Andy Wilman, the long-time colleague of Jeremy Clarkson and executive producer of Clarkson's Farm, has highlighted a moment in the latest series that he believes demonstrates Clarkson's unique genius. Wilman, who previously worked with Clarkson on Top Gear, reflected on the transition from high-octane motoring shows to the quieter world of farming.
From Top Gear to Farming
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Wilman admitted there were initial concerns that the show might be boring compared to Clarkson's previous stunts. 'We did not see it coming, that our big worry apart from how authentic it would be is how boring it might be,' he said. 'You know, him hitching a track trailer up when we've done Minis going down ski jumps with rockets on them.'
However, the team quickly realized that small-scale farming stories could be just as powerful. 'Those small stories have got as much power as the Mini down ski jump,' Wilman added. 'He can somehow make the movements of goats quite something.'
The Genius Moment
The standout moment comes in a sequence where Clarkson is moving goats between fields. Wilman described it as a perfect example of Clarkson's storytelling instinct. 'It's four minutes and you think, well, that's nearly half a power test on Top Gear, of moving goats, and the goats are unruly,' he said. 'Then they get them under control and they get to the field and it's your kind of bucolic, beautiful Cotswold late afternoon, and he turns to the camera and goes, “Why did I spend so many years driving cars around corners shouting when I could have been doing this?”'
Wilman called this moment 'genius,' noting that Clarkson provides context while still acknowledging the reality of work. 'He gives you a Jeremy moment to give context to what's going on. I'd call that genius, because he's going, “I still have to work here. I can't just enjoy moving stuff around.” And then he stops and he goes, “Oh, I remember. Because it pays for me to do this.”'
Instinct vs. Production
When asked how much of Clarkson's success comes from instinct rather than production design, Wilman suggested the two are inseparable. 'Isn't Jeremy being Jeremy a bit of genius? It's like not anyone can do that job,' he said.
The fifth series of Clarkson's Farm is now available to stream on Prime Video.
