Jeremy Clarkson has opened up about his true feelings regarding Gary Lineker and Chris Packham, following recent controversies involving both TV presenters. In a column for The Times, the Clarkson's Farm star addressed Lineker's Falklands remarks and Packham's criticism of his show's opening credits, offering rare admissions of admiration and regret.
Clarkson on Lineker: Admiration Amid Controversy
On July 10, Gary Lineker sparked fury after referring to the Falkland Islands by both its English and Argentine names—"the Falklands or the Malvinas"—during a podcast discussing the England-Argentina match. The former England footballer later clarified he was being diplomatic, but the backlash was swift.
Clarkson wrote: "Anyway, last week, Gary appeared on some podcast and, while discussing the England-Argentina match, referred to the Falklands as 'the Falklands or the Malvinas.' As you’d expect, this caused something of a stir, so he was later forced to admit that he was simply being diplomatic. And as a man who now craves the quiet life, I thought, 'Yes! that’s what I must do from now on.'"
He added: "I should explain that I’ve always liked Gary. Of course, we’ve never agreed on much and twice I’ve let him down quite badly." Clarkson revealed that Lineker was booked to appear as a Star in a Reasonably Priced Car on Top Gear the week Clarkson's BBC contract was terminated, and had previously been en route to Argentina for a car football game when Clarkson had to cancel due to an angry mob.
Regret Over Chris Packham Exchange
Clarkson also addressed his feud with naturalist Chris Packham, who criticized the idyllic opening credits of Clarkson's Farm during an appearance on Celebrity Gogglebox. Packham claimed the credits were "in no way representative of modern-day agricultural practices," adding: "Most farms are horrible monocultures which have been sprayed with deadly chemicals. The ground has been pumped full of fertiliser and most of the animals are indoors, in crates, being crushed and kept in the dark."
At the time, Clarkson fired back in The Sun, calling Packham's comments "b******s" and saying they played well "in a room full of nose rings and Palestine flags at a vegan activist meeting in Hackney." But in his latest column, Clarkson expressed regret: "Of course, I was very incensed by this and immediately wrote in The Sun that he was talking b*****ks. But in the new age of tolerance and respect, I shouldn’t have done that. I should have kept schtum."
Clarkson recalled that Packham had visited Diddly Squat Farm in 2012 for a day of foraging and bird watching, noting: "If there had been some animals in a crate, being crushed, I'm sure he would have noticed and said something."
Impact and Reactions
Clarkson's reflections come as he seeks a quieter life following his own controversies. His admission of liking Lineker and regret over Packham marks a shift in tone for the outspoken presenter. The Falklands row involving Lineker continues to stir debate, with Clarkson's diplomatic approach contrasting his earlier combative style.
