Jeremy Clarkson Confirms Official Two-Month Closure of Diddly Squat Farm Amid Devastating Bovine TB Outbreak.
Jeremy Clarkson Devastated as Bovine TB Forces Partial Shutdown of Diddly Squat Farm for Two Months
Jeremy Clarkson, the outspoken TV presenter turned unlikely farming icon, has announced a devastating development at his beloved Diddly Squat Farm: an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (TB) has forced the closure of key farming operations for at least two months.
The former Top Gear and Grand Tour star, who bought the Chadlington-based farm back in 2008 and rose to agricultural fame through Amazon Prime’s Clarkson’s Farm, took to social media on July 31 to share the grim news with fans.
“Bad news from Diddly Squat,” Clarkson posted on X. “We’ve gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated.”
While initial reactions were filled with concern and confusion, Clarkson later clarified the nature of the outbreak: it was bovine TB, a disease that affects cattle—not humans.
“I should clear this up, really,” he added in a follow-up post. “It’s Bovine TB that we have. It doesn’t affect people, just our poor cows.”
A Farmer’s Nightmare Comes True
Speaking candidly in an interview with Times Radio, Clarkson described the emotional toll the discovery has taken on him and his team.
“It’s awful, it is awful,” he told presenter Peter Cardwell. “You have a test every six months on the cows, and then you sort of become blasé. It’s a hypothetical threat.
“And then the vet looks up, as he did yesterday lunchtime, and said, ‘I’m really sorry, this one’s failed.’ And suddenly it’s no longer hypothetical. We’re now locked down, and it’s just dreadful, absolutely dreadful.”
For Clarkson, who has thrown himself fully into the trials of farming life—often with comedic but genuine effort—the outbreak represents one of the most emotionally challenging moments he’s faced since starting his journey as a farmer.
And if the TB diagnosis wasn’t enough, life seemed to deal him a cruel double blow.
“It’s only been not even 24 hours since I found out, and it occupies my mind,” Clarkson said. “Well, it was occupying my mind, but I got up this morning and found one of my puppies has died. And we’ve got a very sickly calf. Honestly, farming? I’m not enjoying it this week.”
What This Means for Diddly Squat Farm
Although Clarkson initially said the farm would be closed for two months, he later clarified that the closure primarily affects the livestock side of the operation. The Diddly Squat Farm Shop—famous for its local produce, “cow juice” (milk), meat, and quirky branded merchandise—remains open to the public.
“We just can’t buy or sell any cows,” Clarkson explained on Friday morning, attempting to clear up confusion. “The farm is not shut, but livestock operations are locked down due to the TB regulations.”
This lockdown period will last for at least two months, the minimum time required before follow-up testing can be conducted. Until then, no cattle can be moved in or out of the farm, a restriction that significantly impacts the farming cycle.
The Threat of Bovine TB in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire, where Diddly Squat is located, is considered an “edge area” in terms of bovine TB risk—meaning it borders both high- and low-risk zones. As such, farms in the area are subjected to rigorous testing every six months. Despite those precautions, outbreaks can and do occur.
According to ibTB, the UK’s interactive bovine TB mapping platform, there have been several confirmed cases in the area surrounding Chadlington in recent weeks, making Clarkson’s farm one of the latest to be affected by the ongoing problem.
Bovine tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. While it can occasionally infect humans, particularly through the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, modern food safety standards in the UK make such transmission exceedingly rare. The main concern is its spread between cattle and, in some cases, wildlife such as badgers, which has sparked years of controversy over how to control the disease.
Government Policy and the Badger Cull Debate
In June 2025, the UK government reaffirmed its decision not to extend the controversial badger cull, a strategy previously implemented to try and control TB transmission from wildlife to cattle. The move has been welcomed by animal rights groups but criticized by some in the farming community who believe badgers play a significant role in spreading the disease.
With no easy solution in sight, farmers like Clarkson are left to deal with the fallout—and the emotional and economic costs that come with it.
A Stark Reminder of Farming’s Realities
Clarkson’s raw honesty and unfiltered reactions have long been part of his appeal on Clarkson’s Farm, where viewers watch him struggle—and often fail—through the harsh realities of modern agriculture. From fighting local councils to battling the weather, he has taken on challenges with a mix of humor, stubbornness, and surprising tenderness.
This latest blow, however, underscores just how vulnerable farmers are, even those with fame and fortune behind them.
“It’s a kick in the teeth,” one fan commented on Clarkson’s post. “Most of us only see the glamour, but this is the hard truth of farming.”
Despite the current setback, Clarkson’s supporters remain loyal. Many have vowed to continue visiting the farm shop and showing support for the team while they weather this difficult chapter.
In the meantime, Diddly Squat’s shop stays open, and the rest of the farm waits—along with its fans—for better news in the months ahead.
