The Clarkson’s Farm star, Jeremy Clarkson, has opened up about some of the most difficult moments at his Oxfordshire farm, Diddly Squat, revealing the emotional toll that comes with managing livestock. Known for his outspoken personality on shows like The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm, Clarkson described a series of devastating events that have made life on the farm far from straightforward.
In an interview with The Times, Clarkson admitted that running a farm involves confronting the harsh realities of life and death every day. “Bad days on the farm are horrific. Your piglets are being crushed or your cattle go down with TB or whatever it might be. A really bad day is just truly awful,” he said, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges behind the cameras. While Clarkson has become accustomed to handling the deaths of animals, the experiences still carry an emotional weight, particularly when young or vulnerable creatures are involved.
Despite these setbacks, Clarkson has maintained a pragmatic approach to farming. He revealed that he has adopted a group of rabbits on the farm, which he raises for meat, though he leaves the butchery to others. “Some people say, oh, you can’t eat rabbits. I mean, why not?” he said. Clarkson acknowledged that rabbit farming has attracted criticism in the past, with figures such as Naomi Campbell expressing concerns that rabbit farms were intended for fur rather than meat. “Actually, I haven’t a clue what to do with the fur,” he admitted, adding a touch of his characteristic humour. Instead, he follows traditional family recipes for rabbit ragu and rabbit stew, passed down by his father.
Over the years, Clarkson has faced a number of tragic incidents on the farm. In 2025, he revealed that one of his cows had contracted bovine tuberculosis, forcing him to have the animal destroyed along with its two unborn calves. Soon after, a donkey was struck by laminitis and had to be euthanised, while a lamb fell victim to crows. Each loss, Clarkson notes, is a reminder of the unpredictable and often harsh realities of farming life, which can be both physically demanding and emotionally draining.
Even in 2026, the challenges continued. In February, another cow died unexpectedly, although Clarkson did not specify the cause of death. He emphasised that while these experiences are heartbreaking, they are part of the broader responsibility of running a working farm. The reality, he suggested, is that farm life is far removed from the idyllic vision often portrayed in media or social media snapshots; it involves making difficult decisions and coping with losses that can deeply affect both the farmer and the wider community of animals on the farm.
Despite the hardships, Clarkson remains committed to Diddly Squat and is preparing for the upcoming Great British Farm-Fest next weekend. The festival, which he hosts, will see celebrity farmers and members of the public gather to celebrate the UK’s agriculture industry. For Clarkson, such events offer a chance to highlight not only the joys of farming but also the resilience and dedication it demands.
Reflecting on the farm’s ups and downs, Clarkson acknowledged that while the experiences of losing animals are genuinely painful, they also provide perspective. “You get used to seeing animals die. You learn to manage it, and you learn to respect life on the farm in all its complexity,” he said. With a mixture of pragmatism, humour, and determination, Jeremy Clarkson continues to navigate the realities of farm life, demonstrating that beneath the television persona lies a deeply hands-on and emotionally invested farmer.
