Whatever your age, it's unlikely that you'll require an introduction. John Craven is perhaps best known as the presenter and editor of the hugely popular John Craven's Newsround, a role which established him as a household name spanning generations. Newsround was the first television news programme in the world to report directly to children — although also watched by millions of adults! John stayed for more than 3,000 editions, spending 17 years with the programme. Children once voted him among their 100 All-Time Greats. The programme celebrated its 50th anniversary on 4th April 2022.

John enjoys an equally high profile in his role as presenter of the long-running Countryfile, BBC1's rural and environmental current affairs programme, which he joined in 1989. In July 2014, John celebrated his 25th anniversary of the show by becoming guest editor for a week, deciding on the programme's content and setting missions for his fellow presenters. He has distilled his knowledge, wisdom and love of the countryside into his book John Craven's Countryfile Handbook, published by BBC Books. John co-presents the seasonal Countryfile Diaries series for BBC1 Daytime and also takes part in the Countryfile Live events at Blenheim Palace in August.

One of the BBC's longest standing presenters, John was a host on Saturday morning children's television for over 10 years. In late 2006 he took part in a massively popular Swap Shop reunion show for BBC2, teaming up with the original line up of Noel, Keith and Maggie. He also presented Country Cops for BBC2, and shared his genuine passion for antiques in Craven's Collectables for Anglia TV. Further hosting duties have included: Castle in the Country, Songs of Praise, Britain's Heritage Heroes and Beat the Brain, to name a few!

Born in Leeds, John started his journalistic career on local newspapers and joined the BBC as a news writer in Newcastle upon Tyne, later moving to Bristol as a reporter with regional television. In 1971 he made his debut as a network television presenter on the current affairs programme Search.

John was awarded an OBE in the Millennium Honours for services to broadcasting. In 1996, the Royal Television Society appointed him a member of its exclusive Hall of Fame, in recognition of an outstanding contribution to British television.

In 2011, Newsround (and indeed, John) celebrated its 40th anniversary and was honoured at the Children's BAFTAs, receiving the Special Award in celebration of the programme's 40 years of broadcasting and in recognition of the significant contribution the programme has made to children's television for the past four decades. John was also the focus of a special documentary The John Craven Years, which aired on BBC2 on Christmas Eve and took a look back at his broadcasting career.

In 2021 John celebrated 50 years as a BBC presenter and his 1250th episode of Countryfile by revisiting parts of the country that hold special memories for him.

John Craven's long-awaited autobiography Headlines and Hedgerows: A Memoir was published on 25th July 2019 by Michael Joseph.