Vernon Kay has publicly supported Chris Packham, days after the conservationist's heated exchange with Jeremy Clarkson over Clarkson's Farm. During his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show on Wednesday, Kay praised Packham while discussing his new BBC Two documentary, Evolution.
Kay's praise for Packham
Kay revealed he had watched Evolution alongside Paddy McGuinness for an upcoming episode of Celebrity Gogglebox, where the pair appear together. He told listeners: "It's cracking. It's a great show. Chris Packham – one of the best, isn't he?"
He added: "He talks about where we all stem from, and one cell is the key to all life. Fascinating. It's worth a watch." Joking about the programme's exploration of evolution, Kay said: "I couldn't believe I was related to him, I'll be honest with you. We're all related to each other."
Packham and Clarkson's clash
Kay's comments come after Packham criticised Clarkson's Farm on Celebrity Gogglebox, arguing its opening credits depicted an unrealistic view of modern farming. Packham said the picturesque scenes were "not what a farm looks like", adding that many farms are "horrible monocultures which have been sprayed with deadly chemicals" with livestock kept "indoors in crates".
Clarkson hit back in The Sun, dismissing the remarks as "b******s" and noting that Packham had visited Diddly Squat Farm in 2012 for birdwatching and foraging. Clarkson wrote: "The endlessly angry Chris Packham went on Gogglebox this week and erupted in blind fury about the Winnie the Pooh-ish opening credits to my farming programme."
Further reactions
Clarkson's Farm star Harriet Cowan also weighed in, urging Packham to "research your facts" before criticising British farmers, in a video shared on TikTok. The row has sparked widespread debate about farming portrayals in media.
