John Craven delivers verdict on Kate Middleton's 'fantastic' achievement

The Princess of Wales won the admiration of the nation in June when she revealed she had completed the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours. 

Among those admirers is seasoned walker John Craven, the BBC presenter best known for presenting the rural affairs programmeCountryfile. ​

"I thought it was a fantastic achievement," says John, 86, who will be joining the BBC Children in Need Countryfile Ramble as it returns for its 12th year. 

"Taking on a challenge like that requires determination, resilience and a real sense of teamwork. It encouraged people to get outdoors and highlighted the positive impact that spending time in nature can have on both physical and mental wellbeing," he tells HELLO!.

"I believe that if, after admiring public figures like the Princess taking on outdoor challenges or after simply watching Countryfile, people of all ages are motivated to pull on their boots and head out into the countryside, then that's a wonderful outcome."

A royal relationship

The journalist, who rose to fame in the Seventies as the presenter of BBC's Newsround, has form when it comes to the royals. 

 In 2013, he joined Prince Charles, as he was then, for a special 25th anniversary edition of Countryfile, with Charles as guest editor, to discuss hedge-laying and organic farming at Highgrove. The episode also highlighted other countryside concerns, including the plight of hill farmers. 

"What struck me was how knowledgeable and genuinely passionate he was about the countryside and the people who live and work there," says John, who lives in Oxfordshire with his wife, Marilyn, the mother of their two daughters. "Long before many environmental issues became part of the mainstream conversation, he was talking about sustainability, farming, biodiversity and the importance of protecting our natural environment." 

"Many of the concerns we discussed then remain highly relevant today. Rural communities still face challenges around farming, economic pressures, access to services and protecting the environment while supporting livelihoods. If anything, those conversations have become even more important over the past decade."

Interviewing the royals has been among his career highlights, he says. "The people who tend to stay with me are those who are deeply passionate about making a difference, often away from the spotlight. Whether they're protecting the countryside, supporting their local community or helping young people thrive, those conversations are always memorable because you can feel how much they care."

The importance of Children in Need

Now, John is preparing to lace up his walking boots again in aid of the Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need, featuring alongside presenters including Matt Baker and Anita Rani, and will be walking through the Peak District with children supported by BBC Children in Need-funded projects. 

"I was in the studio with Terry Wogan and Sue Cook for the very first BBC Children in Need programme – my job was to read out how to make a donation," he says. "I've been involved with the charity ever since, and have seen first-hand the extraordinary difference that support can make. 

“What has always stayed with me are the children and families I've met whose lives have been transformed because someone was there for them at exactly the right time."

Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need airs on 25 October at 17:25 on BBC One 

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