Jeremy Clarkson Says He’s ‘Sent Cameras Away’ After ‘Miserable’ Year Filming Clarkson’s Farm
Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that filming for the next season of Clarkson’s Farm has been paused after what he described as one of the “most miserable and exhausting years” he’s ever faced at Diddly Squat Farm.
The 65-year-old presenter turned farmer confirmed that the camera crew has been given a much-needed break following the completion of filming for Season 5 of the hit Amazon Prime Video series — a year that has tested both his health and his spirit.
“We’ve sent the cameras away to give us a break from that side of things for a while,” Clarkson admitted. “Because the last 12 months have been a conveyor belt of misery.”
A Gruelling Year on the Farm
Clarkson’s candid comments shed light on the series’ toughest production yet, as the former Top Gear host battled a string of personal and professional challenges — from health scares and relentless weather to devastating livestock losses.
Fans have grown accustomed to the show’s mix of humor, chaos, and countryside charm, but according to Clarkson, the latest chapter of Clarkson’s Farm is far from light-hearted. “It isn’t,” he bluntly told readers. “Because this past year has been nothing but knackering.”
The trouble began early in 2024, when Clarkson was hospitalized after trying to juggle the demands of harvesting while managing his latest business venture — The Farmer’s Dog, his Cotswold pub. “My heart decided I really had to slow down,” he admitted.
In June, he shared details of his eight-hour hospital visit, during which he underwent prostate cancer checks and a battery of medical tests. It came after a major health scare the previous year, when doctors told him he had been “days away from death.”
Writing in The Sunday Times, Clarkson described the ordeal in his typically irreverent style, quipping:
“They can photograph your ventricles and every bit of your brain, but if they want to know what’s going on with your prostate, which lives in the anus, for some reason, the doctor has to put his finger in there. I can only assume it’s because he likes it.”
The TV star has since vowed to keep a closer watch on his health, but even as he recovered, the farm itself was facing crises of its own.
Endless Rain, Drought, and Tragedy at Diddly Squat
Clarkson revealed that the past two years have brought the most punishing weather patterns he’s ever experienced in Oxfordshire — conditions that wreaked havoc on his crops and morale.
“In 2024, it didn’t stop raining,” he wrote in his Sun column. “And in 2025, it didn’t start.”
The endless wet followed by months of drought left his crops struggling, his livestock suffering, and his team stretched to their limits. But the most painful moment came when bovine tuberculosis (TB) hit the Diddly Squat herd.
“Even though she was pregnant with twins, she had to be destroyed,” Clarkson said of one of his cows. “And what happens to her after that? Burned? Dissolved in acid? Nope. She goes into the food chain like any other farm animal.”
It was a devastating reminder of the harsh realities of farming — something Clarkson has never shied away from showing on screen.
Battling Bureaucracy and Budget Blowback
On top of the weather and animal losses, Clarkson said the government’s recent spring Budget, introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, only made matters worse.
He blasted the policies for sending fertiliser costs “soaring”, further tightening the squeeze on small farms across the country.
“Farmers everywhere are facing some of the toughest conditions seen in decades,” Clarkson noted. “We’re trying to stay positive, but it’s been an uphill battle from every angle.”
A Moment to Breathe
After months of constant filming and chaos, Clarkson said he finally made the call to pause production and give his team — and himself — time to recharge.
“Well, we’ve sent the cameras away to give us a break from that side of things for a while,” he explained. “It’s been knackering.”
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Despite the hardships, Clarkson acknowledged that the Cotswolds’ summer landscapes provided moments of unexpected beauty. “In the relentless sunshine, the Cotswolds did look fantastic,” he said. “But at the coalface, it was knackering.”
Season 5: It’s a Wrap
Just this week, Clarkson confirmed that filming for Season 5 of Clarkson’s Farm had officially wrapped. The announcement came via Instagram, where he posted a smiling photo alongside partner Lisa Hogan and the entire Diddly Squat team — including fan favorites Kaleb Cooper, Charlie Ireland, and Gerald Cooper.
“Season 5. It’s a wrap,” Clarkson wrote beneath the image, prompting thousands of congratulatory comments from fans eagerly awaiting the show’s return next spring.
While the series has become known for its blend of humour, heart, and honesty, Clarkson hinted that the upcoming episodes will deliver something deeper — a raw portrait of life on the land when the odds are stacked high.
The Road Ahead for Diddly Squat
With cameras packed away and the crew taking a breather, Clarkson is looking toward a quieter few months — though anyone familiar with his restless nature knows that “quiet” may not last long.
Between overseeing the farm shop, running The Farmer’s Dog pub, and preparing for the Cereals 2026 event to be hosted at Diddly Squat next summer, Clarkson’s schedule is anything but empty.
Still, after a “conveyor belt of misery,” even he admits the farm — and its famously stubborn owner — could use a little calm.