A farmer and former political leader, Jamie Blackett, has praised the Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm for its authentic depiction of the agricultural sector, while also highlighting an unusual “grim resignation” about the new season.
Clarkson’s Farm returned for its fourth season on May 23rd, following Jeremy Clarkson as he manages the challenges of running Diddly Squat Farm largely on his own after longtime assistant Kaleb Cooper departed for a tour. Harriet Cowan has joined the team as a new freelance helper.
Despite the show’s usually lighthearted tone, Blackett observed a stark atmosphere in this latest season. Writing for The Telegraph, he remarked: “It seems strange in drought-ridden 2025 to be watching Clarkson and his team squelching through 2024 with hunched shoulders as the ceaseless rain falls on west Oxfordshire. The mood is one of grim resignation at Diddly Squat Farm.”
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This contrasts with real-world weather patterns. Last year, farmers struggled with record-breaking rainfall that flooded fields, as reported by The Guardian. The Met Office confirmed England endured the wettest 18-month period on record ending March 2024. Conversely, 2025 has brought the driest spring in 69 years, causing crops to fail and prompting water rationing warnings from the Environment Agency amid fears of summer drought.
David Exwood, deputy president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), shared concerns about these extremes: “The dry conditions and lack of any substantial rainfall has meant farmers in some parts of the country have started to irrigate crops much earlier than normal. The extreme weather patterns we have experienced over the past few years are impacting our ability to feed the nation.”
Meanwhile, Harriet Cowan has quickly become a fan favorite. Viewers have praised her authenticity and energy, with comments like “A ‘Star’ is born Harriet Cowen!” and hopes she will return in future seasons. Raised on a family farm and working as a nurse, Harriet was recruited by contractor Charlie Ireland despite never having watched the show before.
As for Kaleb Cooper, rumors of his permanent departure have been denied. During an appearance on ITV’s This Morning, Kaleb confirmed, “I’m still involved, yeah. There’s lots of rumours going out that I’ve been replaced, but I’m still here.”
Clarkson’s Farm continues to provide an honest, if sometimes sobering, glimpse into the realities of modern British farming, resonating strongly with those in the industry.