Oxfordshire farmer and television personality Jeremy Clarkson has spoken out in response to growing chatter about whether he should be awarded a knighthood.
Clarkson, who first rose to global fame as one of the central figures on the BBC’s Top Gear alongside James May and Richard Hammond, later went on to co-create and present the hugely successful The Grand Tour for Prime Video. His outspoken personality, dry humour, and often controversial remarks made him one of Britain’s most recognisable presenters, with a career in motoring journalism and broadcasting spanning more than two decades.
Away from the world of high-performance cars and global road trips, Clarkson has also carved out a name as a prolific columnist, penning weekly articles for The Sun and The Sunday Times. In recent years, however, he has reinvented himself for an entirely new audience with the award-winning documentary series Clarkson’s Farm, which has become one of Prime Video’s most popular shows.
The programme follows his unpredictable journey into agriculture at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, which he purchased in 2008—then known as Curdle Hill Farm. What began as a personal project has turned into a phenomenon, showcasing both the challenges and absurdities of modern farming while highlighting the struggles of British farmers in the face of bureaucracy, rising costs, and environmental pressures.
Because of this unexpected but impactful contribution to agriculture, combined with his long-standing career in entertainment, some fans have suggested Clarkson deserves to be honoured with a knighthood. Admirers argue that he has not only entertained millions worldwide but also raised public awareness about the farming industry in a way few others have managed.
The 65-year-old has recently found himself at the centre of a spirited online debate about whether he should become Sir Jeremy Clarkson. On X (formerly Twitter), one user posed the question:
“Do you think Jeremy Clarkson deserves a knighthood? Yes or no?”
The post sparked heated responses. One critic argued against the idea, writing:
“No, he doesn’t. He named his farm ‘Diddly Squat’ as a joke about the inheritance tax he thought he’d avoid, and he has made millions from televising the entire adventure. What on earth would he get a knighthood for? Personal bravery, achievement, or service? To what?”
Clarkson, never one to let a jab pass without comment, saw the remark and decided to reply in his typically tongue-in-cheek fashion.
“Well, now steady on,” he quipped.
“I regularly put money in the lifeboat thing on bars. So there’s that.”
The light-hearted response perfectly captured the presenter’s trademark mix of humour and self-deprecation, showing that while the idea of a knighthood may be a subject of public debate, Clarkson himself appears happy to treat the speculation with a pinch of salt.
