James May Throws Playful Jab at Jeremy Clarkson’s Farming Skills While Discussing Clarkson’s Farm Cameo

James May, the cerebral third of the iconic Top Gear and The Grand Tour trio, has taken a cheeky swipe at his longtime co-star Jeremy Clarkson, questioning his farming prowess while revealing details of his own fleeting involvement with Clarkson’s Farm. In an exclusive interview with the Oxford Mail ahead of his Explorers: The Age of Discovery Tour at Oxford’s New Theatre on October 21, 2025, May, 62, quipped that Clarkson “doesn’t know anything about farming” and admitted he’s not keen to dig into the mud of Diddly Squat Farm himself. The banter, delivered with May’s trademark dry wit, underscores the enduring camaraderie—and rivalry—among the motoring legends, while fueling speculation about whether May will grace the fifth season of the Amazon Prime Video hit, set for a 2026 release. As Clarkson navigates heartbreak and farm crises, May’s comments have sparked a lively buzz on social media, with fans rallying under #MayVsClarkson.

May’s remarks came during a candid chat about his connection to Clarkson’s 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, the backdrop of Clarkson’s Farm since its 2021 debut. The show, which has aired four seasons and chronicles Clarkson’s often chaotic foray into British agriculture, has become a global sensation, blending humor with raw depictions of farming’s challenges. While Richard Hammond, the trio’s third musketeer, nabbed a cameo in Season 4—linked to a tractor now dangling in Clarkson’s Cotswolds pub, The Farmer’s Dog—May revealed he’s already had a brief brush with the show. “I have had a little cameo in Clarkson’s Farm when I was on Zoom, advising him about pubs,” he told the Oxford Mail, referring to a Season 3 moment where he offered sage advice on Clarkson’s pub venture. “But no, I don’t particularly want to do farming. I don’t know anything about that. I’m not sure he does either, though, you know.”

The playful dig at Clarkson’s farming credentials, delivered with a smirk, echoes a sentiment that’s stirred debate among fans. Clarkson, who bought Diddly Squat in 2008 and began farming it in 2019, has faced skeptics questioning his legitimacy as a farmer. A recent X post by @SkepticCity, claiming he’s “not strictly a farmer,” prompted a fiery retort from Clarkson: “Been up a couple of hours already doing job and now I’m sending some cows off and then I’m going to do some rolling. That doesn’t sound much like embroidery does it.” May’s jab, though lighthearted, lands at a sensitive time. Clarkson is reeling from a bovine tuberculosis (TB) outbreak that culled a pregnant cow and her unborn twins, a loss he called “so sad” on Instagram, and a reported breakup with partner Lisa Hogan, fueling #JezzaHeartbreak on X. “James picking on Jeremy now? Poor guy’s got enough on his plate,” tweeted @DiddlyFan.

May’s reluctance to join the farming fray isn’t surprising. Known for his cerebral takes on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, where he starred alongside Clarkson and Hammond for over two decades, May has leaned into solo projects like his Oh Cook! series and upcoming Explorers tour, which delves into historical adventures. “I’ve been to Diddly Squat for meetings in the old days,” he said, recalling pre-Clarkson’s Farm gatherings. “But I’ve never done any farming, no.” His disinterest contrasts with Hammond’s cameo, where he poked fun at Clarkson’s tractor antics, a nod to their motoring roots. Fans on X, under #ClarksonCameo, are split: some, like @TopGearLad, urge, “Get May on the farm—imagine him fixing a tractor!” while others, like @RuralVoiceUK, agree with his stance: “James is right—farming’s not for everyone, even if Jezza’s giving it a go.”

Clarkson’s struggles at Diddly Squat, from TB to a “shocking” 2025 harvest, will anchor Season 5, with filming wrapped for a 2026 premiere. The TB crisis, locking down the farm since July, cost Clarkson his first-born calf, amplifying his critique of the UK’s “haphazard” testing system. Over 21,000 cattle were culled in England from April 2024 to March 2025, per government data, a statistic fueling #TBTragedy posts. Add to that Clarkson’s October 5 hospital rush for a “Defcon 1 painful” ailment—hours after slamming the NHS as a “creaking old monster”—and a feud with Good Morning Britain’s Narinder Kaur over a misread Starmer jab, and it’s clear Clarkson’s plate is overflowing. “James taking the mick now? Jeremy’s fighting for his farm and his life,” posted @FarmFanUK.

May’s Explorers tour, hitting Oxford’s New Theatre, promises a departure from farming, focusing on historical voyages rather than muddy fields. Yet, his comments keep Clarkson’s Farm in the spotlight, with fans speculating on a bigger cameo. “James on a tractor would be gold,” tweeted @PrimeFanatic, while @LitFestFan noted, “He’s teasing Jeremy, but bet he’d show up for a laugh.” The trio’s dynamic, honed over decades, thrives on such jabs, with Clarkson recently praising May and Hammond as “family” in a Sun column. As Kaleb Cooper films Kaleb: Down Under in Australia, leaving Clarkson to steer Diddly Squat, May’s quip adds levity to a grim year. Will he make a proper Clarkson’s Farm appearance? Can Clarkson prove his farming chops? With Season 5 looming, the banter—and the battle—continues.