Clarkson's Farm's Welsh vet Dilwyn Evans has been a staple of the show at Diddly Squat since its inception. Now, he has opened up about his family life and what it's really like working with Jeremy Clarkson.
Dilwyn Evans: A Familiar Face on Clarkson's Farm
Clarkson's Farm has returned to Prime Video with the final two episodes of series five, and among the long-standing cast members is vet Dilwyn Evans. Hailing from Llanddewi Brefi, Ceredigion, Dilwyn was recommended to Jeremy Clarkson by his neighbour and has been caring for the farm's livestock since the programme first aired.
Now retired and in his early 60s, Dilwyn dedicates a significant portion of his time to assisting Clarkson in managing all the creatures at Diddly Squat. During the latest series, he performed a graphic post-mortem examination on a deceased sheep, which prompted Clarkson to issue an apology to audiences for the distressing footage.
Working with Jeremy Clarkson
Dilwyn has experienced plenty alongside the former Top Gear presenter, from identifying a heartbreaking TB diagnosis to assisting with numerous animal births. Speaking to BBC Radio Cymru, the veterinary surgeon disclosed what Clarkson is genuinely like, explaining: "Sometimes you think he's joking, but his questions are completely genuine – you have to tell him what's what and that's how he learns."
He added: "Jeremy has learned a lot during the programme. The work is on a different scale to being a vet but the phone may go off at any time asking for help. I believe I have been very lucky - I was in the right place at the right time."
Regarding how much Clarkson has progressed since the series commenced, Dilwyn noted: "He didn't know a lot at the beginning, but now he knows how animals behave. He looks more like a farmer during the course of the programme."
Dilwyn's Agricultural Roots
Agriculture has always been integral to Dilwyn's life, having been raised on a 67-acre farm alongside four siblings. "Things were tight," he admitted. "My parents never had a holiday, and we only used to go away for a day trip - to the Royal Welsh, for example. We milked the cows before and after our trip. There wasn't enough money for us all to go on a school trip - we took turns."
He pursued veterinary medicine at Edinburgh, revealing he was inspired to become a vet after watching the cherished James Herriot series All Creatures Great and Small. "Seeing All Creatures Great and Small as a child encouraged me to be a vet, and I saw myself as a James Herriot," he explained. With a keen enthusiasm for his studies, his mother urged him to nurture his academic abilities rather than inherit the family farm.
Life Beyond the Farm
Dilwyn maintains an Instagram presence, where he updates his followers on his interests beyond veterinary practice, including attending football matches and enjoying day trips with his wife, Helen. Clarkson's Farm season 5 is now available on Prime Video.
