Jeremy Clarkson shines a light on the brutal business of farming: Diddly Squat made just £144 as Amazon Prime show reveals threat of council bureaucrats, badger vigilantes and cow police (as even Roger Daltrey asks what hope is there for ordinary farmers?)
- Broadcaster has won praise for using show to highlight issues faced by farmers
- Read more: Jeremy Clarkson confirms there will be a third season of hit show
Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm made just £144 profit in its first year, the presenter revealed, as his Amazon Prime show detailed the threats faced by farmers from council bureaucrats, ‘badger vigilantes’ and ‘cow police’.
The broadcaster has been praised for using the show to highlight some of the headwinds faced by the agriculture industry, from meddlesome pen-pushers to the uncertainty caused by the removal of agricultural subsidies after Brexit.
Last night’s episode showed Clarkson storming out of an Oxfordshire council planning meeting after learning that plans for his Diddly Squat Farm restaurant would be refused.
Previously, the presenter revealed how his struggles were affecting the bottom line as he unveiled his paltry year one profits, leading him to wonder how farmers ‘who don’t have Amazon film crews’ would survive when subsidies are cut.
Charlie Ireland, who advises Clarkson on how to manage his 1,000-acre farm, predicted there would be ’30 per cent’ fewer farmers – pointing out that Diddly Squat’s revenues had also been boosted by widespread media attention.
In episode five, Jeremy Clarkson can be seen attending a planning application meeting, in which his plans for a restaurant on the farm are refused
As another frustrated celebrity farmer, Roger Daltrey of The Who fame, texts Clarkson: ‘If we can’t overcome the opposition to diversification schemes, what hope is there for ordinary farmers?’
READ MORE HERE: Jeremy Clarkson confirms there WILL be a third season of his hit farming show despite claims Amazon would axe it amid Meghan Markle column backlash
Despite facing plenty of criticism, Clarkson has won praise for highlighting some of the headwinds facing the British farming industry.
This includes another celebrity farmer, Roger Daltrey of The Who fame, who texts him: ‘If we can’t overcome the opposition to diversification schemes, what hope is there for ordinary farmers?’
Jamie Blackett, who farms in Dumfriesshire and has written several books about rural life, said that despite Clarkson’s ‘slapstick’ approach he ‘puts his finger on some of the most important challenges in the British countryside’.
Mr Blackett praised him for standing up to the ‘Packhamites’ and ‘white settlers clustered around Nimby Central in the former farming community known as the Cotswolds’.
Writing in the Telegraph, he said his view of badgers – which ‘[borders] on clinically psychopathic’ is ‘shared by anyone who really cares about our native fauna’ due to the harm they do to wildlife and contribute to the spreading of TB.
But, he adds, the ‘bigger theme running through the eight episodes explores his thesis that the post-Brexit plan to remove agricultural subsidies has set British farmers up for catastrophe unless red tape can be cut to allow them to diversify and add value to their produce by selling direct to the consumer’.
West Oxfordshire District Council last night spoke out after Clarkson’s clash with officials.
After the show aired fans aired their views on social media, suggesting ‘pen pushing’ council officials ‘hate Clarkson’ and had a ‘vendetta’ against the star.
Roger Daltrey of The Who, another celebrity farmer, is among those backing Clarkson for shining a light on the reality of farming
The majority of West Oxfordshire District Council vote in favour to refuse Clarkson’s restaurant plans
Clarkson storming out of the planning meeting after permission for his restaurant was refused
In response, a council vowed vowing the presenter would be treated ‘no differently’ than anyone else
The new episodes were aired after the furore over his comments on Meghan Markle in a column in The Sun newspaper – after which he temporarily closed the doors to his shop.
But yesterday Clarkson confirmed there will be a third season of his hugely popular farming show, despite suggestions Amazon would axe it in the wake of the backlash.
The council has stressed that proper procedures were followed in Clarkson’s planning applications, which included plans for a car park.
A statement said: ‘We understand that the planning process shown in Season 2 of Clarkson’s Farm can seem obstructive and that people will be confused by the planning decisions at Diddly Squat Farm.
‘As with any other planning authority, we have a legal responsibility to make sure that planning laws and policies are followed correctly by everyone to manage development and protect local communities and the environment.
‘This is regardless of who they are and we treat Diddly Squat Farm no differently.’
Diddly Squat Farm, in Chadlington, is located in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which means it is subject to tighter planning restrictions than other areas of the country.
There were huge queues outside Clarkson’s farm shop after it reopened at the weekend for the first time since its winter closure
Huge queues of cars outside Clarkson’s farm in the Cotswolds on Saturday
The council added: ‘As shown on the programme, officers from the council went to meet with the owners of Diddly Squat Farm to provide advice which was one of multiple conversations we had to try and support the farm.
‘Over recent years, Diddly Squat Farm has had many planning applications approved where they were in line with national and local planning policy.
‘This included approving the farm shop with its current car park, approving a lambing shed and allowing the area from which farm shop produce could be sourced to be extended.
‘The farm shop we approved can sell local produce from local farmers – which we wholly support.’
Clarkson and the council have come head to head several times since he took over the farm in 2019.
Many locals were dissatisfied with the business when the presenter decided to build a farm shop and restaurant.
Clarkson has admitted his neighbours are ‘divided’ when it comes to him and his farm, suggesting it was partly to do with ‘my past’.
After criticism from Clarkson, it insisted all the relevant planning laws had been followed
West Oxfordshire District Council has hit back at Clarkson – saying his Diddly Squat Farm must abide by planning and bylaws, despite its popularity
The council rejected two planning applications for the restaurant last year, which he appealed.
Applications to expand the car park from 10 spaces to 70 were also rejected by the council, which said it would be ‘visually intrusive’.
The plan also included new entry and exit points off Chipping Norton Road and a storage compound.
After the council overturned his plans to turn his old lambing barn into a restaurant, Jeremy settled for transforming an abandoned barn instead.
Since reopening over the weekend after being closed for the winter, the farm shop saw huge queues of eager fans.
Photographs show long lines of people waiting to enter the TV star’s shop on Diddly Squat Farm and many cars parked along the country road.
Local council officials warned Clarkson fans not to cause any traffic chaos by parking near his farm ahead of the expected influx of fans to the site.
Clarkson and the council have come head to head several times since he took over the farm in 2019
Meanwhile, preparations for the grand opening of the restaurant on the weekend were thrown into disarray when Jeremy and the team were faced with electrical faults in the venue.
There was soon a pile up of visitors arriving in their cars as the restaurant was not ready to seat them. As a result, Clarkson reportedly stormed off in a rage.
It comes as Clarkson has confirmed there will be a third season of his farming show, after claims Amazon would axe it amid backlash over his controversial Meghan Markle column.
The 62-year-old received glowing reviews on social media after the new season came out on Friday morning.
Many fans have reportedly binge-watched the series in the space of one weekend and are already keen for more.
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