Clarkson’s Farm

[lizardbrain]

Who was (more) correct, with the 'discussion' about the dam piping?

[RizzoTheRat]

Abbott said:

Without the comedy I would say more farming is closer to the agony and hardworking of this programme than the other usual "Ive made my millions in the city and have now bought a farm and everything is Alpaccas and prancing lambs"

Agreed, it's not an accurate depiction of every day life for farmers, but it's a pretty accurate depiction of the challenges they face and the type of work they do. Clearly some bits are pre-planned to be silly for TV, and I hope the daft bits (like the blackberry machine and the wall) don't end up taking over the show too much.

I initially didn't bother watching it as I'd got bored of Clarksons parody of himself before they left the BBC Top Gear. However my mother (farmers wife) and sister (agronomist, basically what Charlie does) both recommended it, and I think it's a great series.

[RizzoTheRat]

Abbott said:

Without the comedy I would say more farming is closer to the agony and hardworking of this programme than the other usual "Ive made my millions in the city and have now bought a farm and everything is Alpaccas and prancing lambs"

Agreed, it's not an accurate depiction of every day life for farmers, but it's a pretty accurate depiction of the challenges they face and the type of work they do. Clearly some bits are pre-planned to be silly for TV, and hope the daft bits (like the blackberry machine and the wall) don't end up taking over the show too much.

I initially didn't bother watching it as I'd got bored of Clarksons parody of himself before they left the BBC Top Gear. However my mother (farmers wife) and sister (agronomist, basically what Charlie does) both recommended it, and I think it's a great series.

[DodgyGeezer]

Venisonpie said:

I find his input the only part I'm enjoying this series. I sense a bit of supressed frustration on his part. The moment he spots marmalade was brilliant - we don't grow oranges.

just out of curiosity - if the marmalade was made locally would that pass the 'local produce' requirement? I must admit that it is a little daft that he can't sell his own book in his own shop...

It did amuse me, however, that on the day when they had to ensure that the shop had only local produce there were still the Diddly Squat tee-shirts on display

Sway said:

Evanivitch said:

FiF said:

In the first series there was a comment by land agent Cheerful Charlie that maybe it wasn't so much a case of the council didn't want the developments but that they didn't want Jeremy to do the developments.

I'm sure there's a good amount of that *because* he tried to do everything retrospectively.

I don't believe he did do everything retrospectively. Aiui, for some of the developments there's stated exemptions from planning for access tracks, etc. - yet the council decided they didn't apply (counter to all of Charlie's experience) and that planning would be required.

TBF it's not just Clarkson that has issues with planners

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5k38lje2yo

[CarlosSainz100]

kmpowell said:

You'll be pleased to hear that he's not playing up for the cameras either. That's him.

I had the absolute privilege of working with Charlie for 4 years. His land/farming management knowledge is, IMO, second to none.

One of life's really good guys, an absolute gent, and as honest as the day is long.

How does one get to be so knowledgeable? Has he been a farmer in a past life? Or is he just naturally brilliant? I assume he does what he's doing for Clarksons Farm for a number of businesses?
He's like a solicitor, surveyor, farmer and social worker all rolled into one. With a bit of Relate on the side.

[98elise]

RizzoTheRat said:

Abbott said:

Without the comedy I would say more farming is closer to the agony and hardworking of this programme than the other usual "Ive made my millions in the city and have now bought a farm and everything is Alpaccas and prancing lambs"

Agreed, it's not an accurate depiction of every day life for farmers, but it's a pretty accurate depiction of the challenges they face and the type of work they do. Clearly some bits are pre-planned to be silly for TV, and I hope the daft bits (like the blackberry machine and the wall) don't end up taking over the show too much.

I initially didn't bother watching it as I'd got bored of Clarksons parody of himself before they left the BBC Top Gear. However my mother (farmers wife) and sister (agronomist, basically what Charlie does) both recommended it, and I think it's a great series.

Agreed. The hovercraft skit was also way too Top Gear. It really doesn’t need it.

[kmpowell]

CarlosSainz100 said:

kmpowell said:

You'll be pleased to hear that he's not playing up for the cameras either. That's him.

I had the absolute privilege of working with Charlie for 4 years. His land/farming management knowledge is, IMO, second to none.

One of life's really good guys, an absolute gent, and as honest as the day is long.

How does one get to be so knowledgeable? Has he been a farmer in a past life? Or is he just naturally brilliant? I assume he does what he's doing for Clarksons Farm for a number of businesses?
He's like a solicitor, surveyor, farmer and social worker all rolled into one. With a bit of Relate on the side.

Decades of experience, is your answer, and yes he'll have many clients he consults for, via the company he works for.

He started as an agricultural consultant at Strutt & Parker, which he did for 20 years, working his way up to Director/Partner, dealing with HNW and UHNW clients. He left S&P for Ceres Rural in 2021, as did a lot of other ex S&P colleagues (there's a whole other backstory there!).

You'll see half way through season one, the headed paper on Clarkson's desk switches from a Red S&P logo, to the Ceres Rural logo.

Here's Charlie's CR profile: https://ceresrural.co.uk/team/charlie-ireland/

Another incredibly knowledgeable person I worked with at S&P, who's now also at CR, is Will. https://ceresrural.co.uk/team/will-gemmill/

As said, two more knowledgeable and nicer & genuine people than Will and Charlie, you'd struggle to meet!

Edited by kmpowell on Tuesday 7th May 13:30

[p1stonhead]

KTF said:

p1stonhead said:

Pretty sure it’s not scripted. Clarkson has said as much. There is no script editor or anything listed like there was for Top Gear.

I certainly swear probably more than him in daily life without thinking.

It might not be scripted but I would suggest that some scenes are 'made for TV'. Such as dragging the bramble picking machine along the wall or the nonsense with the hovercraft.

True.

Must admit I’ve never noticed the swearing myself but I do have a potty mouth

[48k]

DodgyGeezer said:

TBF it's not just Clarkson that has issues with planners

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5k38lje2yo

Absolutely nothing in that news story is about planners or planning permission, it's about Health and Safety.

"As streetlights are directly connected to the local power grid, to ensure everyone's safety any group wishing to display items from a streetlight needs to get in touch with the council so we can make sure essential independent safety training is completed for everyone's wellbeing."

[Flumpo]

DodgyGeezer said:

Venisonpie said:

I find his input the only part I'm enjoying this series. I sense a bit of supressed frustration on his part. The moment he spots marmalade was brilliant - we don't grow oranges.

just out of curiosity - if the marmalade was made locally would that pass the 'local produce' requirement? I must admit that it is a little daft that he can't sell his own book in his own shop...

It did amuse me, however, that on the day when they had to ensure that the shop had only local produce there were still the Diddly Squat tee-shirts on display

Sway said:

Evanivitch said:

FiF said:

In the first series there was a comment by land agent Cheerful Charlie that maybe it wasn't so much a case of the council didn't want the developments but that they didn't want Jeremy to do the developments.

I'm sure there's a good amount of that *because* he tried to do everything retrospectively.

I don't believe he did do everything retrospectively. Aiui, for some of the developments there's stated exemptions from planning for access tracks, etc. - yet the council decided they didn't apply (counter to all of Charlie's experience) and that planning would be required.

TBF it's not just Clarkson that has issues with planners

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5k38lje2yo

You’ve highlighted the issue here extremely well. That has absolutely nothing to do with town planning, planners or even the local planning authority. But it hasn’t stopped you stating it incorrectly has as fact.

[BikeBikeBIke]

p1stonhead said:

Pretty sure it’s not scripted. Clarkson has said as much. There is no script editor or anything listed like there was for Top Gear.

Maybe not a written script but when there's a camera crew and a verbal plot point needs to be made they're clearly gonna think about what needs to be said and have two or three goes if they fluff it.

For instance, there is no way Clarkson happened to be in a tractor with a camera crew doing external shots at the exact moment the call about Gerald came through. That was staged (because it needed to be.)

I'm not grumbling, even my holiday photos aren't a genuine complete record of my holiday.

[SydneyBridge]

I assume he is allowed to give away books and T shirts etc, if someone spends a certain amount?

[48k]

SydneyBridge said:

I assume he is allowed to give away books and T shirts etc, if someone spends a certain amount?

Didn't he try that in series 2? Something like buy a £25 carrier bag and get a free t shirt?

[ChocolateFrog]

While I do enjoy it and it'll be a sad day when Clarkson finally hangs up his TV boots the show feels like 4 series is about right.

It's not like Harry's Farm where you can rinse and repeat each season just with a little more or less rain and people will keep watching.

He's done learning to arable farm, he's done sheep, cows, pigs and chickens. He's done diversifying and environmental schemes.

I've not seen the Alpaca or the glamping tents yet but I'm sure they're not far away.

[ChocolateFrog]

48k said:

DodgyGeezer said:

TBF it's not just Clarkson that has issues with planners

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5k38lje2yo

Absolutely nothing in that news story is about planners or planning permission, it's about Health and Safety.

"As streetlights are directly connected to the local power grid, to ensure everyone's safety any group wishing to display items from a streetlight needs to get in touch with the council so we can make sure essential independent safety training is completed for everyone's wellbeing."

True.

You couldn't move for dead gardening retirees in Chateris in the 80's.

[AstonZagato]

I'm three episodes in.

I'm enjoying it but not as much as the previous two series. It is beginning to feel a bit formulaic now: planning row, messing up simple stuff, getting livestock that doesn't work out, Kaleb despairing, Charlie despairing, weather being difficult, etc.

[2 GKC]

KTF said:

It might not be scripted but I would suggest that some scenes are 'made for TV'. Such as dragging the bramble picking machine along the wall or the nonsense with the hovercraft.

It’s all made for TV. Even Kaleb’s tethered fall looked staged to me. Clarkson can whinge all day about the lack of money it generates but he’s running it for fun and the TV show income, not farming income.

[ChocolateFrog]

2 GKC said:

KTF said:

It might not be scripted but I would suggest that some scenes are 'made for TV'. Such as dragging the bramble picking machine along the wall or the nonsense with the hovercraft.

It’s all made for TV. Even Kaleb’s tethered fall looked staged to me. Clarkson can whinge all day about the lack of money it generates but he’s running it for fun and the TV show income, not farming income.

Unless I'm mistaken he never adds in the subsidies into his end of series P&L either?

So on a 1000 acre farm that's what? Another couple of hundred grand?

[KTF]

2 GKC said:

KTF said:

It might not be scripted but I would suggest that some scenes are 'made for TV'. Such as dragging the bramble picking machine along the wall or the nonsense with the hovercraft.

It’s all made for TV. Even Kaleb’s tethered fall looked staged to me. Clarkson can whinge all day about the lack of money it generates but he’s running it for fun and the TV show income, not farming income.

Well yes, I agree. If it was just footage of whoever going up and down a field all day planting crops, focusing on someone repairing a stone wall or whatever then it would get boring in a hurry.

Staged is probably a better description of what they do and I suspect what we see is only a very small part of the day to day business on the farm as the day to day part will be run/managed by someone else. Originally Kaleb I guess but he may have handed that over to someone else now he has celebrity status.

I agree that is has raised the profile of farming, the numbers involved and how a lot of it seems to come down to luck (weather, animals not doing stupid stuff, etc). But is it what a 'normal' farmer does on a day to day basis. No.

I still dont know why they make the local council out to be the 'baddies' when they have said more than once that they have bent the rules, still refused to stock local produce and so on yet seem surprised when the local council veto their plans.

Am still surprised that Charlie went along with the restaurant in the field plan given his background. The fact that they had to lay the water pipes during the night (staged for TV or otherwise) suggested they knew full well they were sailing close to the wind.

[KTF]

98elise said:

Agreed. The hovercraft skit was also way too Top Gear. It really doesn’t need it.

The 'accidental' dumping the grain (or whatever it was) over the side of the trailer was also added for comedy value. I guess they just sweep it up and put it back in the pile again to be loaded properly?