MAY MUD AND MERRY-MAKING: Clarkson Signals Series Five Return as Rain Halts Diddly Squat Progress
The “human whirlwind” of West Oxfordshire is back—or at least, his television counterpart is. Jeremy Clarkson, the 65-year-old broadcaster turned agricultural underdog, has finally broken his silence on the highly anticipated return of Clarkson’s Farm.
In a characteristically blunt exchange on social media this Sunday, March 1, the Diddly Squat owner gave the strongest indication yet that Series Five will hit Prime Video screens this May.
“It’s Not Up To Me”
The revelation came via X (formerly Twitter), where a frustrated parent pleaded for a release date to satisfy a persistent son. “Can you please clarify when the new series of the farm is starting? My son is doing my head in asking,” the fan wrote, adding queries about the fate of the farm’s latest canine additions.
Clarkson’s response was brief but illuminating: “May. I think. It’s not up to me.“
While Prime Video has yet to release a formal marketing blitz, the May window aligns perfectly with the debut of previous seasons. With filming for Series Five having wrapped last September, the production is currently in the final stages of editing to capture the latest triumphs and tribulations of life in Chadlington.
A Tale of Two Locations
Since taking over the 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm in 2008, Clarkson has transformed a quiet corner of the Cotswolds into a global tourist destination. Series Five is expected to feature a heavy focus on his newest venture: The Farmer’s Dog pub.
Located in Asthall, near Burford, the pub opened its doors in 2024 to massive crowds, promising a “British-only” menu and a pint of Clarkson’s own Hawkstone lager. Fans are eager to see the behind-the-scenes chaos of the pub’s renovation and its subsequent struggle to handle the sheer volume of visitors—a recurring theme in the Diddly Squat saga.
The “Blizzard of Productivity” Frozen by Rain
While fans have much to look forward to, the reality on the ground in Oxfordshire is currently far from “productive.” Writing in his latest column for The Sunday Times, Clarkson revealed that the “one-man blizzard” of action has been brought to a grinding halt by the British weather.
“It hasn’t stopped raining since the beginning of the year,” Clarkson lamented. The persistent downpours have saturated the Cotswold clay, making it impossible to plant spring crops. The agricultural gridlock has even forced a temporary halt to filming on Series Six, which was slated to begin production this winter.
TB Lockdown and Farming Woes
The weather isn’t the only obstacle. Clarkson confirmed that his livestock operations are currently under a “TB lockdown,” a devastating but common hurdle for British farmers that prevents the movement or sale of cattle.
“There’s no filming happening on the farm at the moment. Or farming,” he wrote. Between the rain and the bovine tuberculosis restrictions, the man who hosts Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and writes three weekly columns finds himself in an unusual state of forced idleness.
Despite the current standstill, the upcoming Series Five promises to document a period of high activity, including the expansion of his brewery and shop. As the Cotswolds waits for the sun to emerge, fans can at least mark their calendars for May, when the gates of Diddly Squat swing open once more—digitally, at least.