Jeremy Clarkson shares sad update from Diddly Squat as loss hits farm and filming pauses

Jeremy Clarkson has suggested that more emotional moments may lie ahead for viewers of Clarkson’s Farm as the hit series prepares to return for its fifth season. The presenter, who transformed his Cotswolds property into one of television’s most talked-about farms, revealed that the past year has brought a series of difficult setbacks — both on the land and among the animals that have become familiar to millions of fans.

The Amazon Prime series, which has already aired four successful seasons, is set to return in May with a fifth instalment. At the same time, Clarkson and his team have been working on filming the sixth season. However, production has faced several unexpected interruptions. Poor weather conditions across the region forced filming to pause temporarily, and operations at Diddly Squat Farm have also been affected by a bovine tuberculosis outbreak among the cattle.

The disease, commonly known as bovine TB, is one of the most serious challenges faced by farmers across the United Kingdom. Under current regulations, livestock that test positive must be isolated and repeatedly tested to prevent the infection from spreading. If animals fail two consecutive tests, they are removed from the herd and culled as part of national disease control measures.

For Clarkson, who has often spoken openly about the emotional toll of farming, the outbreak has brought another layer of difficulty. Several cattle have already been lost as a result of the testing process, and the remaining animals have had to be separated and closely monitored while awaiting further results.

Yet the difficulties on the farm may not end there.

In a recent update to fans, Clarkson revealed that one of the farm’s donkeys has fallen seriously ill, raising concerns about its future. The animal — affectionately known to viewers simply as “Ben” — has long been a familiar presence around the farm, often appearing alongside its companion Bill in Clarkson’s social media posts and behind-the-scenes glimpses from the show.

Clarkson recently introduced fans to a new donkey named “New Ben,” sharing a photograph online. According to reports, the animal may have arrived to replace a previous donkey with the same name that had featured prominently on the farm. However, it remains unclear whether the donkey currently unwell is the original Ben or the newer arrival.

Speaking on the My Week in Cars podcast, Clarkson reflected on the unpredictable nature of filming a show built around real farming life — something he says makes Clarkson’s Farm very different from traditional television productions.

“There is no script to this TV show,” he explained. “People always say it must be staged, but the pigs dying, Gerard’s cancer — you can’t stage any of that.”

The presenter said the uncertainty surrounding the donkey’s health has been weighing heavily on the team.

“We’ve got a donkey that’s desperately ill at the moment,” Clarkson said. “We’ve all got our fingers crossed that it makes it, but I don’t know. You can’t write a script saying ‘then it got better’ because you don’t know what the donkey’s going to do.”

His comments underline one of the defining features of Clarkson’s Farm: the show documents the genuine highs and lows of rural life, from unpredictable weather and bureaucratic hurdles to the emotional bonds farmers develop with their animals.

Clarkson also noted that much of farming — and filming the series — involves long periods of waiting for conditions to change.

“You have to be ready to go,” he said. “But you do spend an awful lot of time sitting around doom-scrolling on your phone waiting for the weather to get better or for animals to do something.”

The fifth season of Clarkson’s Farm will arrive on Amazon Prime later this year, continuing the story of Clarkson’s efforts to run Diddly Squat Farm alongside his team, including fan favourites such as Kaleb Cooper, Lisa Hogan and land agent Charlie Ireland.

Viewers can expect the new episodes to cover a period that has proven especially challenging for the farm, with the bovine TB outbreak, difficult weather conditions and ongoing animal health concerns likely to feature prominently in the storyline.

For fans who have followed the series since its debut, these developments highlight why the show has resonated so strongly. Clarkson’s Farm does not present an idealised version of agriculture; instead, it reveals the often unpredictable and demanding reality of modern farming.

As Clarkson himself has repeatedly acknowledged, that reality can bring moments of genuine worry as well as humour.

And with the fate of the farm’s unwell donkey still uncertain, the upcoming season may once again remind audiences that life on a working farm rarely unfolds according to plan.