Countryfile's John Craven admits 'I'm getting on a bit' after 'deteriorating' hearing

John Craven, affectionately known as a "living legend" of Countryfile, humbly disclosed: "I'm getting on a bit" while updating fans on his experience with ageing.

The seasoned TV host, 84, who has graced the television scene for half a century, made an appearance on The One Show's Tuesday segment (October 1), becoming the subject of artist Adebanji Alade's portrait on the BBC programme.

During the process, Adebanji pondered: "As I put the final touches to John's portrait, I want to know whether he thinks of himself as the living legend we've come to see him as."

Brushing off the lofty title, John maintained: "I don't really like being called a legend, because, yeah, I'm getting on a bit, but I still feel quite useful."

Nonetheless, an assertive Adebanji counteracted: "I would say you are a legend!", reports Wales Online.

John didn't shy away from issuing a stark warning to nature enthusiasts, highlighting Britain's environmental crisis: "[The UK] is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. One in six of all species are under threat of extinction, from the hazel dormouse to turtledoves. We have a crisis in the shortage of trees in this landscape. We have to do something to protect our glorious countryside."

On the topic of his enduring popularity, John speculated: "I think it's because I'm regarded as almost a friend. To this day people come up to me and say, 'Thank you for being part of my childhood. Thanks for telling me what was happening in the world.'".

Reflecting on health issues he's faced since last year, John revealed that after hitting 40, he began to suffer from deteriorating eyesight that became blurry, also admitting difficulties with hearing.

He told the Daily Mail: "At first, I worried what people would say about my wearing spectacles on TV but there wasn't a single comment. Then, in my 60s, my hearing began to fail.

"I couldn't make out conversations in crowded places, the sounds of nature became muffled and 'say it again' started to become a common response."

John now relies on hearing aids and has embraced a world of "full-blown sound". However, he's encountered some hiccups along the way, including a dash to A&E after purchasing the wrong domes for his ear canals, resulting in one being surgically removed by emergency staff.