Clarkson’s New Move to Guard His Identity Raises Big Questions About What Comes Next
Jeremy Clarkson, one of Britain’s most recognisable broadcasters and the outspoken face of Clarkson’s Farm, has taken a step that few television personalities have ever considered. At 65, the former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter has revealed plans to trademark his own face — a move sparked not by ego, but by the growing threat of deepfake manipulation and AI-driven scams.
In an era where artificial intelligence can generate speeches, videos, endorsements and even fabricated medical advice using a public figure’s likeness, Clarkson’s decision is less surprising than it is timely. His image, voice, and name have all been used without permission to promote everything from cryptocurrency schemes to dubious mortgage campaigns.
“It’s an AI thing,” Clarkson told The Sun. “There’s so much activity around bitcoin or mortgage loans where my face, my name, my image, my voice and so on have been used to promote things that I’m not promoting. I’m protecting people from ‘me’, but it’s not me. And honestly, it’s absurd.”
Yet beneath the humour lies a genuine concern: Clarkson, a household name for more than three decades, fears that technology could distort his reputation long after he’s gone.
A Growing Concern Across the Entertainment Industry
Clarkson’s move echoes steps taken by high-profile figures such as Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, who also secured protection for his image under European trademark law. With deepfake tools now widely accessible, celebrity impersonation — once an amusing novelty — has rapidly become a commercial and ethical minefield.
For Clarkson, whose image is tied not only to entertainment but to agriculture and business, the risk extends beyond embarrassment. He has become the unofficial face of modern British farming, and a manipulated endorsement could mislead millions of viewers who trust his voice and his story.
The decision to trademark his face suggests that Clarkson anticipates more AI-related challenges ahead, especially as Clarkson’s Farm grows into one of Britain’s most influential documentaries.

A Year of Personal Transformations
This legal move comes during a period of significant personal change for the presenter. Clarkson has recently spoken publicly about his ongoing weight loss journey after adopting lifestyle adjustments and medication, including a switch from Ozempic to Mounjaro.
He has approached the transformation with characteristic humour, joking about an unexpected drawback of his slimmer frame.
“Going through airport security is now chaos,” he wrote on X. “They make you remove your belt, raise your hands, and suddenly your trousers are heading south. I never saw that coming.”
While comedic, his comments reflect the wider balancing act he faces: maintaining his public persona while navigating real health concerns.
Maintaining Control at Diddly Squat and The Farmer’s Dog
Despite personal challenges, Clarkson remains active at both his farm and his now-famous establishment, The Farmer’s Dog. But recent weeks have shown that even seemingly simple policies can stir debate — especially in a business built on hyper-local sourcing.
A visitor was reportedly turned away after attempting to bring in a birthday cake, a violation of the pub’s “16-mile sourcing rule,” which requires ingredients to come from within the local radius. Clarkson makes rare exceptions, such as tonic water, because quinine cannot be grown in Britain.
In typical Clarkson fashion, he addressed this with a mix of honesty and humour on the pub’s website:
“I’ve tried my absolute hardest to make sure every single thing you consume here was grown or reared by British farmers. But you can’t have a pub without gin and tonic. And since quinine isn’t exactly thriving in Oxfordshire, I’ve allowed tonic water in. Otherwise you’d be given gin and water with a slice of turnip.”
The statement underscores his longstanding commitment to supporting British agriculture — a theme that has played a central role in Clarkson’s Farm.

What This Means for Clarkson’s Future
Clarkson trademarking his face, addressing deepfake threats, discussing his health, and maintaining strict local rules at his businesses all point toward a broader shift in how he manages his public and professional identity.
1. Greater Control Over His Image
As AI becomes more pervasive, Clarkson may double down on legal and branding protections. Expect formal guidelines, licensing restrictions, and potentially new digital watermarks for his media content.
2. Continued Public Engagement
Clarkson’s willingness to speak candidly about health, personal challenges, and farming decisions signals a period of transparency that fans will likely see continue into Season 5 of Clarkson’s Farm.
3. Stronger Farming Advocacy
With Clarkson’s Farm influencing national attitudes toward British agriculture, Clarkson’s brand is no longer just entertainment — it is activism. Trademarking his face could be a precursor to broader campaigns related to farming integrity, food security, and responsible use of AI.
4. A More Formal Clarkson Empire
From Diddly Squat to The Farmer’s Dog, Clarkson appears increasingly aware that his enterprises now operate under nationwide scrutiny. Expect greater structure, clearer rules, and tighter control over how his businesses use his image.
5. A Possible Storyline for Clarkson’s Farm Season 5
Deepfake fraud, personal well-being, strict supply rules, and digital identity protection provide fresh narrative threads that could naturally weave into future episodes. Viewers may see Clarkson confronting modern challenges that extend far beyond tractors, crops, and council disputes.
A New Era for Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson has never been one to follow the rules — but ironically, it is his adherence to new forms of protection, identity control, and responsible management that now defines this chapter of his life. Whether on television, online, or at Diddly Squat, Clarkson’s next moves show a man preparing not only for the future, but for the world that will exist long after he leaves it.
And as always — he is doing it in his own unmistakable style.
