Countryfile presenter Adam Henson was left uttering expletives after being violently headbutted to the ground by a formidable Romney ram in a startling incident captured on camera. The 60-year-old farmer and broadcaster, who has been a fixture on the BBC programme since 2001, found himself unexpectedly overpowered by the animal during routine sheep handling.
A Surprising and Powerful Encounter
Adam Henson had been visiting his male Romney Rams on the farm, intending to check them over before moving them into a field alongside ewes. Speaking to the camera beforehand, he remarked, 'I've got to check the boys over first. And the Romney, oh my word, as you can see, are a powerful sheep.' However, the situation quickly escalated beyond a simple inspection.
As Henson attempted to guide the sheep from one pen to another, instructing them to 'steady', one ram suddenly charged. The forceful impact sent the presenter crashing into a metal fence, with his subsequent swear words being bleeped out in the footage. Catching his breath, a shaken Henson turned back to the camera and reiterated, 'The Romney are powerful sheep. The way to control a sheep is to hold them under the chin, but he got the better of me.'
Social Media Reaction and Aftermath
The Countryfile Instagram account shared the dramatic moment online, captioning it: 'Respect for this sheep’s attitude. Checking his Romney Rams over before letting them out into the field with the ewes is an essential part of their care and involves catching them! But that can be a little trickier than expected as @adamhenson_ found out!' The post assured viewers that both Adam and the rams emerged unharmed, with the animals later released into the field.
Fans and followers were quick to react with a mix of concern and humour. One comment read, 'That's going to hurt in the morning,' while another observed, 'Yeah if you approach looking like a footballer ready to tackle don't be surprised that they are ready to ram you!' Others questioned the handling technique, with one asking, 'So why not catch him in the smaller pen?' and a fifth viewer quipped, 'The fact that @adamhenson_ swore has made my day.'
Controversy Over Recent Countryfile Bird Segment
This amusing incident follows a recent episode of Countryfile that sparked considerable viewer anger over what was described as 'highly distressing' footage. The programme featured hosts John Craven, Charlotte Smith, and Adam Henson at the Menai Suspension Bridge in Wales, where a segment explored cannon netting used by the British Trust for Ornithology to capture wading birds for data collection.
Charlotte Smith explained in a voiceover, 'As the name suggests, small cannons fire projectiles that are attached to a net, gently capturing the birds that are on the ground.' She added, 'This may look a bit worrying, but it is a highly regulated routine technique, used to track bird health over time.' However, the explosion startled the birds, causing visible distress with wings flapping wildly.
Viewer Backlash and Criticism
Many viewers took to social media platform X to express their dismay. One wrote, '#countryfile can't we let birds be birds fgs. How do they know they're not stressed! Explosions, nets, getting tangled in nets, ringing, re-ringing, measuring head.' Another added, 'Not been funny but I don't think that letting off a massive explosion and then covering them with a net is the best way to help these poor birds. Why can't these lefty do-gooders stop messing with animals and leave them alone #countryfile.'
A third viewer shared, 'Totally agree. Catching them with nets and shoving them into small boxes is highly distressing. Just leave them alone.' A fourth chimed in critically, ''The birds have been great.’ Well, you captured them and imprisoned them. What choice did they have? Leave the birds alone. #Countryfile.'
Countryfile continues to air on Sundays on BBC One and is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, blending rural life reporting with occasional moments of unexpected drama and debate.
