Jeremy Clarkson had some choice words about the government after scooping an award at Thursday night’s British Farming Awards.
The former Top Gear host, who now stars in Clarkson’s Farm, won the flying the flag for British agriculture award at a ceremony at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham.
As he accepted the trophy, he started his speech by praising his co-star Kaleb Cooper before turning his attention towards the government.
WARNING: THIS CLIP CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT VIEWERS MAY FIND OFFENSIVE
⚠️ Bad language warning ⚠️
— Save British Farming 🇬🇧 (@BritishSave) October 23, 2021
Jeremy Clarkson gives his views on this Govt and what they’re doing to farming 🚜 pic.twitter.com/PCEPr2qyC6
In a clip shared by Save British Farming on Twitter, he said: “I just hope and pray we’re all still here in ten years time once this f***ing government has c***ed up absolutely everything.”
The 700-strong crowd cheered at this, before Clarkson continued: “We are doing a second series and we’re not going to take no nonsense lying down, I can assure you of that, so let’s just go f*** them up the a**, eh? Thanks everybody.”
“Well done you,” he said to Kaleb before handing the mic back to host Vernon Kay.
Clarkson has previously been critical of the government. In September, he urged ministers to “back off” UK farmers by making them “fill in fewer forms” in a bid to help food stocks.
Clarkson backed the NFU’s (National Farmers’ Union) Back British Farming Day, which campaigned for the UK’s food self-sufficiency to not slip below 60 per cent. Going further, Clarkson instead called for the government to make 80 per cent self-sufficiency a target. This month Clarkson was named the union’s Farming Champion 2021 for his work in championing British farming.
He also described Brexit as a “challenge” for farmers in an interview with the Press Association earlier this year.
Reacting to Clarkson’s speech, people took to Twitter to share their thoughts. Author Emma Kennedy remarked that “hell has frozen over” as she said she agrees with Clarkson’s speech:
Hell has frozen over. I agree with Jeremy Clarkson. *calls ambulance* https://t.co/zZ5fTKPveR
— Emma Kennedy💙 (@EmmaKennedy) October 23, 2021
Mr Jeremy Clarkson saying what we all think about this government! Good one Jezza! 😃👍@JeremyClarkson
— Andrew Ward 🇬🇧🚜 (@wheat_daddy) October 22, 2021
pic.twitter.com/o9rsu2Yol0
Clarkson didn’t hold back! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 https://t.co/r8zWzGE6iR
— Steve Evans (@Evsthetractor) October 22, 2021
Congratulations Jeremy & Kaleb @JeremyClarkson 🚜 https://t.co/vDujas5jDv
— Phoenix ⓥ (@PhoenixWo1f) October 23, 2021
Well done Jezza@JeremyClarkson https://t.co/B3RMNxoqqQ
— Bunny Hugger (@theonlynickegan) October 23, 2021
Can't say I've ever been a fan of Clarkson but after watching the farm and seeing some humility he won me over, now this. Be interesting to see how a lot of his fanbase react to his new attitude. https://t.co/cdDDTPXPfO
— God Bless Our NHS (@Sarah4Dales) October 23, 2021
According to the British Farming Awards, Clarkson and Cooper won the award for raising the profile of British agriculture since the series Clarkson’s Farm became a hit on Prime Video.
Accepting the award, Cooper said: “Behind every good farm is a great farming team.” Clarkson agreed and said: “This is about the whole team. It is for everybody who is involved. There is a great crowd of people on that farm.”
The British Farming Awards website credits Clarkson’s new show for boosting farming’s image, and called the pair “unintentional farming ambassadors” who helped farming “ride the crest of an incredible wave of public support over the past 18 months”.
This sentiment has been shared by environment secretary George Eustice who said Clarkson’s programme has “done a huge amount” to raise the profile of agriculture and the challenges those in the industry face.
The show has also been praised by farmers themselves, with sheep farmer and author James Rebanks previously remarking: “I can report back from within the farming community: they all loved [Clarkson’s Farm]. They loved it.” Rebanks added that Clarkson’s “clowning around” makes an entertaining change from Countryfile.
The show, which follows Clarkson on his 1,000-acre farm in the Cotswolds, instantly became a fan favourite after its premiere in June.
