Model and television presenter Jodie Kidd has spoken warmly about what former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson is like when the cameras are off, describing him as highly intelligent and loyal.
Kidd, 48, appeared on Top Gear's 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' segment in 2003, a few years after the BBC show returned to the airwaves. During the segment, she was interviewed by Clarkson, now 66, who was one of the figures behind the show that became a global television phenomenon.
A different side to Clarkson
Twenty-three years after her appearance, and more than a decade after Clarkson left the show in 2015, Kidd was asked what he is like behind the scenes. Speaking on the Cars & Money and Tom Hartley Cars podcast, she gave a glowing appraisal of the Clarkson's Farm star and discussed how viewers have seen a different side to him in his farming series.
She said: "I absolutely love him to death. He's not this big kind of buffoon that actually comes across. I think Clarkson's Farm has shown a more realistic side to him."
"You know, on Top Gear, he always came across as playing a role, playing a persona, but he's not like that. He's highly intelligent. Brilliant, brilliant mind. Incredible thought processes go into every single special and every single show."
Behind the machine
Kidd added: "He's behind the machine, making it all happen. Incredibly loyal, a very good friend and just a brilliant person all round. Yeah, I love him to bits, and Leese [Lisa]. The whole family are just magic."
Kidd is not the only famous face to have spoken about working with Clarkson. Earlier this month, fellow Clarkson's Farm star Harriet Cowan spoke to the Express about Clarkson's approach to switching from cars to farming.
Cowan, 25, who took over as Kaleb Cooper's temporary replacement before leaving mid-season, also spoke warmly about Clarkson, whom she described as "a father figure that didn't know anything about farming".
Describing how humble he was in his approach to learning new information, she added: "He's a very similar age to my dad, but he was the opposite of my dad because my dad's the one who has the knowledge, and we sort of learn from him. So it was sort of like I had to take the reins on that a bit. And, to be fair, as far as it goes, he listened to everything, and he learned so much."
