Jeremy Clarkson has once again taken aim at Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, reigniting a long-running feud between the two television personalities with a fresh jibe on social media.
The 65-year-old broadcaster, known worldwide for his work on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, has reinvented himself in recent years as a farmer and publican in Oxfordshire. He now runs Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, which has become the focus of his hit Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm, and he also owns The Farmer’s Dog pub in the nearby village of Asthall, close to Burford. Despite the demands of farming and filming, Clarkson continues to make headlines for his outspoken comments, particularly when it comes to politics, the environment, and his fellow media figures.
His latest remarks came in the immediate aftermath of Angela Rayner’s dramatic resignation on Friday, September 5. The Labour Deputy Prime Minister stepped down following revelations that she had breached the ministerial code by failing to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on a seaside property. Her departure has been described as one of the most significant blows to Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government since taking power, sparking widespread political debate and criticism from opponents.
Clarkson wasted no time in weighing in. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he launched into a pointed critique of Ms Rayner’s career and financial dealings. “We paid for Angela Rayner’s education,” he began. “We paid her wages when she worked for the local council. We paid her wages when she became an MP. We even paid the settlement that enabled her to buy a house. Taxpayers have funded every aspect of her entire life.” His comments, characteristically blunt, quickly began circulating online and were met with both applause and outrage.
Not content with targeting Rayner, Clarkson then shifted his sights onto another familiar adversary: Chris Packham. Adding a sardonic twist to his earlier post, he wrote: “To be clear, I’m only on here now because I know it’ll wind up Packham. Must get back to work now. Someone has to pay for Starmer’s shoes.” The jab immediately reignited speculation about the pair’s long-standing rivalry, which has played out publicly over the past several years.
Their feud dates back to Clarkson’s highly controversial 2022 newspaper column about Meghan Markle, which prompted widespread backlash and drew formal complaints. Packham was among the most vocal critics, publicly declaring that Clarkson should face jail for his comments. Since then, the two have repeatedly clashed in the press and online. Clarkson has regularly mocked environmental campaigners, often singling out Packham in his writings, and has ridiculed the Springwatch presenter’s appearance and manner, suggesting he lacks any understanding of the pressures that come with true fame.
For his part, Packham has consistently pushed back, particularly on issues relating to climate change, wildlife protection, and sustainable living. In late 2024 and early 2025, he even issued a public challenge to Clarkson, inviting him to take part in Veganuary — a month-long vegan lifestyle campaign — shortly after Clarkson revealed he had suffered a health scare related to his heart. Packham framed the invitation as a way for Clarkson to embrace healthier habits and set a better example, though many saw it as yet another way of needling his rival.
The two men represent starkly different sides of Britain’s cultural landscape. Clarkson has built a reputation as a champion of traditional farming values, rural independence, and a sceptical view of modern environmentalism, while Packham has become one of the country’s most outspoken advocates for wildlife conservation and climate action. Their public disagreements, fuelled by sharp language on both sides, have become a recurring spectacle for audiences who either enjoy Clarkson’s irreverence or admire Packham’s principled stance.
With Clarkson currently filming the fifth season of Clarkson’s Farm in Oxfordshire, and Packham continuing his environmental campaigning alongside his BBC presenting duties, it seems unlikely that their feud will fade anytime soon. If anything, Clarkson’s latest barbed comments in the wake of Angela Rayner’s resignation suggest that he remains eager to keep stoking the fire — especially when it guarantees public attention and, as he openly admits, irritates his critics.
