Kaleb Cooper has once again proven he’s not shy when it comes to ribbing his boss Jeremy Clarkson, leaving radio presenters momentarily speechless after slipping in a thinly veiled insult during a live interview.
The Clarkson’s Farm breakout star was on Heart Radio this week to promote his new children’s book, Kaleb’s Farmyard Tales: Escaping Animals and Runaway Tractors. The book comes hot on the heels of the show’s big win at the National Television Awards, where it was crowned Best Factual Entertainment, cementing its place as one of the UK’s most beloved programmes.
While chatting with host Jamie Theakston about his fourth book in the series, Kaleb found himself in typically cheeky form. Theakston mentioned that one of the characters in the story — “a runt of the pig litter” — was named Jeremy, before pressing him on why he had chosen that name. Without missing a beat, Kaleb replied: “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 prompted shocked laughter in the studio, with the hosts unable to hide their disbelief. Realising the dig might ruffle feathers, Kaleb quickly offered an apology — though not without keeping his trademark wit intact. “I’m sure you’re lovely,” he added, aiming his words at anyone unfortunate enough to share Clarkson’s name.
This latest on-air quip isn’t the first time the 27-year-old farmhand has made light of his colleague’s shortcomings. In fact, he has a history of weaving playful swipes into both interviews and his writing. In one section of his new book, Kaleb pokes fun at Clarkson’s farming abilities, writing: “Anyway, the point is, chickens are generally pretty easy — even my friend Jeremy can handle chickens, and he’s the WORST farmer I’ve ever seen.”
Yet, it’s not all mockery. Kaleb has also admitted that Clarkson is better with certain animals, confessing in another passage: “My friend Jeremy is actually quite a good pig farmer. Don’t tell him I said that.” These back-and-forth remarks capture exactly what fans love about their relationship — a mix of banter, blunt honesty, and the occasional reluctant compliment.
Since making his screen debut in 2021, Kaleb has gone from a relatively unknown Chipping Norton farm worker to a household name. His dry humour, straight-talking critiques, and deep knowledge of farming struck a chord with viewers, many of whom found his dynamic with Clarkson to be the highlight of the show.
Outside of the series, Kaleb has built an impressive career in his own right. With more than three million followers on Instagram, he has become a social media sensation and a recognisable personality beyond the farm. He has also continued branching out into new ventures, from publishing books to public appearances.
Reflecting on his rise, Kaleb recalled advice Clarkson gave him shortly after his sudden burst of fame. Speaking to The Sunday Times, he said: “Six months into it, the director said to me: ‘Kaleb, you’re gonna be a massive celebrity.’ The day after it came out, I gained a million followers on Instagram. I went to Jeremy: ‘What do I do?’ He went: ‘Kaleb, you’ve got two options. You go out there and make all the money you can, and you fall off the face of the earth in five years’ time, or you go for longevity.’”
It seems Kaleb has chosen the latter path. Between his growing library of children’s books, his central role on Clarkson’s Farm, and his rapidly expanding fan base, the young farmer is showing no signs of fading anytime soon. And if his playful jabs at Clarkson are anything to go by, audiences can expect plenty more laughs along the way.
