Brian May has surprising new ally in badger cull battle

What did you miss?

Sir Brian May has revealed his surprising new ally in his badger cull battle - farmers.

The Queen star has been campaigning to save badgers for years as they are killed off in an effort to reduce levels of bovine TB, and although he says research has shown badgers don't have much of an effect on the cattle disease, the farming community have been amongst his biggest critics. So viewers of The One Show may have been surprised to hear him say that he was now joining forces with farmers to tackle the issue.

Meanwhile, the BBC show's presenters also sent their best wishes to colleague Lauren Laverne, who announced earlier today that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

What, how, and why?

Sir Brian May and farmers might not seem like the most likely of best pals, but the Queen guitarist has told how the farming community has become his newest ally in his fight to save badgers.

May has been campaigning to stop the culling of badgers for years, arguing that they have little effect on the spread of bovine TB.

In a new BBC Two documentary, The Badgers, The Farmers and Me which is due to air on Friday, May joins forces with farmers to look at the reasons for the spread of TB in cattle and to try to save badgers, cows, and the livelihood of farmers.

He said: "I started off trying to save the badgers and I still am, but basically we're trying to save the farmers now, and the cattle.

"It's a tragedy all round, it's a terrible, awful mess and we think we've made the discoveries which can in the future help those farmers solve the problems and get rid of bovine TB, stop killing the badgers, end of story. We believe we cracked it."

At one point in the documentary, May had to present the findings of a scientific study to farmers at Aberystwyth University, which he said was so daunting it was on a par with playing to huge crowds of Queen fans.

He said: "It was tough. We ended up friends which was good, we had a mutual respect because they understand I'm in this because I really do care, not just about the badgers but about the cows, about the farmers and their families.

"Compared to playing to quarter of a million people in Queen? Hard to say, they're both tough calls and I was really nervous in Aberystwyth thinking they're going to throw stones at me. At least with a Queen show you know they're going to be mainly friendly. But we've ended up being very friendly with all the farmers that you see in the documentary and we will continue that way."

What else happened on The One Show?

The One Show began Wednesday's episode by sending their get well soon wishes to one of the regular team of presenters, Lauren Laverne, who has shared that she has been diagnosed with cancer.

Laverne has said that the cancer was caught at an early stage at a routine screening appointment, and encouraged others to get checked in her announcement to fans.

Host Clara Amfo said: "We wanted to send huge, huge love to our friend Lauren Laverne who earlier today shared the news that she's been diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, she's expected to make a full recovery which she herself says goes to show the importance of getting checked, so if you are thinking of getting checked, please don't put it off.

"Lauren also wanted to send her thanks to each and every one of you who has sent her messages of support."

Co-presenter Alex Scott added: "Everyone here at The One Show is sending their love too, so get well soon Lauren and we cannot wait to have you back."

The One Show airs on BBC One at 7pm on weekdays.

Read more: Lauren Laverne

• What we know as BBC presenter Lauren Laverne reveals cancer diagnosis (Yahoo UK, 6 min read)

• BBC presenter Lauren Laverne reveals she has cancer (The Independent, 4 min read)

• Lauren Laverne in hospital after cancer diagnosis (BANG Showbiz, 2 min read)

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/brian-may-badgers-farmers-ally-190843824.html