Jeremy Clarkson Under Fire From PETA After TB Outbreak at Diddly Squat Farm

Television personality Jeremy Clarkson is facing renewed scrutiny over his farming practices after a devastating outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (TB) at his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire. The incident has not only left the Clarkson’s Farm host “devastated” but has also drawn the attention of animal rights organization PETA, which is urging him to abandon animal agriculture entirely.

A Crisis at Diddly Squat Farm

Clarkson, best known for Top Gear and The Grand Tour, bought the 1,000-acre estate in 2008 but only took over the farming duties himself in 2019. His attempt to run the farm — documented in the hit Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm — has earned both critical acclaim and a loyal following. The series showcases the challenges faced by modern farmers, and the TB outbreak now represents one of his most significant setbacks to date.

In a candid conversation with Times Radio earlier this month, Clarkson admitted the situation was far worse than he could have imagined. “It’s awful, it is awful,” he said. “You have a test every six months on the cows and then you sort of become blasé. It feels like a hypothetical threat. And then the vet looks up, as he did yesterday lunchtime, and said, ‘I’m really sorry this one’s failed.’ That means we’re now locked down, and it’s just dreadful, absolutely dreadful.”

A message shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account echoed his despair: “Bad news from Diddly Squat. We’ve gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated.”

PETA Calls for Radical Change

The development prompted PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to intervene. The organization issued a letter to Clarkson urging him to end animal farming and convert Diddly Squat into a plant-based enterprise or even an animal sanctuary.

“Perhaps behind the bravado and banter lies a man who wants to find a better way,” the letter read. “We believe this could be a turning point for you and a golden opportunity to leave behind the violence of breeding and farming animals. Lean into your mushroom and vegetable farming and let Diddly Squat Farm evolve into a sanctuary. No more killing. No more heartache.”

PETA also dangled the prospect of naming Clarkson as an ambassador for its new initiative, BritishFarming.org, which promotes sustainable plant farming. The group argued that such a move would not only prevent further animal suffering but also benefit the environment and rural communities.

The Stakes for Clarkson

For Clarkson, the timing of the outbreak is particularly sensitive. Clarkson’s Farm has become one of Amazon Prime’s most popular shows, offering viewers a blend of humor and hard truths about farming life. The TB crisis, though tragic, adds a new layer of drama that may feature in future episodes. Yet, beyond the cameras, the financial and emotional toll on the farm is significant.

Bovine TB is a contagious disease that affects the respiratory systems of cattle and can spread through nose-to-nose contact as well as saliva, urine, milk, and feces. Farms located in “edge areas,” such as Clarkson’s, undergo mandatory biannual TB testing as these zones act as buffer regions between high-risk and low-risk areas. A single infected cow can trigger strict government restrictions, halting animal movements and inflicting heavy economic losses.

A Divisive Debate

Clarkson has often portrayed himself as a reluctant but determined farmer, embracing the learning curve that comes with agriculture. His fans admire his willingness to highlight the harsh realities of farming, but animal welfare advocates argue that the TB outbreak underscores the fragility and ethical concerns of animal agriculture itself.

Whether Clarkson will heed PETA’s call remains to be seen. While he has dabbled in crop farming — producing vegetables and famously attempting to sell his “cow juice” milk — the pivot away from livestock would mark a dramatic shift not only for his farm but for the narrative of Clarkson’s Farm.

For now, the TV star must contend with the devastating consequences of bovine TB, balancing the emotional toll on himself and his staff with the looming debate over the future direction of Diddly Squat Farm.

One thing is certain: this chapter in Clarkson’s farming journey has once again captured public attention, blending heartbreak, controversy, and the difficult realities of rural life — themes that have defined his farming story from the very beginning.