PETA targets Jeremy Clarkson with Christmas message urging major change at Diddly Squat Farm

PETA has sent Jeremy Clarkson a gruesome Christmas jumper urging him to transform Diddly Squat Farm into an animal sanctuary

Jeremy Clarkson has been encouraged to make a major transformation at Diddly Squat Farm after animal rights organisation PETA sent him what it described as a blunt Christmas message, urging the broadcaster to stop livestock farming and convert his Oxfordshire property into an animal sanctuary. The ex-Top Gear host, who has emerged as an unexpected figure in British farming, was presented with a so-called “Christmassacre” jumper as part of PETA’s current seasonal campaign.

The group says the graphic garment is designed to confront people with the realities of meat consumption during the festive period and to encourage a shift toward plant-based living.

In a letter addressed to Clarkson, PETA suggested that “years of sending animals to their deaths” might have “left him cold” and argued that the jumper could help “warm him up” over Christmas. Made from vegan materials, the item features unsettling depictions of animals traditionally consumed during the holiday season, including turkeys, pigs, and cattle, illustrated in ways intended to reflect abattoir conditions.

The correspondence, signed by PETA Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen, continues by urging Clarkson to “get off the animals’ naughty list” by altering his farming practices.

The letter states: “Christmas is a time to reflect on how we can each bring the spirit of peace and goodwill into our everyday lives. We hope our festive jumpers will finally inspire you to adopt a vegan lifestyle and transform Diddly Squat Farm into a sanctuary where animals can live out their lives in peace.”

Allen described the disturbing imagery on the jumpers as a “sombre reminder that over 180 million animals are violently killed in the UK during the festive season alone,” reports the Express.

PETA argues that animals raised for meat are often kept in cramped and unsanitary conditions before enduring long journeys to abattoirs, where they are killed. The organisation claims that abandoning animal agriculture would not only prevent cruelty but also reduce carbon emissions and lower the risk of serious health issues associated with meat consumption.

The Christmassacre jumpers, priced at £75 each and available via PETA’s website, are part of a wider seasonal campaign, which includes a Christmas advertisement currently screening in cinemas nationwide, including Oxford. The ad encourages viewers to consider the origins of their festive meals and the suffering involved in meat production.

Clarkson, 65, purchased the 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton in 2008, initially as an investment after the retirement of the tenant farmer. For several years, the property was managed by contractors, but Clarkson later took a hands-on approach, which eventually led to the creation of Amazon Prime Video’s hit series Clarkson’s Farm.

First broadcast in 2021, the show follows Clarkson as he attempts to run the farm with little prior experience, documenting the realities of modern British agriculture — from erratic weather and rising costs to planning disputes and animal welfare regulations. The series has been a significant success for Amazon, bringing farming issues to a wider audience while also highlighting Clarkson’s often controversial views on environmentalism, veganism, and rural regulation.

Throughout Clarkson’s Farm, the presenter has been openly critical of vegan campaigns and animal rights activists, frequently defending meat consumption and conventional farming practices. Diddly Squat currently raises livestock and grows crops, with produce sold through the farm shop, which has drawn thousands of visitors since opening.

A representative for Clarkson has been approached for comment.