Heartbreak at Diddly Squat: Jeremy Clarkson Forced to Cull First Calf Amid TB Outbreak

Jeremy Clarkson has been flooded with messages of support after revealing a devastating loss at his beloved Diddly Squat Farm.

The Clarkson’s Farm star and The Sun columnist, who has documented his farming journey in the Oxfordshire countryside through his hit Amazon Prime series, shared the heartbreaking news that the very first calf born on his property had to be put down due to bovine tuberculosis.

The 65-year-old former Top Gear presenter first disclosed over the summer that his 1,000-acre farm had been struck by an outbreak of Bovine TB — a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis, which can also affect animals such as cats, dogs, and badgers.

At the time, Clarkson explained that no new cows could be brought onto or leave the farm until further tests were carried out on the herd.

Now, the situation has worsened. Taking to Instagram, Clarkson shared a touching photograph of the farm’s first calf, writing:

“This was the first calf ever born at Diddly Squat.
And this morning she was destroyed, while pregnant with twins, because she has TB. So sad.”

Fans were quick to respond with an outpouring of sympathy and encouragement. One wrote, “So sorry. I remember the joy when she was born — it’s heartbreaking.” Another added, “That’s terrible, Jeremy. I know how painful that must be.”

Crop Catastrophe Adds to Clarkson’s Troubles

Sadly, the TB tragedy wasn’t the only setback Clarkson faced this summer. His crops have also taken a major hit.

In August, he sounded the alarm on X (formerly Twitter), warning followers of a “catastrophic” harvest that, he said, “should worry anyone who eats food.”

When pressed by fans for details, Clarkson revealed the shocking scale of his losses:

“It’s the crops that have been disastrous. I planted 400,000 beetroot. Two grew.”

Fans responded with concern and disbelief. One commented, “That’s awful — we’re all in for a tough year!” while another said, “Holy s**t. That is bad.”

Standing Up for Farmers

Despite the difficult year, Clarkson used his recent National Television Award win to highlight the challenges facing British farmers.

In his acceptance speech, he praised those working in agriculture, acknowledging the immense pressures of weather, disease, and rising costs — struggles that Clarkson’s Farm has helped bring to public attention.

From the loss of his first calf to a disastrous harvest, Jeremy Clarkson’s latest ordeal is a sobering reminder of the harsh realities of farming life — even for one of television’s most famous farmers.