Matt Baker issues heartfelt 14-word statement to Jeremy Clarkson after ‘devastating’ Diddly Squat TB outbreak
Countryfile star and farm owner Matt Baker has reached out to fellow presenter-turned-farmer Jeremy Clarkson after the former Top Gear star revealed that bovine tuberculosis has been detected at his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.
Clarkson announced to his fans via social media that a pregnant cow carrying twins testing positive for the disease.
The 65-year-old broadcaster announced the outbreak on social media platform X on Wednesday afternoon, stating: “Bad news from Diddly Squat. We’ve gone down with TB. Everyone here is absolutely devastated.”
Clarkson later clarified: “The offending animal is pregnant with twins.”
Under UK regulations, cattle that test positive for bovine TB must be destroyed to prevent the disease spreading, meaning both the cow and her unborn calves face mandatory culling.
The Grand Tour presenter expressed particular concern about his prize Aberdeen Angus bull, Endgame, whose test results proved inconclusive. “I couldn’t bear it if we lost him,” Clarkson told followers on X.
When supporters expressed hope that the infected cow and her twins might recover, Clarkson responded bluntly: “They have to be culled. It’s the law.”
Among the “heartbroken” fans sharing their support was Baker, who took to Instagram to react to a video of the affected cow that Clarkson had shared to the platform.
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I should clear this up really. It’s Bovine TB that we have. It doesn’t affect people, just our poor cows.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 31, 2025
Reaching out to the 65-year-old, Baker typed: “So sorry to hear this Jeremy. Heartfelt thoughts are with you and your team.”
The response from Baker was echoed by thousands of fans who expressed their dismay at the news, especially given the sad fate that now awaits the animal.
The outbreak represents a significant blow to the Oxfordshire farm, which has become widely known through the Amazon Prime documentary series Clarkson’s Farm.
Clarkson emphasised the emotional toll on his team, reiterating that everyone at Diddly Squat was “absolutely devastated” by the diagnosis.
The presenter sought to reassure followers that the disease poses no threat to humans, explaining: “I should clear this up really. It’s bovine TB that we have. It doesn’t affect people, just our poor cows.”
Bovine tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis, represents a major challenge for British agriculture, particularly in high-incidence regions.
The respiratory disease spreads between cattle through direct contact and can also be transmitted via saliva, urine, faeces and milk.
Government statistics indicate that more than 21,000 cattle were destroyed across England between April 2024 and March 2025 due to TB outbreaks.
This is not the first time tuberculosis concerns have affected the farm, with the disease featuring prominently in previous series of the Amazon Prime programme.
In 2023, Clarkson spoke candidly about the threat badgers pose to cattle, stating: “These are not nice animals. 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.”
Clarkson’s co-star Kaleb Cooper previously shared his own devastating experience when three of his 21 dairy cows tested positive for TB in 2023, describing the emotional impact of losing milking cattle to the disease.