Jeremy Clarkson on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that the Cotswolds has been "ruined" by an influx of A‑list residents after reports that Beyoncé and Jay‑Z are in the final stages of buying land in the area.
Speaking on stage at the National Television Awards, where Clarkson’s Farm won the Factual Entertainment prize, Clarkson said he had not seen the celebrities that, he said, others claimed were taking over the region. "I genuinely haven’t got a clue who Beyonce and Jay Z are," he told the audience. "I look out of the window in the morning and I don’t see the celebrities. I don’t care, it’s a really nice part of the country, still is a really nice part of the country, it hasn’t been ruined."
Clarkson, who bought the 312‑acre Diddly Squat farm in 2012 and turned his experiences there into the popular television series, also used his acceptance remarks to highlight challenges facing farmers. "You don’t love farming, you love moments of it because it’s really tricky," he said. "Farmers are amazing, every single one I meet it staggers me how hard they work for no money. It’s never been harder to be a farmer."
British tabloid reports this week said Beyoncé and Jay‑Z have secured planning permission to build what was described as a "spectacular rural estate" and are close to completing a purchase of about 58 acres on the outskirts of Wigginton, near Great Tew, a part of the Cotswolds that has already attracted high‑profile residents. The reports said the couple would join other well‑known household names who have settled in the area, including the Beckhams and Ellen DeGeneres.
Local views have been mixed. Some residents greeted the news with indifference, while others have expressed concern in previous cases when high‑profile moves disrupted village life. In media interviews, one neighbour described seeing the couple out locally but said many long‑time residents do not recognise modern celebrities.
Estate agents in the region told reporters the summer had been particularly busy for sales to wealthy and international buyers, and said some high‑profile purchasers had required nondisclosure agreements to keep transactions private. Helen Whitfield, head of residential agency at Butler Sherborn, said the most desirable areas of the Cotswolds have shifted eastward in part because of the opening of exclusive members’ clubs such as Soho Farmhouse, Estelle Manor and The Daylesford Club, and because proximity to international airports makes parts of the region more attractive to overseas buyers.
The Cotswolds has seen a pattern of well‑known people buying rural properties in recent years, contributing to rising local demand and higher prices. Agents say that trend—coupled with a rise in international residents—has changed the market dynamic in some villages but that the area retains its rural character.
Clarkson’s comments came amid wider attention on the National Television Awards, where Clarkson’s Farm’s win marked continued mainstream recognition for programming that highlights UK agriculture. He framed the win and his remarks about the countryside within a broader plea for recognition of the difficulties faced by farmers.
Representatives for Beyoncé and Jay‑Z did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Local planning records show permission granted for development on plots in the Wigginton area, but any completed sale and subsequent building plans would be subject to the usual conveyancing and planning conditions.