Jeremy Clarkson has revealed a bovine tuberculosis (TB) outbreak has struck his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire, leaving him and his team “absolutely devastated.” The infection, which affects cattle and not humans, will force the culling of at least three animals, including a cow currently pregnant with twins.
The 65-year-old broadcaster-turned-farmer shared the news on social media, writing: “Bad news from Diddly Squat. We’ve gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated.”
When asked by a fan if his prized Aberdeen Angus bull, Endgame, had tested positive, Clarkson said the result was “inconclusive,” adding: “I couldn’t bear it if we lost him.”
The infected cow, he confirmed, was pregnant with twins. Under current UK regulations, infected cattle must be culled to prevent further spread of the disease. “They have to be culled. It’s the law,” Clarkson responded to one follower hoping for a recovery.
Bovine TB remains a persistent issue in parts of England, particularly the South West and West Midlands. Between April 2024 and March 2025, more than 21,000 cattle were slaughtered following TB outbreaks.
Clarkson has spoken out before about the devastation caused by TB, and about badgers’ role in spreading the disease. In previous series of Clarkson’s Farm, he criticised wildlife protection laws, describing badgers as “b*****ds” responsible for spreading TB and devastating farmers’ livelihoods.
Kaleb Cooper has now updated his followers on those cows, three of which have contracted Bovine Tuberculosis, which is an infectious disease of cattle caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis
“I actually called them b*****ds and showed people what they actually do. It’s truthful,” he said in 2023. “Do not be fooled by Brian May. This is how much heartache they’re causing to people who’ve worked for generations to build up a farm that’s been wiped out by badgers.”
In the same year, Clarkson admitted to shooting badgers on his farm under licence. After activists reported blocked badger setts, police visited the farm. Clarkson said he told them: “I’ve shot all the badgers on the farm so why would I want to fill in their setts?” – insisting the action was legal.
The emotional toll of TB on farmers was also highlighted last year by Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper, who shared on Instagram that three of the 21 dairy cows he co-owns had tested positive for TB. Holding back tears, Cooper said: “I don’t really know how to describe the emotion… It’s hard.”
The latest outbreak marks a fresh setback for Clarkson and his Diddly Squat team, whose efforts to manage a working farm have become a national talking point through the Amazon Prime documentary series.
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Jeremy Clarkson devastated as Diddly Squat Farm hit by TB outbreak
