Jeremy Clarkson gets support from unlikely star after ‘devastating’ Diddly Squat update

In an unexpected display of compassion, Queen guitarist Brian May’s animal welfare charity, the Save Me Trust, has extended an olive branch to Jeremy Clarkson after the Clarkson’s Farm star revealed that his Diddly Squat farm had been hit by a devastating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) outbreak.

The outreach comes despite a long-standing and very public disagreement between the two high-profile figures over the controversial issue of badger culling — a government policy that has divided farmers, scientists, and animal rights activists for more than a decade.

When approached by Express.co.uk, the Save Me Trust confirmed that its CEO and co-founder, Anne Brummer, had contacted Clarkson directly after hearing the news. Brummer co-established the charity with Brian May in 2009, and for over 10 years, the organisation has been deeply involved in bTB research and campaigning for policy changes in how the disease is managed in livestock.

The former Top Gear presenter broke the news on social media on July 31, posting on X (formerly Twitter):

“Bad news from Diddly Squat. We’ve gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated.”

The announcement drew sympathy from fans of Clarkson’s Farm, many of whom understand the emotional and financial toll that bTB can take on farmers. The disease, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, can spread between cattle and wildlife, and once detected, often results in the slaughter of affected animals.

For the Save Me Trust, the crisis underscored the urgency of addressing what they see as the real root causes of the problem. The charity has long argued that the government’s focus on culling badgers as a primary control method is misplaced. Instead, they point to cattle-to-cattle transmission as the dominant factor in the spread of bTB.

They also highlight serious flaws in the current skin test for bTB, warning that its limited sensitivity can result in infected animals going undetected — allowing the disease to continue circulating.

This is far from Brian May’s first time stepping into the public debate. In 2024, the rock legend presented a BBC documentary, Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me, which explored the science, politics, and human stories surrounding the bTB crisis. His goal was to challenge public misconceptions, promote alternative solutions, and encourage a more cooperative approach between farmers and conservationists.

The badger cull itself has been one of the most polarising rural policies in the UK since its introduction in 2012. Although the government has pledged to phase it out by 2029, it remains a flashpoint of tension — especially for farmers who believe badgers are a significant source of infection, and wildlife advocates who see the cull as both cruel and ineffective.

Jeremy Clarkson has made no secret of where he stands. On Clarkson’s Farm, he has joked — controversially — that badgers should be “hit on the head with a hammer” to protect cattle. More than a decade ago, he even tweeted about the damage badgers had caused to his farm.

Brian May, however, believes Clarkson’s views stem from misinformation rather than malice. Speaking to The Telegraph last year, he said:

“I don’t think it’s Jeremy Clarkson’s fault because he doesn’t know — he’s a newcomer to this situation. But he’s been advised by someone who’s telling him that bovine TB can be passed by a cow sniffing a badger’s breath. It’s laughable. But he’s got four million viewers on TV, so unfortunately, people are going to believe it.”

Despite Clarkson’s previous digs at him — some of them quite sharp — May insists he harbours no personal animosity towards the presenter.

“I would love to have a real heart-to-heart talk with Jeremy Clarkson. He has slagged me off, but I don’t really get into that,” he said.

For now, the gesture from the Save Me Trust represents a rare moment of unity in an otherwise heated and divisive debate. While their views on badger culling remain worlds apart, Brian May and Jeremy Clarkson now share something neither expected — a mutual understanding of the emotional toll that bovine TB can inflict on those who live and work with animals.