Fans relieved as Kaleb Cooper officially speaks out on Jeremy Clarkson’s health
Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper has given an update on the health of Jeremy Clarkson after his diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer was revealed.
Cooper, 27, and Clarkson, 66, have been close friends since they first teamed up on Diddly Squat Farm back in 2021 and viewers have watched their friendship evolve across five seasons of the series.
Despite the news, Cooper said Clarkson was staying positive.
“I’ve seen him today, and I’ve seen him at Cereals, and his spirits are high, which is good,” Cooper told The Mirror.
The former Top Gear host revealed he had cancer in the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm which aired this week. Cooper found out on screen alongside co-star Charlie Ireland in a moment that left the pair in tears.
Speaking about his reaction, Cooper said: “Yeah, I mean, it’s only just come out – 100 per cent. I think anything that’s emotional is just about how you take it, you know? You sit there and you be supportive, or do you go out there and, I would say, mope about it and lock yourself away? And at that time you’ve got to be supportive.”
Cooper said he had supported Clarkson from the beginning of his health battle.
“I was there for the whole journey, and I’m still here now, so that’s the main thing,” he said.
Fans have loved watching Cooper and Clarkson’s on-screen banter and playful bickering, though the 27-year-old said nothing changed when the cameras were switched off.
“As soon as the cameras stop, we’re exactly the same, and that’s the good thing about it,” he said.
Cooper applauded Clarkson for encouraging others get themselves checked.
“The message about catching anything early is quite important,” he told Daily Mail UK.
“That’s the main thing, but you’ve gotta keep checking, you know what I mean, it’s all these things, you know, people can sit there and say I’m busy, busy, busy.”
Cooper knew that Clarkson’s mindset would carry him through the road ahead: “He’s strong-minded, he’s got a strong mind on him, which is good.”
Clarkson first revealed he had cancer in the final episodes of his series Clarkson’s Farm.
“I’ve got cancer,” a visibly emotional Clarkson dropped during an unrelated conversation about the farm’s harvest.
Cooper, clearly shocked, replied, “No, you haven’t. Where?”
Clarkson continued: “Where it is, is of no concern of anybody. I’ve known since May.”
“I had a medical, you remember, back in May? I disappeared off the other week and I had a biopsy and it is cancer and it’s aggressive, but it’s really early so the treatment will be, you know…
“I was praying we could get the harvest done and then I could go and get some treatment but it’s going to be slap bang in the middle.”
Cooper, wiping away tears, said: “Look after yourself, you go and do… if you need anything just ring.”
Later in the show, father-of-three Clarkson spoke about how the year had been challenging while talking to Cooper, his girlfriend Lisa Hogan, and two other employees.
He later revealed to Cooper he had “10 per cent” of his prostate removed via ultrasound. “The prostate, 10 per cent of it’s dead,” he said.
“The 10 per cent where the cancer is.”
The episode then cut to Clarkson sitting in a hospital bed.