Jeremy Clarkson takes a break from Diddly Squat Farm via Paddington Station #farming #architecture

Despite his reputation as a petrolhead, Clarkson has occasionally strayed into more serious programming. One of his most notable departures from the usual motoring fare was his documentary ‘Great British Railway Journeys: Isambard Kingdom Brunel ‘ (later renamed simply ‘Clarkson on Brunel ‘), which aired on the BBC. The programme offered a thoughtful, passionate exploration of one of Britain’s greatest engineers. Clarkson, a long-time admirer of Brunel, retraced his life and achievements from the construction of the Great Western Railway and the Clifton Suspension Bridge to his work on steamships like the SS Great Britain. The documentary was part travelogue, part historical biography, and showed a more reflective side of Clarkson. While still peppered with his dry humour, it revealed his genuine fascination with innovation, engineering, and British industrial history.

Jeremy Clarkson, once best known for roaring around racetracks in a cloud of tyre smoke, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. His move into farming, most famously documented in the Amazon Prime series ‘Clarkson’s Farm ‘, has reinvented him in the public eye not just as a motoring journalist and television presenter, but as a somewhat reluctant, frequently baffled farmer. His journey began in 2008, when he bought the 1,000-acre Cotswold farm known as Diddly Squat. For years, the land was rented to a local farmer, but when that arrangement ended in 2019, Clarkson decided to take on the job himself. With zero farming experience, but plenty of bravado, he set out to turn the land into a productive, profitable enterprise.

The series, first airing in 2021, chronicled Clarkson’s misadventures as he grappled with erratic weather, government regulations, stubborn sheep, and a famously uncooperative Lamborghini tractor. The show was an unexpected critical and commercial success. While viewers came for Clarkson’s trademark sarcasm and humour, they stayed for the genuine affection between him and his motley team of helpers including breakout star Kaleb Cooper, the young farmhand who regularly put Clarkson in his place. The show balanced comedy with sobering insights into the harsh realities of modern farming, winning praise even from those who previously had little time for Clarkson’s work.

Following the show’s popularity, Clarkson expanded his Diddly Squat empire to include a farm shop, selling produce, Hawkstone lager, and other local goods. Then in 2024, he opened ‘The Farmer’s Dog ‘, a countryside pub just a short distance from the farm. Named after his own beloved farm dog, the pub is a mix of rustic charm and sharp wit. It serves food sourced locally (often from Clarkson’s own farm), a wide selection of craft beers including his own Hawkstone brand, and has quickly become a go-to destination for fans and locals alike. The décor is unpretentious stone floors, wooden beams, log fires and the menu celebrates hearty British fare. As with all Clarkson ventures, there’s a tongue-in-cheek tone to the pub, with signs poking fun at vegans, health and safety rules, and city folk who think mud is a fashion accessory.

Long before tractors and sheepdogs took centre stage, Clarkson was synonymous with ‘Top Gear ‘. Alongside Richard Hammond and James May, he turned the once-staid motoring programme into one of the most-watched shows on the planet. From absurd car challenges to ambitious road trips across Africa, the Middle East, and the American South, the trio’s chemistry and mischief made the show a global hit. However, in 2015, Clarkson was dismissed from the BBC after a well-publicised altercation with a producer. Hammond and May left in solidarity, and the trio quickly signed with Amazon to create ‘The Grand Tour ‘, which debuted in 2016.

‘The Grand Tour ‘ continued the Top Gear formula, but with more freedom, bigger budgets, and fewer editorial constraints. It has taken the team to the deserts of Namibia, the mountains of Colombia, and the icy wastes of Scandinavia. Although the number of episodes per year has dwindled since its early seasons, the show has maintained a loyal audience, drawn to the banter, absurd stunts, and genuine friendship between the hosts. As of 2025, Clarkson, Hammond, and May have announced they will be winding down their time with ‘The Grand Tour ‘, signalling the end of an era in motoring television.

Whether ploughing a field, pulling pints, or presenting a road trip through Mongolia, Jeremy Clarkson remains a unique figure in British television at once controversial, endearing, infuriating, and entertaining. His ventures may vary wildly in theme, but at their heart is an unmistakable personality: blunt, curious, and utterly unfiltered. From high-speed antics to hedge trimming at dawn, Clarkson’s evolution from car critic to countryside icon has been one of the most surprising and oddly heartwarming journeys in recent broadcasting history.

Well, people come to see the Natural History Museum or the Tower of London or Tower Bridge. The roof of Paddington station is the coolest thing in London. The most beautiful thing in London. Why is it so cool? Why is it so cool? Brunell designed it and they have in the beams there are holes that you can pass scaffolding holes through so that you can clean the glass. But if you look, it’s he didn’t just make holes. It’s the sun and the moon and the stars.