BBC's Countryfile star Joe Crowley has become a fan favourite on the show, but away from the camera, the nature and outdoors expert has been dealing with a devastating loss he endured while he was a teenager for his whole life The 42-year-old, who joined the popular BBC programme as a presenter in 2014, has spoken candidly about how his grief later impacted what should have been the "happiest day" of his life.
Norwich-born Joe, who is now a well-known face to viewers of Countryfile, sadly lost his father to blood cancer when he was just 15 years old.The traumatic loss has had a huge impact on Joe over the years and so much so that he even became an ambassador for the Anthony Nolan Foundation, an organisation that helps unite stem cell donors with blood cancer patients who need stem cell transplants.
Back in 2020, Joe opened up about his grief on the BBC's Anthony Nolan Storytellers, sharing: "When you lose someone you love from blood cancer it is just devastating, and it will never be the same again, but we have learned to cope, and maybe we are stronger for it." Joe joined the Anthony Nolan register in 2011 and shared his reason for supporting Anthony Nolan, after losing his father to multiple myeloma.
In an interview for Anthony Nolan in 2017, Crowley said: "Blood cancer has touched my family as it has many others across the UK so I fully appreciate the vital work.