Things have taken a deeply emotional turn at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.
Known for his gruff humour and unfiltered honesty, Clarkson revealed a far more somber reality—bovine tuberculosis (TB) has struck his beloved herd.
And the news has left him and his team “absolutely devastated.”
A Pregnant Cow at the Centre of the Outbreak
The infection was discovered in a pregnant cow—one carrying twins.
That means not just one, but three animals will have to be culled as a result.
For Clarkson, this isn’t just about losing livestock.
It’s about losing lives he and his team have cared for with deep commitment.
Sharing the news online, Clarkson tweeted: “Bad news from Diddly Squat. We’ve gone down with TB.
Everyone here is absolutely devastated.” And it’s easy to see why—this wasn’t just a business update. It was a gut punch.
Concern for Prize Bull ‘Endgame’
Naturally, fans were worried about Endgame, the farm’s prize-winning Aberdeen Angus bull.
One supporter asked if he had been affected too.
Clarkson’s reply showed just how much was riding on this animal’s fate: “His test was ‘inconclusive’. I couldn’t bear it if we lost him.”
The Harsh Reality of TB Protocol
Despite heartfelt wishes from fans hoping the pregnant cow might recover, Clarkson had to deliver the blunt truth.
“They have to be culled. It’s the law.” In the UK, once bovine TB is detected, infected animals are legally required to be destroyed to prevent further spread.
Between April 2024 and March 2025 alone, over 21,000 cattle were culled due to TB outbreaks in England.
The Long-Standing Battle With Badgers
Clarkson hasn’t hidden his frustration over badgers, which are often linked to the spread of bovine TB.
Last year, he was visited by police after animal rights activists reported blocked badger setts on his land.
But Clarkson insisted he hadn’t blocked them—because, as he bluntly put it, he had already shot the badgers legally under licence.
“Why would I want to fill in their setts?” he wrote. “I’ve shot all the badgers on the farm.”
Not Just a TV Drama—This Is Real Farming Pain
In previous seasons of Clarkson’s Farm, the former Top Gear star addressed how challenging it is to manage TB risk, especially when badgers are involved.
While the show occasionally brings in humour, Clarkson didn’t sugar-coat the emotional cost of the disease.
“I actually called them b*****ds and showed people what they actually do.
It’s truthful,” he said, defending his stance.
“Do not be fooled by Brian May. This is what badgers do… wiping out farms built over generations.”
Kaleb Cooper Also Hit Hard by TB
It’s not just Clarkson who’s been affected.
His right-hand man and fan favourite Kaleb Cooper has also shared the heartbreak of dealing with TB.
Last year, Kaleb opened up about the emotional stress after learning three of the 21 dairy cows he co-owned with a friend tested positive.
“Today’s a bit stressful,” Kaleb admitted in an emotional video.
“It’s not good. That’s three cows we’ve lost that are milking.”
A Devastating Blow to Passion and Livelihood
For Clarkson and his team, farming isn’t just a business—it’s a way of life, with all the highs and lows that come with it.
The discovery of TB at Diddly Squat is a harsh reminder of how quickly things can go wrong, even with the best care and planning.
It’s not about fame or television—it’s about real people, real animals, and real loss.
