Jeremy Clarkson condemns fake online claims targeting Clarkson’s Farm favourite Gerald Cooper
Jeremy Clarkson has spoken out angrily after a series of online claims falsely suggested that a member of the Clarkson’s Farm cast was no longer alive, describing the reports as completely fabricated and deeply irresponsible.
The claims centred on Gerald Cooper, a much-loved figure on the Prime Video series, which is filmed at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, near Chipping Norton. Mr Cooper, a dry-stone walling expert whose thick rural accent has become a running feature of the programme, quickly won over viewers and is regarded as one of the show’s most popular contributors.
In recent months, however, a number of posts circulating online have spread false stories about Mr Cooper’s wellbeing. Some suggested he had been rushed to hospital, while others went even further, prompting widespread confusion and concern among fans of the show.
Writing in his newspaper column, Mr Clarkson said the situation had gone far beyond harmless rumour and called on those responsible to stop immediately. He revealed that several misleading stories had appeared online at the same time, all linked to people connected with his farm.
“On Facebook this week, we heard from just my farm alone that Gerald was no longer with us, Kaleb had another child, Lisa had left me, and I’d broken my leg,” he wrote. “Every single story came with a completely realistic photograph. And every single one of them was total nonsense.”
Mr Clarkson said he was particularly troubled by the effect the false stories could have on Mr Cooper and his family. He explained that, unlike some of the other figures on the show, Mr Cooper is not used to public attention and finds the sudden spread of such claims unsettling.
“Do I mind? Yes,” Mr Clarkson added. “Mainly because Gerald isn’t accustomed to being in the public eye, and it worries him that his children might see this sort of thing online. So whoever is doing it needs to stop.”
Despite the online claims, both Mr Clarkson and Mr Cooper are expected to return in the upcoming fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm. Filming on the new season officially wrapped in September 2025, with eight fresh episodes scheduled to be released on Prime Video later this year.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns about highly convincing AI-generated images and fabricated stories circulating on social media, with Mr Clarkson’s comments highlighting the real-world impact such content can have on people unprepared for sudden public scrutiny.