Countryfile star Adam Henson has revealed how a “pretty stupid error” during a Christmas party nearly led to disaster for the show’s cast and crew.
The incident, detailed in his newly released book Christmas on the Farm, could have resulted in multiple casualties during what was meant to be a festive celebration.
The close call occurred when a traditional secret Santa gift-giving event went awry, putting veteran presenter John Craven and other team members at risk.
The potentially dangerous situation unfolded as the Countryfile team attempted to recreate a festive scene using oxen as makeshift reindeer.
According to Henson’s account, the evening began smoothly with John Craven taking on his traditional role as Father Christmas at the gathering.
Craven was helped onto one of two specially hired oxen for the occasion, aiming to create a festive atmosphere with the animals serving as stand-in reindeer.
The initial setup saw Craven perched atop the ox with a sack of presents loaded onto a flatbed trailer.
The group then began making their way towards the restaurant where the Christmas party was to be held, with everything appearing to be going according to plan.
The situation took a dangerous turn when other Countryfile team members spotted the festive procession.
“As soon as we came into sight, lots of the presenters and crew ran out and jumped on the trailer which, in retrospect, was pretty stupid,” Henson wrote in his book.
He noted that the absence of health and safety executives at the time contributed to the risky situation.
The impulsive decision by the crew to climb aboard the trailer would soon prove to be a concerning lapse in judgment.
The dramatic moment unfolded when a sudden gust of wind caught John Craven’s Santa hat.
Henson described the incident: “The oxen plodded on steadily until unfortunately a gust of wind suddenly whipped John’s red Santa hat off his head, and it fell past the face of Philip the ox.”
The startled animal’s reaction created a dangerous situation for all aboard.
“Philip jerked, causing the trailer to jolt forward and everyone on board to jolt too,” Henson recalled.
In the tense moment, Henson attempted to control the situation: “I held Philip tight and gave him a reassuring ‘Whoaaaa’, my heart in my throat.”
Reflecting on the near-miss, Henson expressed relief that the situation hadn’t ended in tragedy.
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“Thankfully nobody had fallen off the trailer and – although there was one scary moment when I thought he might – the ox didn’t bolt with the legend that is John Craven on his back,” he wrote.
The potential consequences could have been severe, as Henson explained: “Had Philip bolted, Santa Claus and the whole of Countryfile – presenters and crew – would be sprawled in the mud, probably with quite a few casualties.”
“It was a narrow squeak…” he concluded, acknowledging how close they had come to disaster.
Countryfile continues to air weekly on BBC One, with viewers able to catch the next episode today at 5:20pm.
The revelation about the Christmas party incident comes as Henson shares more behind-the-scenes stories in his new book “Christmas on the Farm”.
The show remains one of BBC’s most popular rural affairs programmes, bringing stories from the British countryside to viewers’ screens each week.
