Fans of Clarkson's Farm and Celebrity Gogglebox have launched a petition calling for Chris Packham to be removed from British television after his comments about Jeremy Clarkson's farming series. The Springwatch presenter sparked backlash and Ofcom complaints following his appearance on the Channel 4 show last Friday.
Packham's Comments and Backlash
During the episode, Packham, alongside his stepdaughter Megan McCubbin, criticized Clarkson's Farm, claiming it presents an "idealistic view of a farm" and stating that "most farms are horrible monocultures." He argued that the series "puts the wrong idea in people's minds." Ofcom received 65 complaints about the episode, with the majority targeting Packham's remarks.
Petition Details
A Change.org petition, which has amassed over 1,600 signatures, calls for Packham's removal from television. The petition organizer, who claims lifelong experience in farming, wrote: "Having been surrounded by the farming industry all my life, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication, hard work, and care that farmers put into managing the land and looking after livestock. Therefore, it is deeply distressing to hear public figures such as Chris Packham make sweeping, unfounded statements about the farming community."
The petition specifically criticizes Packham for accusing farmers of damaging land with chemicals and keeping animals in wooden crates where they are allegedly crushed, calling these claims "untrue" and a "direct attack on the integrity and hard work of British farmers." It urges broadcasters to "take responsibility and prevent false accusations" and demands Packham be removed to protect farmers and ensure fact-based information reaches the public.
Defense from Clarkson's Farm Stars
Jeremy Clarkson and Harriet Cowan, stars of Clarkson's Farm, defended the series against Packham's comments. Cowan took to TikTok to challenge the naturalist. In his column for The Sun, Clarkson recalled a visit from Packham to Diddly Squat Farm, saying: "If there had been some animals in a crate, being crushed, I'm sure he would have noticed and said something."
Mixed Reactions from Viewers
Some viewers supported Packham's right to free speech, with one stating: "WHERE was the derogatory comments about Clarkson’s Farm? There was none. If anything it was a compliment to Clarkson's farm that it ISN'T like most others." Another commented: "I'd say Packham is right in a huge amount of cases, but there are some farms that are better than others. Didn't watch Gogglebox, but maybe he was saying Jeremy's farm was an exception, and I'm no Packham fan."
No Response Yet
As of now, Chris Packham has not responded to the backlash. The Express has contacted Channel 4 and Packham's representatives for comment. Clarkson's Farm streams on Prime Video, while Celebrity Gogglebox airs Fridays at 9pm on Channel 4.
