Clarkson’s Farm Consultant Judges Jeremy Clarkson’s Choices On Diddly Squat Farm So Far

“Cheerful Charlie” Ireland, who rose to fame on the first series of Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm, has spoken in an interview about the background of the Diddly Squat Farm and his work with Jeremy Clarkson as his land agent.

During the interview Ireland is asked if the farm was his, would he do anything differently. Ireland responded:

“If I owned Diddly Squat, would I farm it differently? Um, not hugely differently. I think the farming’s been, you know, a bit simplified and we’ve changed some things.

“In the last year I probably wouldn’t have bought, well, I wouldn’t have bought the sheep. Uh, I think that’s very clear. And I wouldn’t have had the foresight to open a farm shop. So, you know, I think there are two areas that he, well, one, he’s certainly proved me wrong and the other I’ve been proved correct.

“So I don’t think I’d do a huge amount differently.”

The interviewer stepped in and asked Ireland:

“I think it’s fair to say Charlie, a thousand acres without the shop wouldn’t particularly give a good return sufficient to pay for. Are they still?”

Ireland responded:

“No, absolutely not. And, you know, the farm is still owned by him and his ex-wife Frances. So, they still have it. They do take a drawing from the farm. In some years it does generate, but the, the interesting thing is the grassland, there is a high level stewardship scheme that’s coming to an end next year. And we’re not quite sure where the income’s going to be on that yet for next year.”

Ireland was branded “Cheerful Charlie” by Clarkson on the show when he seemed to always be complaining or negative. However, this was usually in response to the Grand Tour host making a rather large mistake or been reckless with money.

It was announced earlier this year that Ireland will be part of the second series of Clarkson’s Farm which will be released on 10th February 2023 to Prime Video.