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Clarkson’s Farm 3 wins plaudits from farmers

Philip Clarke 07 May 2024
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© MAG/Philip Case© MAG/Philip Case

Farmers and viewers of Amazon Prime have given a broadly upbeat response to the first batch of episodes of Clarkson’s Farm 3, praising the show’s realistic portrayal of the ups and downs of farming life.

The third series kicked off on Friday (3 May), featuring the usual crew of Jeremy Clarkson, his partner Lisa Hogan, newly instated farm manager Kaleb Cooper, and adviser Charlie Ireland.

See also: Clarkson’s Farm stars talk prices, pigs and ‘proper’ farming

The main thrust of the programme revolves around a competition to see who can make the most money – Kaleb with his “conventional” farming, or Jeremy, who is looking to profit from the “unfarmed” parts of his 404ha Cotswolds farm.

The programme includes Jeremy’s continuing battles with the local council, the constant challenges of inclement weather, a move into regenerative farming, and the introduction of rare breed pigs to the woodland areas.

Farmers Weekly invited readers to share their thoughts on the programme via social media platform X – eliciting a mainly positive response.

Sue Pritchard, an organic farmer from Wales and chief executive of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission said it was “a great programme for Clarkson fans for whom most of this would be a revelation”.

She gave the thumbs up to sections featuring ex-musician turned farmer Andy Cato introducing Jeremy to companion cropping (wheat and beans), the greater involvement of  Lisa Hogan in physical farm work, and the emotional rollercoaster of livestock farming.

But it was thumbs down for the unnecessary working with big machines in woods and streams, and the dangerously casual approach to chain sawing.

Piglets

Herefordshire farmer Martin Williams said: “I watched it all last night. It feels like it has changed from a comedy of errors to a darker commentary. I actually cried over a piglet, but it wasn’t really about the piglet.”

Assistant farm manager Ed Banthorp said having Jeremy Clarkson as an ambassador had been “brilliant for farming”. “So many ‘civilians’ now take an interest in farming since Clarkson’s Farm,” he posted.

@PSBaker10 was less enthusiastic, describing Jeremy Clarkson as “a bully, one who’s done great damage to the cause of climate change and environmentalism”, while fresh produce technologist David Chalk said the first two episodes “felt horribly contrived”.

But while @richibedhall confessed to being “not a huge Clarkson fan”, he added “we can’t go around shooting the messenger as long as the general public become more involved with where their food originates”.

Double-edged sword

Part-time farmer and “countryman” from south-west Scotland John McMyn agreed that Jeremy Clarkson “is a double-edged sword”. “But it’s his character that has made the show a talking point, and we need that talking point,” he posted on X.

Meanwhile, Leicestershire farmer, conservationist and Farmers Weekly columnist Joe Stanley said his one pet “peeve” was how the farming press report every comment the cast make “as if it’s news”. “As an industry we seem desperate for affirmation,” he posted.

The second batch of four episodes of Clarkson’s Farm 3 will be released on Amazon Prime Video on Friday (10 May).

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