Kaleb Cooper has issued an apology after making what many fans have described as an “outrageous” on-air insult aimed at his boss, Jeremy Clarkson.
The 27-year-old farmer from Chipping Norton first shot to fame in 2021, when Clarkson’s Farm debuted on Prime Video. His quick wit, no-nonsense attitude, and constant sparring with Clarkson made him an unexpected breakout star, and he has since appeared in every series of the show — including the fourth season, which was released earlier this year between May and June.
Away from television, Cooper has been busy in his personal life. He and his long-time partner, Taya, are already parents to two children, and earlier this month they joyfully welcomed their third baby, a son named Ashton. Despite his growing family commitments, Cooper has continued to balance fatherhood with farming and new business ventures, including his latest project — a children’s book.
The book, titled Kaleb’s Farmyard Tales: Escaping Animals and Runaway Tractors, is the newest addition to his growing list of off-screen achievements. While promoting the release on Heart Radio, Cooper sat down with host Jamie Theakston to discuss the inspiration behind the stories.
During the lighthearted chat, Theakston pointed out that one of the characters in the book — a “runt of the pig litter” — is named Jeremy. When asked why he had chosen that particular name, Cooper didn’t hesitate before cheekily responding:
“I don’t know really, I just thought it was a great name. It sums up, erm, you know… every Jeremy is always a little bit of a runt.”
The remark instantly sent the radio hosts into fits of laughter, leaving them momentarily speechless at his audacity. Although clearly made in jest, the farmhand quickly realised the cheeky jab might raise eyebrows — especially given his well-documented working relationship with Clarkson.
Seizing the moment to smooth things over, Cooper swiftly followed up with an apology. Turning to the audience, he added with a grin: “I’m sure you’re lovely,” making sure to reassure anyone named Jeremy that the comment wasn’t meant to be taken too seriously.
With filming already underway for the hotly anticipated fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm, the playful exchange is unlikely to cause any real tension between the two co-stars. If anything, it adds yet another chapter to the long-running tradition of good-natured banter between Cooper and Clarkson — a dynamic that fans of the show have come to love.
