Chris Packham has labelled Jeremy Clarkson an "agitator" following a feud between the television presenter pair. The duo share an interest in farming, with Springwatch star Packham no stranger to criticising the impact of modern-day agricultural techniques on the environment. Former Top Gear host Clarkson, meanwhile, is the owner of Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds, the setting of his hit Prime Video series, Clarkson's Farm.
Origin of the Dispute
It was 65-year-old Packham who seemingly began the war of words during an episode of Celebrity Gogglebox earlier this year. "Already, right, that's not what a farm looks like," the BBC star said as he tuned in to Clarkson's programme alongside his conservationist stepdaughter, Megan McCubbin. He elaborated: "Most farms are horrible monocultures, which have been sprayed with deadly chemicals time and time again. The ground is pumped full of fertiliser, and loads of the animals are indoors in crates, being crushed and kept in the dark."
Packham's New Remarks
After a series of online back and forths, however, Packham admitted he "understands" Clarkson's take on farming, but couldn't resist having another dig. "I understand what he does," he told The Times. "He’s an agitator. I respect him for that because it is akin to what I’m trying to do." Packham, who rose to fame in the 1980s on children's programme The Really Wild Show, continued: "I'm trying to promote conversations to maximise the speed of positive change, however uncomfortable that might be for people. My point is that if all farms were like Jeremy Clarkson's, the world would be a better place. But the fact of the matter is they’re not. They’re used as a front by industrial farming to keep their produce on the shelves."
Clarkson's Response
After Chris' initial rant on Gogglebox, Jeremy quickly responded. He recalled a time in 2012 Packham visited the farm and was only too happy to spend the day "foraging and bird watching" together. "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," he fumed in his column for The Sun. The 66-year-old went on to fume: "It’s b******s. And Chris knows it’s b******s because, back in 2012, he came to Diddly Squat and spent the day in our woods, foraging and bird watching. If there had been some animals in a crate, being crushed, I’m sure he would have noticed and said something."
Packham later took to Instagram to share a number of statistics about the UK farming industry, and he couldn't help but include another sly dig. "Tell me Jeremy Clarkson, is it really all happy smiley down on the farm?" he quipped in a caption as he highlighted facts concerning animal welfare, pesticides and damage to wildlife habitats. Somewhat surprisingly, Jeremy then appeared to back down, admitting he regretted his column remarks. "I was very incensed by this [Packham's comments] and immediately wrote in The Sun that he was talking b******s. But in the new age of tolerance and respect, I shouldn’t have done that. I should have kept schtum."
Packham's Broader Criticism
Chris wasn't done there, however, describing Clarkson as one of many "industrial farmers" hiding the realities of modern farming. He told the Express: "Clarkson is being disingenuous and the industrial farmers are making a smokescreen to hide their horrors. I made the comments about the silly idealistic stereotyped cartoon at the top of his programme, he knows that." And he went on to accuse Jeremy of presenting "an entirely unrealistic image of most of UK farms". He added: "The industrial farming fraternity love 'Clarkson’s Farm' because it gives them something pretty to hide behind, a friendly flagship of good ol’ wholesome values. The truth is so very different and it’s a truth that needs to be told for the sake of animal welfare, wildlife, human health and a secure environmental future. They can shoot at the messenger, but they will not silence the truth, even if Jezza has a big mouth."
