Countryfile stars' health battles from debilitating back injury to breast cancer

Matt Baker

Countryfile stars Matt Baker, Julia Bradbury and Adam Henson have all opened up about their health highs and lows. Matt Baker, a former gymnast, explained how an on-stage accident led to a crippling back injury.

The BBC star appeared on Gabby Logan's Mid Point podcast when he revealed he had been forced to turn to injections as a form of pain relief. His back injury was caused on the set of a pantomime and he was left unable to continue with his gymnastics.

Gabby had asked Matt whether he could still do backflips, to which he replied: "No, I can't now. I've injured my back. I can't tell you how upsetting it is as an ex-gymnast, not to be able to bend forward."

"I did my back in. I was doing a panto. I was doing Goldilocks and the Three Bears and we were practising with the stunt chairs, and the chair wasn't set correctly and bang! I went down on my coccyx and it turns out I slipped a disc in my back."

He explained how his wife Nicola, a physiotherapist, had done all she could to help but he was forced to turn to a "nerve block injection". He added: "By Christmas Day I couldn't get out of bed. It was horrendous, absolute agony."

Adam Henson

Giving an update on his condition, he added: "Well, I don't know. It doesn't hurt when I bend [forward].

"I'm trying my hardest to try and keep fit with a bad back, and those are the challenges as you get older I think.

"But I'm trying, I'm trying. You have to do a lot more exercise as you hit midlife."

Earlier this year, viewers expressed concern for fellow presenter Adam Henson following a 'mystery' injury to his face.

The Countryfile host visited Trent Valley and eagle-eyed fans spotted an unusual mark on his cheek, taking to X, formerly Twitter, to express their concern.

On wrote: "Ouch! That looks mega sore. Hope Adam is okay? I wonder what happened to him." Another added: "Has Adam been kicked in the face by a rare breed #Countryfile."

In 2022 he underwent a hip resurfacing operation and he updated fans on social media, saying: "The feeling in my legs and waist have all come back now, pretty much my right leg, which is the leg I had done, is still a bit tingly and a bit weird.

"I've never really had surgery quite like this before, it does make me feel for all those people that have gone through things an awful lot worse."

Julia Bradbury

Former Countryfile star Julia Bradbury has also opened up on self-care following her battle with breast cancer.

At the end of 2023, she said she was in good shape and remained in remission, sharing there was "no sign of disease".

The presenter revealed in 2021 she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy.

Speaking to The Standard in association with Virgin Media O2's National Databank, she said: "I'm in good shape as they say. No sign of disease but I'm very proactive, I'm getting my bloods taken regularly and I'm doing everything I can to reduce my risk of reoccurrence.

"I really take the exercise and my lifestyle choices very, very seriously now, as in they are I think essential to me moving forward to maintaining the healthiest life that I can and that means eating well, eating good nutritious food and eating at the right time."

She continues to share lots of health advice, updates and health inspiration videos on her Instagram page.