Television personality and farm owner Jeremy Clarkson has openly admitted that he “doesn’t particularly like” the unsettling process of sending his beloved animals to slaughter, a sentiment that resonates deeply with many who understand the emotional toll of farming.
Having embarked on his farming journey approximately five years ago, Clarkson gained widespread recognition through the reality TV show Clarkson’s Farm, which streams on Amazon Prime. The series captivatingly chronicles his often humorous yet challenging initial attempts to manage the “Diddly Squat Farm” nestled in the picturesque Oxfordshire countryside, where he is responsible for rearing a variety of animals, including sheep, pigs, and cows.
In a candid interview for The Sun Showbiz, Clarkson elaborated on the harsh realities of raising animals for food, which frequently involve unpredictable illness, heartbreaking loss, and the emotional burden of taking them to slaughter. This aspect of farming is certainly not lost on him.
“When your animals are sickly or dying, it’s awful,” reflected Clarkson, demonstrating the depth of his connection to the animals. “I don’t particularly like sending them off to market, or to the slaughterhouse, to be brutally honest.” Such statements highlight the complex emotional landscape that farmers must navigate.
In the same interview, Clarkson discussed his recent heart health scare, which has dramatically altered his approach to diet and lifestyle. He noted that the placement of stents in his arteries now restricts him from consuming certain animal products that have been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, marking a significant change in his lifestyle.
“It all has to stop. I mean really, all of it,” he continued, sounding both resigned and determined. “I’m not allowed now to eat sausages, bacon, beef, pork, lamb, anything fried, apparently egg yellows are bad.” His reflections on dietary changes raise questions about health and ethical considerations in farming.
Slaughtering animals ‘phenomenally difficult’
Despite his previous expressions of disdain for individuals who opt not to consume animal products, this recent interview is just one of many occasions where Clarkson has articulated the harsh truth of farming animals for food. He has consistently depicted the emotional strife associated with the inevitable process of slaughter.
Earlier in 2023, Clarkson poignantly described the profound “gut-wrenching loss” he experiences when transporting animals to slaughter, stating the emotional burden was “bad enough with the sheep and worse with the cows.” He confessed that he can “never” sleep properly the night before taking pigs to slaughter, adding, “All the way to the slaughterhouse I have what feels like a hot cricket ball in the pit of my stomach.” This visceral imagery showcases the immense psychological weight he carries.
In 2021, leading up to the premiere of Clarkson’s Farm, there were reports revealing how Clarkson found his very first experience of taking animals to the slaughterhouse to be “phenomenally difficult,” shedding light on the emotional challenges that many farmers face.
*While the English language usually refers to multiple sheeps as “sheep,” we use “sheeps” to emphasize that they are individuals.
How can lifestyle changes help prevent heart disease?
Heart disease.
**Interview with Jeremy Clarkson**
**Interviewer**: Jeremy, it’s great to have you with us today. Let’s dive right in. You’ve been very candid about the emotional toll of farming, especially when it comes to sending animals to slaughter. Can you share more about how this affects you personally?
**Jeremy Clarkson**: Thank you for having me. It truly is a heart-wrenching experience. I think many people envision farming as a straightforward business, but it’s much more complicated. When you raise animals, you form a bond with them. Knowing that one day they might go to the slaughterhouse is incredibly difficult. I don’t particularly like it, to be honest.
**Interviewer**: And how do you cope with that emotional burden while still managing your farm?
**Jeremy Clarkson**: It’s tough. There are days when it feels unbearable, especially when animals fall ill or die unexpectedly. You have to remind yourself of the reasons you raise them, but I can’t pretend that it’s easy. I try to focus on giving them the best life possible while they’re with me, but it’s always at the back of my mind.
**Interviewer**: Speaking of challenges, you recently went through a heart procedure that changed your lifestyle. How has that impacted your approach to farming and diet?
**Jeremy Clarkson**: Yes, after the stents were placed, I’ve had to be much more cautious about what I eat. It’s forced me to rethink how I view the animals I raise. While I’ve always been concerned about their wellbeing, I now have to consider the implications for my health as well. This has definitely changed my relationship with the food I produce.
**Interviewer**: That sounds like a significant shift. Do you think this experience will change how viewers perceive your journey on *Clarkson’s Farm*?
**Jeremy Clarkson**: I hope so. It’s essential for people to understand the real struggles behind farming. It’s not just about getting food to the market; it involves emotional struggle and personal choices that can impact your health. I want to share that journey—and show the hard truths that come along with it.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Jeremy. Your honesty is refreshing, and it sheds light on the complexities of farming that many might overlook.
**Jeremy Clarkson**: Thank you! It’s vital we talk about these aspects. Farming can be wonderful, but it is also filled with tough decisions and emotional highs and lows.