Jeremy Clarkson has criticised Andy Burnham and his decision to appoint Dame Angela Eagle as Environment Secretary, describing the situation as the “worst year ever” for his farm.
Challenges on the farm
The former Top Gear presenter, 66, has faced relentless heatwaves and a TB outbreak among his cattle at his 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm. He claimed that the new Prime Minister’s choice of Eagle has only “worsened” matters.
In a column, Clarkson urged the government to act on the financial struggles of the farming sector. “Action is needed now because farmers have reached the point where it is quite simply impossible to make money from growing food,” he wrote in The Sun.
“This year, I have 200 acres on my farm where we grew nothing at all. We knew that if we planted it with wheat or barley, we would definitely make a loss.”
Criticism of Angela Eagle
Clarkson said he fears the situation will worsen under Burnham’s leadership. “The only big worry for me right now – and I’m talking with my farming hat on – is that he’s put someone called Angela Eagle in charge of the countryside,” he wrote.
“And so far, her only real claim to fame is that David Cameron once told her to ‘calm down, dear’. I’ve done some digging, though, and it seems she has never worked on a farm and has never run any kind of business. So putting her in charge of the countryside is like putting Alan Carr in charge of the Army. Or me in charge of the diplomatic service. And that’s no good.”
Eagle previously served as Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs under Keir Starmer, and held roles under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Health struggles
Clarkson also discussed his health, revealing he is in remission from an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer diagnosed in May 2025 after a routine blood test. He chose high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment and now requires regular blood tests, as up to 40% of prostate cancer patients may experience a recurrence.
He said he felt like “the world’s luckiest man” after his recovery.
