Harriet Cowan, 24, issues 15-word plea to Clarkson’s Farm fans as she addresses show backlash amid exit: ‘Words matter!’
Harriet Cowan, 24, has taken to social media to implore her followers and newfound fans to “be kind” following her introduction and abrupt departure from Clarkson’s Farm in season four.
In the very first episode of the newly released series, Cowan entered the fray to help out a flustered Jeremy Clarkson, 65, at his Oxfordshire farm.
Over the past three seasons, Clarkson had been helped out by farm manager Kaleb Cooper but when filming for the fourth season began, he was preoccupied with a nationwide stage show.
Clarkson and land agent Charlie Ireland ultimately had to hire Cowan to fill the void left by Cooper and keep things afloat, something the 24-year-old did with aplomb.
Cowan impressed Clarkson with her efficiency on the Chipping Norton farm, and the two developed a heartwarming bond thanks to their often humorous back-and-forths.
However, Cooper was soon back on the scene in the third episode of season four, and delivered a rather frosty reception to Cowan once he discovered his boss had to bring in an extra pair of hands to the farm.
Eventually, Cooper warmed to Cowan and the two also shared several jolly scenes before she had to pack her bags and head back home to Derbyshire.
Cowan’s exit sparked quite the debate among Clarkson’s Farm fans, with several demanding she return to be made a fully fledged member of the show’s cast.
Her arrival in the fourth season also drew inevitable comparisons with Cooper, resulting in several members of the show’s fandom calling for the series stalwart to be “axed” and “replaced” by Cowan.
The fiery debate that has ensued across social media has clearly caught the eye of Cowan who took to Instagram late on Wednesday with a message to those expressing divisive opinions.
The farmhand and nurse shared a clip of herself and Cooper failing to grasp a joke by Clarkson in the fourth season about one of his pig’s names, “Harvey Swinestein”.
Despite the jovial nature of the clip, Cowan typed in a rather subdued caption: “Please can everyone remember to be kind.
“We are all human and your words matter,” she signed off.
Much of the debate surrounding Cooper and Cowan centred on their first interaction once the former was back from tour.
Cooper, who was similarly perturbed in the third season when Andy Cato farmed one of the farm’s fields, was branded a “spoilt brat” by furious fans when he appeared to give Cowan the cold shoulder while judging her barley drilling skills.
Clarkson even decided to put Cooper in his place in the episode, pulling him up over his demanding behaviour and joking he’d developed “c*** flu” after being pampered on tour.
LATEST CLARKSON’S FARM NEWS:
Harriet Cowan, 24, sets record straight over ‘fake’ Clarkson’s Farm scene: ‘It is so real!’Jeremy Clarkson, 65, lashes out at Amazon bosses over ‘infuriating’ Clarkson’s Farm decisionJeremy Clarkson, 65, issues moving statement following death of BBC boss who ‘ended Top Gear career’
Cowan, however, hasn’t been immune to criticism either, with some fans claiming the series improved once Cooper returned to his role as farm manager.
“3rd episode much better when Kaleb came back and Harriet left. The banter between the two came back and the funny bits on the farm #clarksonsfarm,” one X user said in one instance while a second agreed: “I do love Harriet and she was great for the farm, but it defo didn’t feel complete til Kaleb came back #ClarksonsFarm.” (sic)
Other members of the Clarkson’s Farm fandom appear to have grown tired of the comparisons and debate, however, with several Reddit and Facebook threads calling for fans to stop pitting the two against one another.
In the meantime, one person who holds nothing but fondness for both young farmers is Clarkson himself.
So much so, that in a heartfelt tribute to Cowan prior to the fourth season’s premiere, Clarkson assured fans that the 24-year-old would be the first person he’d call should he ever need a helping hand again.
“It’s a reality show. We don’t just bring characters in because the TV show needs it. You bring them in because you really need them,” he explained.
“I loved Harriet to bits and I wish her all the very best. She was fantastic to have around.
“But the truth is, we’ve got Kaleb, and he might go off and do Celebrity Love Island or something, and if I can’t manage, I’ll call Harriet in a heartbeat,” he said to The Sun.