Clarkson’s Farm

“At the heart of series four is a new project to open a gastropub, shop and butcher’s, and the many challenges along the way. It’s fine, but it does give cause to wonder whether this might be the series where Clarkson’s Farm slips the surly bonds of being a show about farming. That, after all, is the key to Clarkson’s success. Once Top Gear stopped being a show about cars the sky was no longer the limit.”
Tom Peck, The Times

“The fact remains that Clarkson’s Farm is, perhaps, the best executed example of the constructed reality genre – narratively nimble and crafted with the same artisanal affection that goes into a jar of Bee Juice honey. Like crop yields after a wet winter, it might be suffering from diminishing returns, but there’s still some gentle British wit to be harvested, too.”
Nick Hilton, The Independent

“It may look like Clarkson has no idea what he’s doing, fumbling around overcomplicated tractors and stepping on local council planning laws like a clown steps on rakes, but this is precision-tooled TV. However, as it returns for another satisfying blast of farm air, Clarkson’s Farm commits a sin – it has begun to look a little contrived. With her deadpan delivery and eagerness to disagree with every word out of Clarkson’s mouth, plus the fact she has so clearly been ‘cast’ by the production, Harriet Cowan, a 24-year-old farmer, nurse and, crucially, TikTok star from Derbyshire, drags the show into scripted reality territory. Clarkson has been rightly praised for showing the realities of British farming, but Harriet’s inclusion smacks of a show overeager to find storylines.”
Chris Bennion, The Telegraph

“There’s nothing subtle about the show’s hit formula – as though its star has taken a clutch of his classic Top Gear episodes and dipped them liberally in slurry. Pungent, crude and raucous, it’s all good dirty fun.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail