Jeremy Clarkson has teased that his next project after Clarkson's Farm will need to be "bigger" and "unbelievably ambitious" to stand out, using Celebrity Traitors as a "very good example". Speaking at the RTS Convention in London, the 66-year-old broadcaster also proposed a unified streaming platform called "Britflix" as the way for television to survive.
What Clarkson Said About His Next Show
Clarkson, who began Amazon Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm in 2021, confirmed that filming for series six has wrapped after series five landed in June. Reflecting on what comes next, he said: "We're currently thinking about what we're going to do after Clarkson's Farm, and it's going to have to be something bigger – to stand out, to protect us from the onslaught from underneath."
He continued, as quoted by The Sun: "It has to be unbelievably ambitious, like, where people go, 'What the f**k are you doing? That's an incredible show!'" Clarkson used The Traitors as "a very good example", with the second celebrity version premiering on October 1. "They get proper celebrities on that, and it's a great show."
Britflix Proposal
In conversation with his daughter, Emily, and Loose Women's Jane Moore, Clarkson argued that programmes on hobbies like cookery and gardening can't compete in the digital age. "Television has to get bigger, lose scheduling and get better," he proposed. Suggesting the "only" way TV can "survive", he said "the whole lot" should merge.
Naming the BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4, and Channel 5, Clarkson put forward a unified platform named "Britflix". "People are draining away from the industry, and it's a huge pool of talent, and I think if we had one great big thing – Britflix, let's call it – we could all club together and make good programmes," he speculated. "But bigger, better and fewer programmes."
Clarkson Rules Himself Out of Celebrity Traitors
Despite professing his love for Celebrity Traitors, Clarkson has already ruled himself out of taking part. Last year, shortly after Alan Carr's win, Clarkson was asked if he'd ever like to take on the role of a Traitor or Faithful in the Scottish Highlands castle. According to The Sun, he replied: "I wouldn't in a million years. I've got 10 jobs already. Why would I want 11?"
Naming his former co-stars, he added: "I couldn't see James May going on it. I could see Richard Hammond going on it, though." He also cast doubt on the format's authenticity at the time, having worked in the industry for 30 years and believing that bosses wouldn't "spend that much money on a programme where there's a risk it all falls to pieces". "I just don't believe it's all for real, because nothing in television is," he stated. "I'm sitting there going, 'How are they doing this?' It could just be unbelievably painstaking editing."
He later clarified his remarks, denying on X that he suggested the show was "faked". "What I actually said is that I bow down in awe to the people who edit it."
The Celebrity Traitors returns to BBC One this week, with Claudia Winkleman back at the helm and contestants including Miranda Hart, James Blunt, Maya Jama, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, and Joe Lycett. Others taking part include Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Bella Ramsey, Amol Rajan, Jerry Hall, Richard E Grant, and Ross Kemp.
As for Clarkson's Farm, the fifth season followed the usual fan favourites, including his partner, Lisa Hogan, and fellow farmer Kaleb Cooper, and the operational challenges facing them in running the farm and pub. More personal scenes focused on Clarkson's recovery from a heart procedure and his cancer diagnosis (which is now in remission). The sixth series is expected to land on Amazon Prime next summer.
