Is Richard Hammond a Better Farmer Than Jeremy Clarkson? A Lighthearted Comparison of Rural Reinventions

In the world of former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenters, Jeremy Clarkson has firmly established himself as the unlikely farming icon through his hit Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm. But what about Richard Hammond, the pint-sized co-host known for his enthusiasm and occasional mishaps? As fans eagerly await potential crossovers and spinoffs, a new video circulating online dives into a playful debate: Is Hammond actually the superior farmer? This lighthearted exploration contrasts Hammond’s subtle forays into rural life with Clarkson’s high-profile, often chaotic agricultural empire, examining their experiences, challenges, and unique approaches to life beyond the racetrack.

Jeremy Clarkson’s farming journey began in 2008 when he purchased the 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire’s Cotswolds, initially as a countryside retreat. What started as a side project evolved into a full-blown documentary series in 2021, chronicling Clarkson’s amateur attempts to turn the unproductive land profitable. The show, now in its fourth season as of 2025, has garnered critical acclaim and a massive following, winning awards like Best Factual Entertainment at the National Television Awards. Clarkson’s style is unapologetically bombastic—think chrome-plated tractors, heated debates with local councils, and viral moments like naming a pig after Hammond himself. His farm has faced real-world hurdles, from crop failures and bovine TB outbreaks to bureaucratic red tape, all while generating revenue through farm shops, a restaurant, and now The Farmer’s Dog pub. Clarkson’s approach blends humor with hard lessons, educating viewers on the difficulties of modern farming while poking fun at his own incompetence. As he quipped in a recent episode, farming demonstrates that “bloody hell, farming’s difficult.”

Contrast this with Richard Hammond, whose “farming ventures” are more understated and tied to his post-Grand Tour life. At 55, Hammond has embraced a quieter rural existence in Herefordshire, where he runs The Smallest Cog, a classic car restoration workshop on an industrial estate. While not a traditional farmer, Hammond’s immersion in countryside living includes elements of agricultural tinkering. Fans on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) often speculate about his potential as a farmer, citing his passion for rural simplicity—something Clarkson once mocked him for during their Top Gear days. Hammond has defended Clarkson’s authenticity amid backlash, telling ITV’s Christine Lampard that the series is “done with a passion for the work” and praising his friend’s dedication. In a 2024 interview, Hammond described Clarkson’s Farm as “lovely” and emphasized it’s “Jeremy’s thing to do,” showing supportive camaraderie rather than rivalry.

The duo’s paths crossed dramatically in Season 4 of Clarkson’s Farm, released in mid-2025, where Hammond made a surprise cameo that has fueled endless comparisons. Clarkson, expanding his farm empire by renovating The Windmill pub into The Farmer’s Dog, needed a vintage tractor chromed for a ceiling installation—a quintessentially Clarkson flourish. Enter Hammond, whose restoration expertise made him the perfect (and pricey) collaborator. The episode captures their classic banter: Clarkson is shocked when Hammond quotes “tens of thousands” for the job, retorting, “Why didn’t you tell me before I set off that it was going to be more than the GDP of most European countries?” Hammond fires back cheekily, “Then you wouldn’t have come,” and later adds, “What normal farmer would chrome his tractor?” Clarkson, pressed by a tight opening timeline, reluctantly agrees to the £20,000 fee, highlighting Hammond’s business savvy in a rural context.

This reunion, the first onscreen since The Grand Tour wrapped in 2024, adds a layer of irony to the farming debate. Hammond’s workshop, while not a farm, embodies a hands-on, meticulous approach to restoration that mirrors agricultural craftsmanship—polishing old machinery to new life, much like tending to crops or livestock. Fans on X have joked about Hammond’s potential farming prowess, with one post pleading, “Could you please invite also Richard Hammond to your farm for next season? I’d love to see him farming…” Another envisions a “Top Farming… The Grand Farmer” spinoff featuring Hammond and James May joining Clarkson for episodes of tractor mishaps and sheep herding. Reddit threads echo this, with users suggesting Hammond’s rural roots make him a natural fit: “It just cracks me up that Jeremy used to give Hammond so much shit for being at home in rural settings.”

So, who fares better as a farmer? Clarkson’s operation is undeniably more ambitious and documented. Diddly Squat has become a tourist hotspot, with its farm shop and pub drawing crowds and turning a profit despite setbacks like the 2025 TB outbreak that devastated his herd. His challenges—weather woes, regulatory battles, and learning curves—have resonated globally, raising awareness about farming’s struggles. Hammond, however, brings a more grounded, less publicized style. His life in Herefordshire involves countryside pursuits, including hints of land management around his workshop, and his defense of Clarkson shows a genuine appreciation for rural authenticity. Without the spotlight of a TV series, Hammond’s “farming” might be more sustainable and less prone to the dramatic failures that make Clarkson’s show entertaining.

The video in question, which has garnered buzz on platforms like YouTube and X, leans into the fun of the comparison. It juxtaposes clips from Clarkson’s Farm—like Clarkson’s infamous tractor crashes—with Hammond’s restoration work, suggesting Hammond’s precision could translate to better crop yields or fewer mishaps. One segment humorously imagines Hammond at Diddly Squat, chrome-plating sheep or hosting a “Grand Farm” special with May distilling gin from farm produce. Viewers are treated to archival Top Gear footage where the trio’s banter often revolved around Hammond’s “simpleton” rural vibes, flipping the script to argue he’s the one truly adapted to farm life.

Ultimately, declaring a “better” farmer is subjective and misses the point of their shared evolution. Both men have traded high-octane car reviews for slower-paced rural pursuits, adapting their skills—Clarkson’s showmanship to storytelling, Hammond’s detail-oriented nature to craftsmanship. As Hammond reflected on their cameo, “My workshop graced by a familiar ape,” it’s clear their friendship endures, with farming as the new track for friendly rivalry. Fans hope for more collaborations, perhaps a full episode where Hammond tries his hand at actual farming tasks. In the meantime, this video serves as a delightful reminder that, whether chroming tractors or chasing quotas, these former gearheads have found fertile ground in unexpected places.