Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that his beloved Diddly Squat Farm has been placed under a strict agricultural lockdown following a confirmed outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (TB) among his cattle. The news marks yet another blow for the former Top Gear presenter, who has been candid about the emotional and financial strain that farming has brought into his life.
Taking to social media on Thursday, Clarkson expressed his devastation over the situation. He revealed that one of his cows had tested positive for TB, triggering a cascade of restrictions under strict UK farming regulations — including the potential culling of infected animals. “Absolutely devastated,” he wrote. And the sense of helplessness was evident when he later elaborated on the ordeal during an interview with Times Radio on Friday.
“You have a test every six months on the cows and then you sort of become blasé about it, thinking it’s just routine — a hypothetical threat,” Clarkson explained, referring to the mandatory bovine TB tests carried out regularly on UK farms. “Then the vet looks up, as he did yesterday lunchtime, and says, ‘I’m really sorry, this one’s failed.’” He paused before adding, “That means we’re now locked down. And it’s just dreadful, absolutely dreadful.”
The TB outbreak means that, for now, Diddly Squat Farm cannot buy or sell any cattle. Clarkson confirmed that the lockdown is expected to last for a minimum of two months, as farmers must wait that long before they can retest the herd in hopes of getting the all-clear. “Certainly two months,” he confirmed when asked about the timeframe. “And that’s if the next test comes back clean.”
Clarkson, who has won praise for his candid and often humorous portrayal of farming life in the Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm, admitted that the TB scare was just the latest in a string of personal setbacks.
“It’s been a very stressful week,” he said. “The TB situation has been occupying my mind, of course, but then I got up this morning and found that one of my puppies had died. And we’ve got a very sickly calf. Honestly? Farming? I’m not enjoying it this week.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, Clarkson was quick to reassure fans and customers that not all aspects of the farm were affected. Posting on X (formerly Twitter) earlier today, he clarified: “The farm is NOT shut. We just can’t buy or sell any cows.”
He also confirmed that the Diddly Squat Farm Shop — a popular tourist attraction in the Oxfordshire countryside — remains open and is operating as usual. Likewise, his pub, The Farmer’s Dog, is unaffected by the lockdown and continues to welcome customers.
The 65-year-old has faced his fair share of agricultural challenges since embarking on his farming journey in 2019, but this recent incident appears to have struck a particularly emotional chord. Bovine TB is a highly infectious disease that not only threatens livestock but carries devastating consequences for farmers, both financially and emotionally. The UK government enforces strict regulations to prevent its spread, often requiring the destruction of affected animals and placing farms under movement restrictions.
For Clarkson, who has spent years turning Diddly Squat into a functioning, if at times chaotic, farm enterprise — and a reality TV success story — the outbreak serves as a harsh reminder of the unpredictable and often brutal nature of rural life.
Still, the outspoken presenter remains determined to push through the hardship. With the farm shop open, the pub running, and plans in motion for further retesting, Clarkson’s latest chapter in farming is far from over. But for now, he’s facing one of his toughest weeks yet.
