Tom Heap, knows that he’s the coal face, the statesman, the Jeremy Bowen of Countryfile, and is proud of his contribution.

It can however be rather a lonely occupation, travelling around the country tackling difficult and provocative topics, to provide a fair and accurate portrayal of both sides of the story.

Which is why he, of all six presenters, is perhaps the most excited about the upcoming Countryfile Live event at Blenheim this weekend, when the world and his sheepdog looks set to descend on Woodstock, because he gets to hang out with the gang.

“It’s something a bit different isn't it and means we get to meet some of the people and get out and about, behind the scenes” he says, “so there is an element of showbusiness about this, but then Countryfile is an entertainment show even though I won’t have been up on stage like this since I did drama at school.”

Surprising perhaps, considering his life in front of a camera, but then it’s easy to forget that Tom is actually an investigative journalist, one who feels strongly that countryside issues need to be confronted and discussed, and that his short films complement the rest of the BBC’s stalwart primetime show perfectly.

"I am like the Horsemen of the Apocalypse," the 50 year-old who lives in Warwickshire with his wife Tammany jokes, " but I like to think I provide the fibre in the programme.

"I don’t want to overstate my part though and Adam deals with some difficult issues down on the farm but the countryside can be very divisive and controversial.

"Take Brexit. The EU has an enormous influence on the countryside through funding and regulations in both farming and the environment, and we felt Countryfile should reflect this. So I interviewed Cameron and Boris, and there was some backlash from that, but it was an important issue and otherwise there would have been a big gap"

Which can result in a social media backlash. I don’t mind how I’m portrayed, because they are always a tiny minority of the 9.4 million viewers, and we deal with some difficult issues so it's inevitable.

"We just make sure that my films fit in with the rest of the show so they don’t stick out and the programme flows. In the end its all about story-telling but I’m no Paxman.

"And I’m probably the least well known of all the presenters, which is fine with me, although getting recognised is still quite strange, because as a journo (Tom is also the Rural Affairs Correspondent of BBC News and works on Panorama and Radio 4's Costing the Earth having trained at Sky News, BBC News and worked on the Today programme )you get used asking the questions and reflecting the story rather than it being about yourself.

As for the highs and lows,Tom enjoyed interviewing Princess Anne and being shown around her Gatcombe estate: “She has a genuine interest in the countryside and gave me full access which was very refreshing and made a good film. I was also proud of the pieces we did on domestic violence, rural housing and Halaal, the latter being a challenging, sensitive and fascinating subject for both its audience and different faiths. I'm always up for trying something new which takes me out of my comfort zone,” he laughs.

But then that's what Countryfile is all about, meeting fascinating people and travelling to some beautiful places to engage with them.”

Is that why it's become so enormously popular, famously overtaking both X factor and War & Peace? “Lots of people seem surprised by its success because it defied the cliches of what TV is supposed to be - it wasn’t urban, youthy, wacky or cutting edge. It’s not what the BBC thought would appeal to the masses, but it has been building up its audiences steadily now for four years, since it went prime time, and is now part of our popular culture.”

Yes but why? “I think people like to see a full and honest view of our countryside and beautiful programme making - it’s not filmed by a teenager with a camcorder.

"But also it provokes nostalgia, an escapism in a sense. And yet people know they aren’t watching an advert, Countryfile is not an ideal, because it also has a good dose of grit and reality and that’s really important. It’s not all seen through rose-tinted glasses,

And then he laughs: “People always say it’s like taking a warm bath, but I think it’s like taking a warm bath with a good book – it gives you something to think about."