Clarkson’s Farm praised for showing challenges facing UK farmers

Presenter Joel Dommett made the comments as the the programme is up for a prize at this year’s National Television Awards in a new category recognising the rise of the fly-on-the-wall celebrity-led shows.

The reality TV show follows Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson as runs his Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, while highlighting the daily challenges of British agriculture.

The programme’s fate will be decided at the awards ceremony on Tuesday, which will be broadcast live from The O2 in London and hosted by comedian Dommett for the sixth year.

In an interview with the Press Association, Dommett expressed his excitement for the upcoming event while discussing the many nominees and “amazing cultural moments” created on TV over the past year.

The 41-year-old said: “Television is everyone’s medium, it’s a beautiful thing that doesn’t just bring your family together but it brings the country together.

“It brings the world together in these amazing cultural moments where everyone is watching something in the country – Mr Bates vs The Post Office, The Traitors, I’m A Celebrity, which you have to watch because it’s what everyone’s talking about in the office.

“It feels really cool right now that those moments are still coming at us thick and fast.”

Dommett said it is “really exciting” to see the NTAs first all-female shortlist in the drama performance category, adding: “I feel like I’m rooting for all of them.

“There’s a really great bunch on there, and it feels long overdue to have a full female category.”

The broadcaster also praised industry peers Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and said he was “rooting for them”, and hailed Clarkson’s Farm as “one of my favourite shows”.

The Gloucestershire-born star said: “I grew up on a farm, so I understand the slightly agricultural references and stuff – but the show also works for people who don’t.

“I just think it’s one of the best shows in telly, and the numbers speak for itself.

“It has also got this amazing, really important message that’s being delivered to the country to people who don’t necessarily understand that farming is in jeopardy, and in a really difficult position right now.”

Since launching the show, Clarkson has become a vocal supporter of farmers and even attended a protest in London against the Government’s move to introduce inheritance tax on farmland in November 2024.

Dommett told PA: “The weather this year has completely ruined crops for almost everyone, and that’s people’s livelihoods.

“Then you’ve got the fact the Government don’t help either.

“It’s just become this real storm of uncertainty for farmers, and I think it’s really difficult.

“I love that Jeremy’s bringing attention to that – it’s really cool.”

Others nominated include beloved naturalist Sir David Attenborough, who is competing against the likes of Ant and Dec in the TV presenter category.

Dommett said: “I always root for Ant and Dec, because I love them. But they are against David Attenborough this year – how is this going to turn out?”

He also said that despite hosting the NTAs five times, he still finds the experience “a bit daunting”, but added: “It’s such an interesting night to host. I love doing it, and I love doing live television.

“It’s really fun and feels really exciting to me.

“The fact that it’s voted for by the people at home makes it even more exciting.”

The NTAs will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX on September 8 from 8pm.