Jeremy Clarkson Lands Cheeky Dig at Kaleb Cooper During Fittest Farmer Event at Cotswolds Pub

Jeremy Clarkson, the television icon turned Oxfordshire farmer, couldn’t resist a playful jab at his Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper during a speech at his Cotswolds pub, The Farmer’s Dog, on September 21, 2025. The former Top Gear and The Grand Tour host, known for his sharp wit, took aim at the young farmer from Chipping Norton while hosting the finals of Britain’s Fittest Farmer, an event organized by Farmers Weekly at his recently opened pub in Asthall, near Burford. The quip, delivered to a crowd gathered to celebrate the fittest farmers in the UK, highlighted the banter-filled camaraderie that has made Clarkson and Cooper fan favorites on the Amazon Prime Video series, which chronicles life at Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm.

Clarkson purchased the 17th-century Windmill pub for approximately £1 million in 2023, transforming it into The Farmer’s Dog, a venue championing British produce. Opened in August 2024, the pub has become a magnet for fans, with hundreds flocking each weekend to sip Hawkstone beer, brewed with barley from Diddly Squat. Despite local grumbles about traffic, reported by Oxford Mail, the pub has hosted numerous events, including live music and charity fundraisers. The Britain’s Fittest Farmer finals, a competition testing physical endurance through challenges like bale-throwing and tractor-tire flipping, drew a lively crowd, with Clarkson presenting awards to winners in both male and female categories.

During his speech, Clarkson seized the moment to poke fun at Cooper, who rose to fame in 2021 with the debut of Clarkson’s Farm. The 27-year-old farmer, born in Chipping Norton, has become a breakout star across the show’s four seasons, with his blunt humor and agricultural expertise endearing him to viewers worldwide. The series, which earned a 9.6/10 rating on China’s Douban platform, follows Clarkson’s often chaotic attempts to manage his 1,000-acre farm, renamed Diddly Squat from Curdle Hill Farm to reflect its initial lack of profitability. Cooper’s role as Clarkson’s right-hand man, marked by their iconic tractor races and playful arguments, has spawned viral moments and even a 2024 book tour for his memoir, It’s a Farming Thing.

“Sadly, Kaleb’s not here, yeah, he’ll be opening a supermarket, I imagine,” Clarkson quipped to the crowd, drawing laughter. “No, if it’s Britain’s Fattest Farmer, he’s in with a shout, but not in this one.” The cheeky dig, reported by Express.co.uk, played on Cooper’s absence from the fitness-focused event, contrasting his stocky build with the athleticism of the competitors. Fans on X found the remark quintessential Clarkson, with one posting, “Jeremy’s savage with Kaleb, but you know they’re mates.” Another commented, “Kaleb would’ve clapped back harder!” The exchange underscores the dynamic that has fueled the show’s success, blending humor with genuine friendship.

The Farmer’s Dog, with its rustic charm and locally sourced menu, reflects Clarkson’s broader mission to support British agriculture. Since launching Clarkson’s Farm in 2021, he has become an unlikely advocate for farmers, spotlighting issues like rural poverty and restrictive regulations. His 2024 protest against inheritance tax changes, which impose a 20% tax on farms worth over £1 million, led to the “Clarkson’s clause,” easing conversions of agricultural buildings, as noted by Farming Today. The farm shop at Diddly Squat, managed by Clarkson’s partner Lisa Hogan, drew 25,000 visitors in 2024, though it sparked local complaints about traffic, per a Telegraph report. The pub, meanwhile, has faced supply chain challenges, which Clarkson called “a nightmare” in a Sun interview, yet it remains a testament to his commitment to local produce.

Clarkson’s net worth, estimated at £59 million by Forbes in 2025, stems from his TV career, journalism, and Diddly Squat’s ventures, though the farm reported a £5,000 loss in 2024 due to drought and bovine tuberculosis. His pivot from Top Gear’s petrolhead antics to rural advocate has won global praise, with farmers crediting him for raising awareness, as seen in a 2024 BBC Radio 4 interview. Calls for a knighthood have grown, though Clarkson remains skeptical, joking on X about his “lifeboat thing” donations. The Fittest Farmer event, attended by industry leaders and fans, further solidified his influence, with one attendee telling Farmers Weekly, “Jeremy’s made farming cool again.”

The swipe at Cooper, while lighthearted, reflects the chemistry that drives Clarkson’s Farm, currently filming its fifth season for a 2026 release. Speculation on Reddit’s r/ClarksonsFarm suggests this may be the final season, with Clarkson hinting at a break, though a potential spin-off featuring Cooper or Hogan could be in the works. As The Farmer’s Dog buzzes with activity and Diddly Squat continues to draw crowds, Clarkson’s legacy as a storyteller and advocate endures. His playful jab at Cooper, delivered amidst the clink of Hawkstone pints, proves that even in the Cotswolds’ rolling hills, Clarkson’s wit remains as sharp as ever.