TV presenter ‘threatened over TB’

Henson, who farms in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, told a farming conference he received the threats after making a programme about bovine tuberculosis for the popular television show.

The controversial subject is polarising opinion between those who want a cull of badgers which can spread the disease, and those who want to use other methods of control such as vaccination.

Henson, responding to questions at the conference in, Cornwall, said: “There are some very nasty extremists about. I have had some serious hate letters from them, things like: We are going to burn your children.”

Henson said he thought the abuse was unfair because he had worked to BBC guidelines on impartiality when presenting items for the programme.

The presenter, who has two children with partner Charlie Gilbert, has appeared on Countryfile for the past 10 years.