Jeremy Clarkson has responded to criticism from naturalist Chris Packham about his hit farming series, Clarkson's Farm. Packham, known for presenting Springwatch and his wildlife conservation work, aired his views on the show while appearing on Celebrity Gogglebox with his stepdaughter Megan McCubbin.
What Did Chris Packham Say About Clarkson's Farm?
On the Channel 4 series, Packham vented that the Prime Video hit offers an 'idealistic view' of farming far from real life. He said: 'Already, right, that's not what a farm looks like. 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. That's an idealistic view of a farm, and it puts the wrong idea in people's minds. And that's only the titles!' Turning to his stepdaughter, he quipped: 'What's my blood pressure?'
How Did Jeremy Clarkson and Co-Stars Respond?
Since his comments, several Clarkson's Farm stars have fired back. Breakout star Harriet Cowan shared a clip of Packham's complaints on TikTok, saying: 'Chris Packham. Maybe before throwing shade at all farmers, research your facts. What world are you living in?' She later showed footage from her Derbyshire farm, adding: 'Can we all show our horrible monoculture farm please???'
Jeremy Clarkson also responded in his column for The Sun, recalling Packham's 2012 visit to Diddly Squat Farm. He wrote: '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.'
Background on the Feud
Packham recently announced his new series, Evolution, described as an 'epic four billion year adventure travelling through time to uncover how life on earth evolved'. He is also known for his wildlife conservation work and support of wildlife charities. Clarkson's Farm airs on Prime Video, while Celebrity Gogglebox continues on Fridays at 9pm on Channel 4.
