Jeremy Clarkson, the famous TV broadcaster turned farmer, has announced that Diddly Squat Farm, located in the picturesque Cotswolds, will be temporarily closed for a week as the team undertakes a major overhaul of the shop. This news comes as part of Clarkson’s continued efforts to improve the farming experience, following the immense popularity of his Amazon Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm, which offers a humorous yet honest look at the challenges he faces in modern British farming.
The farm’s social media page explained that the main farm shop would be closed from March 16 to March 24. During this period, they will set up a temporary shop in the lambing barn, located just behind the usual shop. While the temporary setup won’t quite offer the full “Diddly experience” that fans have come to love, visitors will still be able to purchase a variety of goods. Fans are advised to visit after March 25 if they wish to experience the full farm shop experience as it is typically known.
Clarkson, who bought the 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm (formerly known as Curdle Hill Farm) back in 2008, has found himself at the center of a wave of attention following the success of Clarkson’s Farm. The show, which premiered in 2021, became an instant hit on Prime Video, offering a refreshing and often chaotic perspective on farming life. Viewers have flocked to the Cotswolds to visit Clarkson’s farm, with long lines forming outside the Diddly Squat Farm Shop and his nearby pub, The Farmer’s Dog, every weekend.
The upcoming fifth season of Clarkson’s Farm promises more of the same, with Clarkson, his partner Lisa Hogan, and farmhand Kaleb Cooper facing an array of unpredictable weather conditions, livestock dramas, and the constant struggle with local council red tape. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how Clarkson and his team tackle the challenges of modern farming while maintaining their unique brand of humor.
However, Clarkson has also been open about the difficulties his farm is facing this year. In his recent column for The Sunday Times, Clarkson candidly admitted that he doesn’t expect to make a profit from his wheat and barley crops in the next 12 months. The ongoing battle with bovine tuberculosis (TB) has also hindered production, with the farm still dealing with the consequences of the disease. As a result, Clarkson has acknowledged that this year is set to be one of significant financial strain for Diddly Squat Farm.
In February, Clarkson also revealed that the production of the sixth season of Clarkson’s Farm had come to a halt, further highlighting the ongoing difficulties faced by both the farm and the show’s crew. Despite these setbacks, Clarkson remains committed to the farm and continues to offer a mix of humor and practical insight into the world of British farming for his loyal viewers.
For those planning to visit, it’s clear that Diddly Squat Farm continues to be a hub of activity and entertainment, despite the ongoing challenges. Visitors can still look forward to the charm of the temporary shop and the promise of a full reopening at the end of the month, with plenty of new content to look forward to on Clarkson’s Farm in the near future.
