and would have to be operated on.”
The actor’s health battle involved major surgery to remove the first tumour, which entailed taking out half of his colon and a third of his stomach. Although he initially recovered, a follow-up scan a few years later revealed another tumour, prompting a six-month course of the medication Gleevac to shrink it to a size suitable for surgery.
Adam credits his wife and father for encouraging him to take the leap into showbusiness, suggesting he apply for a presenting role. Prior to his TV debut, he had taken over the family farm in 1999, two years before landing his breakthrough role on Countryfile.
In an interview with Minerva, Adam shared: “My wife worked in television and did a presenter search. So she and my dad persuaded me to apply and we agreed that it wouldn’t matter if I had a go at trying to get a job presenting, but never thinking I’d get the job.
“And amazingly I managed to land it and been doing it ever since.”
