Jeremy Clarkson has reported that 11 sheep have been stolen from his Diddly Squat farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire. The television presenter, known for the Amazon Prime series "Clarkson's Farm," discovered the theft when he went to count his flock with co-star Kaleb Cooper.
Clarkson, 66, issued a warning to the thieves, stating, "It's a farm. We're armed. Just so they know." He expressed his frustration, saying, "It p***** me off. Honestly, it just p***** me off." The stolen Easycare sheep are estimated to be worth more than £2,000 at market. Clarkson also voiced concerns that other livestock might have been taken from his Cotswolds farm.
He speculated that the sheep were likely stolen during the night or on days when filming for "Clarkson's Farm" was not taking place. On filming days, a film crew and drone camera are present on the farm. When asked if the show made his farm a target, Clarkson suggested it might increase the likelihood but maintained that the theft wasn't necessarily because the sheep were specifically from Diddly Squat, questioning how such thefts can be prevented if individuals are determined to steal livestock.
The incident follows a challenging harvest season for Clarkson, who last month described it as "f*****" due to the scorching summer weather. He posted a screenshot of a BBC weather forecast showing a high of 29C with the caption, "Harvest already f*****. May as well just enjoy it now."
"Clarkson's Farm" has been filming its sixth series, with earlier episodes focusing on the realities of British farming and the latest likely to address the impact of recent hot weather. The 1,000-acre farm has historically grown crops such as wheat, barley, and rapeseed, along with potatoes, mustard, and clover. However, Clarkson opted to leave 200 acres uncropped this year, anticipating financial losses from planting wheat or barley. He has previously warned that making money from growing food is becoming increasingly difficult, potentially leaving farmers with limited options for land use.
Clarkson purchased the land in the Cotswolds in 2008, initially for £4.45 million. He began farming it himself in 2019. In its first year, the farm reportedly made just £144 in profit. For the 2023-2024 period, profits were less than £15,000, followed by a £5,000 loss in the 2024-2025 period. Clarkson previously commented that these figures suggest farmers work harder than most for less than minimum wage.
Earlier in the year, Clarkson revealed he had been diagnosed with "aggressive" prostate cancer, which was discovered early. He later announced he was in remission after a PSA test showed no signs of cancer. On Wednesday, he attended the premiere of the latest series of "The Grand Tour."