BBC Countryfile host taken aback as guest breaks down and walks off set

A Countryfile presenter battling cancer confessed to having "suicidal thoughts" before breaking down in tears.

BBC host Sean Fletcher cautioned viewers about forthcoming "distressing" scenes as co-presenter Charlotte Smith explored the continuing controversy surrounding inheritance tax for farmers.

In October 2024, the Government unveiled the "largest inheritance tax changes for farmers in decades" which could prove "catastrophic for family farms".

Charlotte devastatingly revealed that Countryfile had contacted rural mental health organisations which disclosed that two farmers had ended their own lives and "both families cited inheritance tax as a contributing factor".

Countryfile subsequently introduced audiences to fifth-generation farmer Charles Rees who received a cancer diagnosis in February.

His son Tom who operates the farm could potentially face an inheritance tax demand of £1 million.

Speaking candidly to Charlotte, Charles revealed: "I've been here for 70 years, it's everything I've ever done."

However, the interview took a distressing direction when she enquired about the effect the looming tax has had on the household.

He emotionally responded: "It's been hard for me lying in the hospital bed thinking, how am I going to save my farm? And trying to have all this treatment to save my life.

"And sometimes I think, what the hell are you doing it all for? Because if something don't change by next April, I'd probably top myself."

Charlotte asks: "You've really thought about that? Because of the farm?", as he confirmed: "Oh God yes."

The host then proceeded to ask about Ruth's wellbeing, at which point Charles began to shed tears and excused himself from the table.

Ruth attempted to respond to Charlotte's query but found herself overcome with emotion: "I find it very sad, when he was diagnosed, he generally said to me, one day he said, 'To be honest with you, for the farm point of view, I'd be better off if I didn't have the treatment.'".

Fortunately, since Countryfile's interview with Charles and Ruth, he has undergone surgery and is currently recuperating.

However, viewers of the show were unable to resist expressing their sorrow at the distressing scenes on X, previously known as Twitter.

One individual posted: "Didn't expect to have tears watching #Countryfile. My heart goes out to Charles and his family."

Another commented: "Just watching these poor farmers, broken and in bits by the #inheritancetax just wrong!", while a third chimed in: "Labour hates our poor farmers who are just trying to survive."

Countryfile continues every Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.