Jeremy Clarkson Hits Back After Hawkstone Farmers Choir’s Britain’s Got Talent Win Sparks Backlash

Jeremy Clarkson has responded in typically blunt fashion after the Hawkstone Farmers Choir faced criticism following its victory in the Britain’s Got Talent 2026 final.

The farming choir, which has close links to Clarkson’s Hawkstone brand and his wider Clarkson’s Farm world, won the ITV talent competition on Saturday, May 30. Their victory was celebrated by many viewers and farming supporters, but it also sparked a wave of criticism from people who questioned whether the group’s success had been helped by Clarkson’s fame and public backing.

The Hawkstone Farmers Choir was originally created as part of an advertising campaign for Clarkson’s beer and cider business. The Hawkstone brand takes its name from a Neolithic standing stone near Clarkson’s 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, and has frequently been connected to the world of Clarkson’s Farm.

The choir is made up entirely of people connected with farming. What began as a promotional idea later developed into a full Britain’s Got Talent journey, with the group progressing through the competition and eventually reaching the grand final.

Their final performance proved enough to win over voters, and the result led to jubilant scenes among supporters. Clarkson, who was in the audience for the final, was seen celebrating the group’s success as the farming choir completed one of the most unexpected runs of the series.

However, not everyone accepted the result warmly.

Soon after the final, several social media users criticised the outcome, with some suggesting the choir’s connection to Clarkson had given them an unfair advantage. One user claimed the group only won because Clarkson was present in the crowd, arguing that his support had played a major role in the public vote.

Clarkson responded directly on Instagram with a short, sweary dismissal, writing simply: Bull***t.

The brief reply was enough to fuel more discussion online, with fans and critics once again clashing over the choir’s win. Supporters argued that the group deserved its victory because it represented the farming community and brought something different to the Britain’s Got Talent stage. Critics, however, suggested the result reflected Clarkson’s influence more than the choir’s performance alone.

Some social media users were particularly unhappy that a group associated with Clarkson had taken the title. One person mocked the result by referring to the group as a farmers’ choir linked to Clarkson, while another claimed the outcome showed the show had lost its way.

The backlash comes at a time when Clarkson remains one of the most talked-about figures on British television. In recent years, he has moved from motoring entertainment into farming through Clarkson’s Farm, which has become one of Prime Video’s most successful unscripted series.

The show has introduced millions of viewers to life at Diddly Squat Farm, as well as the pressures facing British farmers. Clarkson’s partnership with farm manager Kaleb Cooper, land agent Charlie Ireland, and partner Lisa Hogan has helped turn the programme into a cultural talking point far beyond its original farming premise.

That profile has also brought more attention to Hawkstone. The beer and cider brand is sold at Clarkson’s pub and a range of other venues, and the choir’s connection to the business made its Britain’s Got Talent run unusually high-profile.

For some viewers, that link made the group’s success feel like a major celebration for rural Britain. For others, it raised questions about whether a choir connected to a famous television personality had an advantage over lesser-known acts.

Despite the criticism, the choir’s supporters have pointed out that Britain’s Got Talent is ultimately decided by public voting. They argue that the group’s performance, story, and connection to farming communities resonated with enough viewers to secure the win.

Clarkson’s response suggests he has little patience for claims that the result was unfair. Rather than issue a long explanation, he chose a direct and dismissive reply, staying true to the confrontational style that has long made him one of Britain’s most divisive television personalities.

The timing of the row is also significant. Clarkson is set to return to screens this week with the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm, which launches on Prime Video on Wednesday, June 3. The new series is expected to continue following the struggles, humour, and pressures of life at Diddly Squat Farm, while also exploring wider issues affecting the farming industry.

With the Hawkstone Farmers Choir now crowned Britain’s Got Talent winners, Clarkson’s farming universe has grown even further beyond the boundaries of his Oxfordshire farm. What started as a choir linked to a drinks campaign has become a national talking point, drawing praise, criticism, and intense debate.

For Clarkson, the controversy may only add to the attention surrounding both Hawkstone and Clarkson’s Farm. And as his blunt response shows, he appears more than ready to defend the choir’s victory against those who believe the result was anything less than deserved.