Right, so my kid asked me this yesterday: how old is John Craven? It had me stumped for a minute. I mean, I’ve been seeing the fella since I was 8 years old and he already appeared middle-aged.
Turns out John’s 84 now. He was born on the 16th of August 1940 in Leeds. Eighty-four! The surprising part is that he still appears on our telly every Sunday night, getting muddy in a field for Countryfile as if he were a third of his actual age.
Growing Up During the War
John had it tough as a kid. His father was taken prisoner by the Japanese during World War Two and spent three years in a prisoner of war camp. I can’t imagine what that must have been like for the family back home in Leeds.
Once out of school, John went to work at some copperworks place, writing bits for their company magazine. Not the most glamorous place, but it was a start. We’ve all got to start somewhere, haven’t we?
My uncle Boris used to work at a similar place around then. Says the company newsletters were proper boring; these were about health and safety regulations and that year’s winner of the works darts tournament. Credit to John for using it to his advantage.
When Newsround Changed Everything
Here’s where it gets interesting. In 1972, John pitched this mad idea to the BBC: a news programme just for kids. Most people believed he was a nut. Kids don’t want to see the news, they said. How wrong were they?
Newsround started when I was 7. Would race home from school to watch it at twenty past five. My mum would have tea ready, and I would sit and watch John tell me what was going on in the world. Northern Ireland, strikes, space missions; he made it all make sense.
John Craven age was 32 when he launched Newsround. Young bloke taking on something nobody had tried before. It was great risk-taking.
The difference with John is that he never talked to us like we were stupid. Adults pull that thing where they talk to kids in a baby voice. Not John. He talked to us straight, just in simpler words when he felt like it.
The Move to Countryfile
In 1989, John took a step back from Newsround. Shame, but then I guess 17 years explaining world events to kids has to be a drain. Then he landed on Countryfile, and that’s where he’s remained.
My mate is an occasional BBC camera operator. John’s wonderful to work with, he always says. Never moans about getting up at dawn or standing in a field full of cow muck. Just gets on with it. “They’re as professional as they come,” he told me.
What age is John Craven now? Eighty-four and still stooping to climb over stiles and chat to farmers about potato blight. Most people his age have a hard time getting out of bed, let alone hosting TV shows.
The Money Question
Now, John Craven’s net worth is one of those things nobody talks about openly. The BBC’s always been cagey about what they pay people, especially back in John’s day.
Word is he was earning somewhere between £150,000 and £250,000 a year during his peak Newsround years. Not bad money in the 80s. These days, estimates reckon he’s worth somewhere between one and five million quid. That includes his BBC pension, book sales, and whatever Countryfile pays him now.
He got an OBE in 2000 for services to broadcasting. It doesn’t come with a cash prize, but it’s nice recognition for what he’s done.
Still At It
The thing that gets me is why John keeps going. He could have retired years ago, put his feet up, and done a bit of gardening. But no, there he is every Sunday, usually somewhere cold and wet, talking about sheep farming or rural broadband.
I asked my dad about this once. He reckons some people just can’t sit still. “Look at Brucie,” he said. “Kept going till he was 89.” Fair point.
John released his autobiography in 2019. Called it “Headlines and Hedgerows“. Most people write their memoirs when they’re done with work. John wrote his at 79 and carried on presenting.
John Craven’s Family Life
John’s been married for donkey’s years and has two daughters. He lives in Oxfordshire now, which makes sense given he spends half his time in the countryside anyway. He’s always kept his family life private, which I respect. Not everyone needs to be on Instagram showing off their Sunday dinner.
His wife must be a saint, putting up with him disappearing off to film in all weather. Though I suppose after 50-odd years of marriage, you get used to it.
Why He Matters
When people ask me how old is John Craven, I tell them he’s old enough to remember when television was different. When presenters stayed in jobs for decades instead of jumping ship every few years.
John changed kids’ television forever with Newsround. Before him, nobody bothered explaining current events to children. Now every country has something similar.
He’s proof that you don’t need to shout or show off to be good at television. Just be yourself, know your stuff, and treat your audience with respect.
At 84, John Craven’s still doing what he’s always done: informing people and making complicated things simple. Long may it continue. The man’s a proper legend.
