Farming

Lockdown, Nostalgia & Surprise Hits

I look back on lockdown quite fondly. Maybe that’s strange to say, but no one close to me was seriously affected by Covid, and what we had instead was a strange, sunny stretch of enforced stillness.

Working from home. The birds were louder. The roads were empty. And there was time — time to cook, time to think, and time to finally catch up on TV.

There were a few brilliant releases that came just at the right time. The Last Dance — about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls — hit hard. But it was Clarkson’s Farm that caught me off guard.

The Formula That Keeps Working

I grew up with Top Gear. Clarkson was the voice of car knowledge in our very average British household. But let’s be honest — even before the infamous “punch gate,” the magic was fading.

By the end, it felt like the jokes were rehearsed, the adventures were staged, and the spark was gone.

Then came The Grand Tour — same faces, different locations, bigger budget. And yet… still missing something.

So, when Jeremy Clarkson said he was going to run a farm, I wasn’t hopeful. I thought it was a gimmick.

I was wrong.

What Clarkson did was clever. He kept the same format:

Jeremy – the lovable idiot
Charlie – the calm, slightly weary expert
Kaleb – the passionate, brilliantly blunt sidekick

New faces. New setting. Same chaotic chemistry. And it worked.

It’s Not About Farming

Clarkson’s Farm might be about farming on the surface, but it’s not really.

It’s about running a small business.

That’s why I love it so much.
Because behind the sheep and the tractors and the planning applications, what you’re really watching is someone trying to build something — something uncertain, ambitious, and constantly at risk of falling apart.

Sound familiar?

It’s the most accurate portrayal of small business life I’ve seen on TV.
It’s hilarious, yes. But it’s also deeply relatable.

Every Small Business Owner I Know

You don’t need to be ploughing fields or fixing fences to relate to Clarkson.

You just need to know what it’s like to:

Be the one paying everyone’s wages
Make every decision — even the ones you don’t understand
Navigate constant setbacks, bureaucracy, and costs
And feel like, sometimes, you’re winging it just to get through the day

He might play the fool, but Clarkson is the boss. And like many of us, he’s figuring it out as he goes.

Red Tape & Real Struggle

One of the most powerful (and frustrating) things in the show is the red tape.

Watching Jeremy try to do something — anything — and get stuck in a web of paperwork, rules, and restrictions is equal parts comedy and therapy.

It’s ridiculous. It’s exhausting. And it’s painfully real.

That moment when he tries to open a shop and gets denied by the council? Every small business owner has lived some version of that.

You’re Not Alone

Clarkson’s Farm is more than just entertainment.

It’s a weirdly comforting reminder that:

Struggling doesn’t mean failing
Getting things wrong is part of the process
No one has all the answers — not even Jeremy Clarkson
And sometimes, being a bit of an idiot is exactly what gets the job done

So yes, I love Clarkson’s Farm. Not just for the laughs, but for what it represents:
Hard work, relentless challenges, and the stubborn optimism it takes to keep going.

And maybe, in this crazy business world we’re all navigating, that’s what we need more of.

Will Ryles

Entrepreneur & Founder | Yellowstone Accounts

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