Why John Craven is one of the countryside’s finest champions as he returns to his roots for Countryfile – The Yorkshire Post says

Born and brought up in inner city Leeds during the war, he fell in love with the countryside at an early age – “Still one of my favourite places in the world is Wharfedale and Otley Chevin, where I used to cycle with my mates” – before beginning a distinguished media career.

John Craven on growing up in Leeds, his love of Yorkshire and working on Newsround and Countryfile

Yet, while he is immensely proud of his early days on The Yorkshire Post, amongst others, it is his TV work on, first, Newsround, and, for the past three decades, on Countryfile which saw him become a household name.

BBC Countryfile Live at Castle Howard - all you need to know as Anita Rani and Matt Baker appear

And this matters as Mr Craven, who is 79 tomorrow, returns to his Yorkshire roots today for the four-day BBC Countryfile Live 2019 celebration being staged in the iconic grounds of Castle Howard.

Countryfile Live’s Yorkshire debut a boost for region’s outdoors events calendar - The Yorkshire Post says

A groundbreaking showcase for the rural North – it is the first time that the broadcaster has held such an event here – it is a chance for families, and in particular those living in urban areas, to embrace the great outdoors, understand what makes the countryside so special and, hopefully, be captivated by the boundless passion of Mr Craven and his fellow presenters.

Yet, while the modest broadcaster will be the first to say that it is the farmers, and those work work in land, who deserve their credit, it is the enthusiasm of the down-to-earth John Craven that has done so much to highlight agricultural issues and the innovation which takes place in rural areas. One of the countryside’s finest ever champions, he also deserves to be revered as a genuine Yorkshire great.