Jeremy Clarkson Confesses “I’m Broken” as He Makes Major Diddly Squat Farm Decision — Is He Walking Away From His Dream?

Jeremy Clarkson Admits He’s “Broken” as He Makes a Major Change at Diddly Squat Farm

Jeremy Clarkson has never shied away from exposing the chaos, humour, and sheer exhaustion that comes with running Diddly Squat Farm — but now, the 64-year-old presenter is making one of his most reluctant admissions yet. After six demanding years of farming, paperwork battles, and the often unforgiving Cotswolds weather, Clarkson says bluntly that he is “old and broken,” a realisation that has pushed him into making one of the biggest practical decisions on his land so far.

What began as a light-hearted experiment in agriculture has evolved into a global television success through Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime, but behind the scenes, Clarkson has increasingly documented the strain the work has taken on him physically. In a recent column, he reflected that the daily tasks of farming have become far more punishing than he ever imagined when he first took over the land.

Clarkson jokes that farming is “perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to break a sweat,” claiming he burns “about two calories an hour.” The humour, however, sits alongside a very real confession: most of his days are spent either wrestling with complicated agricultural documents for Defra or sitting behind the wheel of machinery that does the heavy lifting for him. Despite the banter, it’s clear that the job has worn him down.

The Supacat: Clarkson’s Favourite — and Most Problematic — Farm Machine

One of the more remarkable tools in Clarkson’s inventory is the Supacat, a six-wheel drive, semi-amphibious military utility vehicle originally designed to retrieve broken Land Rovers from battlefields. Capable of hauling enormous loads, crossing boggy ground, and powering through the harshest terrains, Clarkson originally purchased the rugged machine for £9,000, thrilled by its ability to glide over mud and woodland without sinking or tearing up the earth.

With its huge soft tyres and soldier-proof engineering, the Supacat has been one of Clarkson’s most useful companions, particularly when it comes to gathering heavy timber from the woods. “No matter what the weather is doing, I can fire up the Supacat, hitch up the trailer with a manly Nato connector, and head off for firewood,” he once proudly remarked.

But time, knees, and stiff joints have caught up with him.

In his latest update, Clarkson admits the brilliant engineering is not enough to offset one major drawback: it is extremely difficult to climb in and out of — especially for someone who, in his own words, is “old and broken.” That simple reality has forced him to make a decision he never expected: he needs to replace it with something easier on his body.

Clarkson Begins the Search for a Replacement

The presenter explained that he began searching for a more comfortable alternative, examining both electric and petrol-powered options. One machine he seriously considered was the £44,000 electric Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic Ultimate, a sleek, environmentally friendly utility vehicle with impressive torque and modern conveniences. Yet despite its innovation, Clarkson had one major concern: silence.

Electric vehicles, he says, lack the audible engine feedback that experienced drivers rely on to avoid overstressing the motor. “You know instinctively how much power you’re using because you can hear it,” he wrote. “But in an electric vehicle, there’s nothing. You press the accelerator and it just sits there.” Without sound cues, he felt he might unintentionally damage the machine.

That led him to the CFMoto UForce U10 Pro, a petrol-powered utility vehicle from China offering far more comfort than his old Supacat. Practical, roomy, and designed with everyday usability in mind, it features two wide bench seats — allowing up to six people to ride — and helpful touches like power windows and a one-button electronic gear shift. The price tag also comes in well below the electric alternative, easing the sting of replacing one of his favourite machines.

A More Comfortable Ride for an Aging Farmer

Clarkson admits the CFMoto has now been on the farm for a couple of months, and his verdict is overwhelmingly positive. He describes it as “practical, robust, and extremely useful,” and more importantly, it doesn’t require the same physical gymnastics to climb in and out of. For someone managing tractors, barns, animals, deliveries, and paperwork, that alone is a huge victory.

The only downside? The vehicle has become a little too popular among the Diddly Squat residents.

“On the first day, my dogs jumped into the back and since then have basically refused to get out,” Clarkson jokes. The farm team, too, seems to have developed a fondness for it, frequently using the comfortable new vehicle for tasks big and small.

A Sign of Things to Come at Diddly Squat?

While Clarkson frames his decision with humour, it reflects something deeper: after years of relentless farming challenges — from crop failures to government regulations to endless red tape — he is beginning to adjust the tools and systems on the farm to suit his physical limits. And despite his self-deprecating tone, it is clear that he remains as determined as ever to keep Diddly Squat running efficiently.

Fans of Clarkson’s Farm have long admired his willingness to show vulnerability, frustration, and triumph, often in the same breath. This latest revelation — that the Supacat must go because climbing into it feels like a military exercise — only adds to the authenticity that made the series a global favourite.

Old and broken or not, Clarkson isn’t quitting farming. He’s simply adapting. And at Diddly Squat, adaptation is often the secret to survival.