The picturesque tranquillity of the Cotswolds has been shattered this week by the arrival of US Vice President JD Vance, whose holiday in the English countryside has brought with it a wave of heightened security, road closures, and frustrated locals — among them, television presenter Jeremy Clarkson.
Vance, who is spending time with his wife Usha and their three children — Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel — is staying in the sleepy hamlet of Dean, a short drive from Clarkson’s now-famous Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire, where the hit Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm is filmed. But the vice president’s visit has triggered an intense security operation, creating a ripple effect that has impacted both daily life for residents and the smooth running of Clarkson’s filming schedule.
Roadblocks, Convoys, and a No-Fly Zone
Security in nearby Chipping Norton has been stepped up to unprecedented levels. Police checkpoints, road diversions, and a heavy presence of armed officers have become the new normal for the week, while Vance’s motorcade — described by locals as “an American-style convoy” — has been spotted sweeping through the countryside lanes.
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has also imposed a temporary no-fly zone over the area, covering several miles around the vice president’s accommodation. Unfortunately for Clarkson and his crew, this includes Diddly Squat Farm, putting a stop to the aerial drone shots that have become a hallmark of the show’s sweeping countryside cinematography.
Clarkson took to social media to share a map of the restricted airspace, pointing to the farm’s location and quipping: “We are the pin. So on the downside, no drone shots today.”
Kaleb Cooper Brought to a Standstill
It’s not only Clarkson feeling the pinch. Kaleb Cooper, the farmer’s right-hand man and breakout star of the series, revealed that he too has been held up by the vice president’s security measures. Attempting to move a load of wheat to a storage shed, Cooper said he was stopped in his tracks as Vance’s convoy passed through, forcing him to wait before resuming his work.
While inconveniences like these have sparked irritation, Clarkson managed to find a silver lining. He noted that the no-fly zone, while hindering aerial filming, has at least put an end — temporarily — to the “annoying light aircraft” that sometimes interrupt on-the-ground filming.
A ‘Circus’ in the Countryside
Residents living near the Grade II-listed Georgian manor where the Vance family is staying have voiced their frustration over the disruption. The sprawling estate — owned by advertising executive Johnny Hornby and his wife Pippa since 2017 — is set within six acres of landscaped grounds and features tennis courts, two wine cellars, a rose garden, a gym, and a glass-fronted Georgian orangery.
In a message reportedly seen by The Telegraph, the Hornbys apologised to neighbours “for the circus” and expressed hope that the disruption would be short-lived.
Despite the diplomatic glamour surrounding the visit, many locals say the security clampdown has upended the usually quiet, postcard-perfect rhythm of life in this part of the Cotswolds.
Clarkson’s Expanding Countryside Empire
Clarkson bought his 1,000-acre patch of Oxfordshire farmland in 2008. When the local farmer who ran it retired in 2019, the former Top Gear host decided to take over the operation himself — an ambitious gamble that has since been documented in Clarkson’s Farm. The show, known for its blend of humour, rural grit, and the challenges of modern farming, has become one of Prime Video’s biggest hits.
Never one to stay idle, Clarkson has recently expanded his rural business ventures. Earlier this year, he took over a traditional pub in Asthall, a village near Burford, adding a “village boozer” on five acres of scenic countryside to his growing portfolio.
For now, though, both Clarkson and his crew will have to work around the restrictions brought by Vance’s stay. Whether the vice president’s visit will end up as a humorous anecdote in the next season of Clarkson’s Farm remains to be seen — but one thing is certain: the sleepy Cotswolds have rarely seen a week quite like this.
