Jeremy Clarkson, 65, sets record straight on Kaleb Cooper’s Diddly Squat future amid replacement fears
Jeremy Clarkson, 65, has finally confirmed the future of his Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper, following speculation that he had been “replaced” by a new farmhand.
Fans were taken aback last week when 24-year-old newcomer Harriet Cowan appeared in the trailer for season four, after Cooper temporarily stepped away from the show.
Viewers will soon return to Diddly Squat Farm when the new season premieres on May 23.
Two additional episodes will follow on May 30, with the final two released on June 6.
After weeks of speculation, Clarkson has reassured fans that Kaleb is back on the farm as usual, revealing that Cowan “held the fort” in his absence.
In a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday, Clarkson cleared up the confusion: “There has been lots of reports that Kaleb has been ‘replaced’- well, no, he hasn’t.”
He went on to explain: “What happened is this, he went away on his speaking tour for a couple of months because he imagined that after four years, I’d be able to manage on my own.
“And I didn’t – I made a complete mess of everything and had to bring in a young farmer called Harriet.”
Clarkson praised her efforts, adding: “Harriet is brilliant and looked after the fort until he got back. That is it – that’s the story!”
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The season four trailer shows Clarkson facing his usual farming challenges, but Cowan quickly made a strong impression, lending a hand with fencing, feeding animals, and even showcasing her welding skills.
Despite never having seen Clarkson’s Farm before, Cowan, who works full-time as a nurse and helps run her family’s farm, didn’t let that slow her down.
Jeremy was clearly impressed, turning to the camera and saying: “She’s brilliant!”
Cooper, who had been away on a nationwide tour, eventually returned to Diddly Squat and appeared to get along well with his temporary stand-in.
A natural on the farm, Cowan grew up helping her father, Eddy, with agricultural work. She’s also in a relationship with fellow farmer James, and the couple regularly shares sweet moments together on social media.
The upcoming eight-part series will see Jeremy and his team battle extreme weather conditions during one of the toughest years British farmers have faced.
Meanwhile, Cooper has been thriving professionally, having earned a £910,000 profit through Kaleb Cooper Productions, the company behind his TV earnings.
He launched his production company in 2021 and also runs two farming businesses, K Cooper Contracting and K Cooper Holdings, which brought in a combined profit of £100,000 – helping him hit the £1million mark by the age of 26.
Cooper has previously spoken about his dream of owning his own farm, something that’s now increasingly within reach thanks to his rising fame.
Clarkson had already confirmed a fifth season of Clarkson’s Farm back in November, even before season four was officially announced.
In a playful video, a giant number five firework exploded in the sky as Clarkson declared: “Over the years, bright lights in the sky have been used to make many important announcements.
“The birth of baby Jesus, for example, but tonight they’re being used to make an announcement that’s even bigger than that. Season 5 of Clarkson’s Farm is coming.”
He captioned the post: “It’s the 5th November… this just felt right, Clarkson’s Farm S5 is officially in production.”
Season three shattered records on Prime Video, drawing 5.1 million viewers in its first week, making it the most-watched UK original on the platform to date.