Jeremy Clarkson Responds to Being Told He’s “Not Fit to Be a Farmer”
Television presenter and journalist Jeremy Clarkson has hit back at a social media critic who branded him a “useless farmer,” insisting that he’s “actually getting better” at running his Cotswolds farm.
The former Top Gear and Grand Tour host, now 65, took on the challenge of running his 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, back in 2019 — a move that would change his life and public image.
Although Clarkson bought the land in 2008, it wasn’t until more than a decade later that he decided to manage it himself, with cameras rolling for what became one of Amazon Prime Video’s most popular series, Clarkson’s Farm.
Since its debut, the show has received widespread acclaim for its candid and often hilarious portrayal of modern farming life. Viewers have watched Clarkson grapple with unpredictable weather, livestock mishaps, planning disputes, and the complexities of agricultural bureaucracy — all while trying to make his farming venture profitable.
Despite the chaos, many fans and farming groups have credited Clarkson with shining a much-needed spotlight on the challenges faced by British farmers, particularly small-scale operations struggling with costs, regulations, and post-Brexit trade issues.
However, not everyone has been impressed.
Over the weekend, Clarkson found himself the subject of online criticism after hinting that he might one day turn his hand to politics. Posting on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Clarkson teased followers with the suggestion that he could stand as an MP for his home constituency of Doncaster North — currently represented by Labour’s Ed Miliband.
“People of Doncaster North,” he wrote. “Are you happy with your MP? Would you like it if someone from your neck of the woods kicked him out?”
The post immediately sparked debate online. One user encouraged the idea, writing:
“Actually, I would quite like Jeremy Clarkson to stand against Miliband, take his seat, then do a Netflix series exposing the corruption, mediocrity and incompetence of Westminster. Clarkson’s Parliament would be a winner.”
Others were less enthusiastic, with one bluntly responding:
“He’d be f**king useless as an MP.”
Then came a third user’s jab, taking aim at Clarkson’s farming credentials:
“He’s useless as a farmer. That’s the point.”
Never one to stay silent for long, Clarkson fired back with a typically dry response:
“I’m actually getting better.”
The exchange quickly went viral, with many fans praising Clarkson’s self-deprecating humour — a trait that has helped make Clarkson’s Farm such a success.
The series, now four seasons in, has shown the former motoring journalist developing a genuine passion for agriculture, often clashing with local authorities and battling against nature but always maintaining his trademark wit and determination.
Beyond entertainment, the show has had tangible effects on rural communities, with Clarkson’s on-screen advocacy for farmers earning him unlikely praise from agricultural unions and rural MPs alike.
Still, whether or not he ever makes the leap from farming to politics remains to be seen. For now, Clarkson appears content tending to his sheep, selling produce at the Diddly Squat Farm Shop, and proving — as he puts it — that he’s “actually getting better.”