It’s been a rough patch for Jeremy Clarkson—one of those weeks where everything seems to go wrong at once.
Between tragic news about one of his puppies and a devastating disease outbreak on his Oxfordshire farm, the former Top Gear host is having a hard time keeping his spirits up.
Bovine TB Forces Temporary Farm Closure
Clarkson recently announced that his beloved Diddly Squat Farm is shutting down operations for at least two months following a bovine tuberculosis (TB) outbreak among his cattle.
The news came as a gut punch after routine testing revealed one of the cows had failed a TB check, triggering an automatic lockdown.
“You test every six months, and it starts to feel routine,” he said in an emotional interview with Times Radio.
“Then suddenly, the vet says, ‘Sorry, this one failed,’ and everything changes.”
The Emotional Toll of Losing Livestock
The situation has been emotionally exhausting for Clarkson, who expressed how deeply it’s impacted him. “It’s all I could think about,” he admitted.
“And then, just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, I woke up to find one of our puppies had died, and we also have a very sick calf.
Farming this week? I absolutely hate it.”
The Farm Shop and Pub Stay Open
Despite the closure of the main farm, Clarkson assured fans that the Diddly Squat Farm Shop is still running as usual.
Likewise, The Farmer’s Dog, his pub located about 10 miles away in Burford, remains unaffected and open for visitors.
Puppy Loss Hits Close to Home
Clarkson’s wife, Lisa Hogan, had recently shared the joy of their dog Arya giving birth to a litter of puppies.
Unfortunately, that happiness turned to heartache when she posted the news that one of them, affectionately named Mr. Grey, had passed away. “Sad news this morning,” she wrote.
“Mr Grey has gone to fur and feather land.”
Culling the Cows is the Law
Though some fans hoped for a miracle recovery for the affected cattle, Clarkson made it clear: “They have to be culled.
It’s the law.” The rules around bovine TB are strict, and any infected or suspected cows must be put down to prevent further spread.
In fact, over 21,000 animals were culled across England due to TB from April 2024 to March 2025.
Understanding Bovine Tuberculosis
Bovine TB is a serious disease that affects many mammals—including humans in rare cases.
It spreads mainly through close contact, especially via respiratory droplets or contaminated milk.
Oxfordshire, where Clarkson’s farm is located, is considered a TB “edge area,” meaning farms undergo testing every six months.
Clarkson’s Controversial Comments on Badgers
Clarkson hasn’t shied away from blaming badgers for the TB outbreak.
On a past series of Clarkson’s Farm, he openly criticized the animals for spreading the disease, calling them “b******s” and pushing back against the idea that they’re simply cute woodland creatures.
In 2023, he even told Thames Valley Police he had legally shot all the badgers on his land, dismissing claims that he had blocked their setts.
Kaleb Cooper Also Faces TB Struggles
Clarkson isn’t the only one battling this issue. His Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper recently revealed on Instagram that three of his own dairy cows tested positive for TB.
He was visibly emotional, saying, “It’s hard. That’s three cows gone that were milking.”
The Government Steps In
A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs acknowledged how devastating TB can be for farmers.
They emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting those affected and rolling out badger vaccinations in hopes of containing the disease and preventing future outbreaks.