BBC Countryfile's Adam Henson's 'struggle' on devastating wedding day

Countryfile presenter Adam Henson is set to delight viewers with a special lambing season episode on BBC One, offering a glimpse into the pastoral bliss of his Cotswolds farm.

The 58 year old will be seen lending a hand in the birth of lambs and tending to his array of animals, including Highland calves, Gloucester old spot piglets, and a newly born Exmoor pony foal. The programme promises to stir up feelings of nostalgia with archival footage from previous lambing seasons.

However, away from the cameras, Adam has endured personal hardships. He and his partner Charlie exchanged vows in a discreet ceremony amidst the Covid-19 pandemic after she received a stage one pancreatic cancer diagnosis over Christmas 2020. Facing a daunting survival rate and major surgery ahead, the couple decided to wed during this difficult period.

Speaking to the Telegraph about her condition, Charlie disclosed the dire nature of her diagnosis: "I was told the scan showed a 4.5cm growth on my pancreas, located in a difficult position and it was very serious.", reports the Mirror. She was acutely aware of the grim statistics, saying: "I knew that this type of cancer had a very low survival rate just five per cent."

In the same conversation, Adam expressed: "Yes, we were told, it is cancer, but there is a possibility it could be a rare, slow-growing type of neuroendocrine tumour, which in some cases may be treatable."

The couple was devastated to discover that only two percent of such cases are neuroendocrine, and the treatment options were limited due to the tumour's size and location. Adam revealed: "There was a distinct possibility all they could do was offer palliative care."

Discussing their relationship, it became clear that the dire diagnosis led Charlie to make a profound decision. She told the Mirror: "After 28 years together you do get a bit complacent, but getting married was suddenly really important - we didn't know how long we had left, and I wanted Adam to know I was committed to him."

Charlie's mother and sisters quickly arranged the wedding, which took place on 9 September 2021 at Stroud Register Office, with her critical surgery scheduled for the next day. Adam reflected on the emotional ceremony: "There were a lot of tears and a lot of emotion in the room. Charlie wore an ivory dress and looked stunning when she walked in with her mum."

Adam also spoke about the poignant moment during their vows, sharing: "We were both crying through the vows, and the next very emotional time for me was giving a speech at the reception. I talked about all the lovely things we'd done, how strong we were together, how we were going through some very, very difficult times - but we would come out the other side."

The surgery was successful, with Charlie spending three days in intensive care before starting her recovery process. She made a return to work towards the end of last year.