Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that the BBC rejected his pitch for Clarkson's Farm because he wanted to film in London. The presenter, who previously worked with the broadcaster on Top Gear for around 12 years alongside Richard Hammond and James May, made the claim in his latest column for The Sun.
Pitch rejected over location
Clarkson said that when he pitched the idea of a farming show to a BBC commissioner, the only question was about where it would be produced. When he said London, the commissioner replied, "Well, we don't want it then."
He made the comments while discussing Prime Minister Andy Burnham's plan for a Manchester-based government hub, drawing a parallel with the BBC's decision in 2011 to move many of its shows to Salford. Clarkson noted that the man in charge of encouraging staff to relocate chose to stay in London himself.
Show finds success on Amazon
Clarkson's Farm eventually aired on Amazon Prime Video and has reached its fifth series, with recent episodes reportedly drawing over 4.9 million viewers. The show follows Clarkson as he manages his 1,000-acre farm in the Cotswolds, with help from his partner Lisa Hogan and farm manager Kaleb Cooper.
Clarkson admitted he had doubts about whether the show would appeal to his existing fanbase, saying he thought it would "serve up gentle disappointment to the Top Gear, Grand Tour audience." He added, "I very much was typecast as this man who drove around corners too quickly while shouting and using hyperbole to make a point."
Despite his concerns, the show attracted a new audience. Clarkson said, "It brought a whole new audience who'd never watched a single programme I'd made."
