Jeremy Clarkson shares devastation after bovine TB hits his Diddly Squat Farm
In a candid admission on social media, former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has told fans his team is “absolutely devastated” after bovine tuberculosis was confirmed at his Diddly Squat Farm.
Jeremy Clarkson says his team is “absolutely devastated” after bovine tuberculosis was confirmed at his Diddly Squat Farm.
The outbreak on the 65-year-old’s land in Oxfordshire, which features in hit Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm, has forced the culling of cattle including an unborn pair of calves.
Broadcaster and farmer Jeremy revealed the outbreak on social media, posting: “Bad news from Diddly Squat. We’ve gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated.”
Jeremy added: “The offending animal is pregnant with twins.
“I should clear this up really. It’s Bovine TB that we have. It doesn’t affect people, just our poor cows.”
Jeremy, best known for presenting Top Gear and Clarkson’s Farm, confirmed the news shortly before a second round of testing.
The disease, which is caused by Mycobacterium bovis, requires the immediate slaughter of infected animals to prevent its spread.
Government data shows that more than 21,000 cattle were culled in England between April 2024 and March 2025 due to TB incidents.
Asked by a fan if his prized Aberdeen Angus bull, Endgame, had tested positive, Jeremy replied: “His test was ‘inconclusive’. I couldn’t bear it if we lost him.”
Another supporter expressed hope that the pregnant cow and her unborn calves would recover.
Jeremy responded: “They have to be culled. It’s the law.”
In 2023, Jeremy was visited by Thames Valley Police after activists alleged he had interfered with badger setts on his land near Chadlington. UK wildlife legislation prohibits the disturbance, destruction or blocking of badger setts.
Jeremy said he told the officers: “I’ve shot all the badgers on the farm so why would I want to fill in their setts? And yes, before you ask, it was all legal.”
Badgers have featured prominently in the Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm.
In its second season, Jeremy was told that badgers were responsible for TB risk on his land.
One tested positive for the bacteria that causes the disease.
“These are not nice animals. Do not be fooled by Brian May,” he said in 2023. “This is how much heartache they’re causing to people who’ve worked for generations to build up a farm that’s been wiped out by badgers.”
Jeremy added: “We thought, ‘What do we do?’ Because if you want to make a popular show you have to say, ‘Oh, look at the little cuddly-wuddly badgers.’ But I thought: no, it’s a farming show… So, I actually called them b******* and showed people what they actually do. It’s truthful.”
Professional farmer Kaleb Cooper, 26, Jeremy’s co-star in Clarkson’s Farm, previously described his own emotional experience with TB.
In 2023, he revealed three of the 21 dairy cows he co-owned with a friend had tested positive.
He said on Instagram: “Now today’s a bit stressful. Today I’ve just found out the place where I have my dairy cows – the 21 cows that I bought – has got three reactors to TB.
“I don’t really know how to describe the emotion… It’s not good. Three reactors, so, therefore, we’ve got to test again in two months’ time. That’s three cows we’ve lost that are milking.”
