Key Highlights
- Thames Valley Police confirmed no sheep were stolen from Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm, attributing the incident to an accidental miscount.
- Clarkson initially reported 11 Easycare sheep missing during a count with farm manager Kaleb Cooper, valuing the flock at approximately £2,000.
- The clarification comes weeks after Clarkson won Best Reality Docuseries at the National Television Awards for Clarkson’s Farm.
Police Investigation Concludes Sheep Were Never Stolen
Thames Valley Police have officially closed the investigation into the reported theft of sheep from Jeremy Clarkson’s Oxfordshire farm, confirming that the animals were never stolen. The force issued a statement to the Oxford Mail declaring that “Following enquiries into a reported sheep theft near Chadlington, reported on 2 September, it has been confirmed that no sheep were stolen.” According to the spokesperson, “An accidental miscount was behind the report, and all sheep have now been accounted for.”
The development resolves a weeks-long saga that began when Clarkson, 66, noticed 11 of his Easycare sheep were missing during a routine headcount conducted alongside his employee and Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper. The former Top Gear host immediately contacted law enforcement, launching a police investigation that garnered significant media attention given the farm’s prominence from the hit Amazon Prime Video series.
Clarkson’s Initial Account and Public Warnings
Speaking to The Sun shortly after the reported disappearance, Clarkson detailed his experience reporting the crime. He described the police response positively, stating, “The police have been very good, actually.” He recounted the process of reaching an operator: “Once you go through 700 hours of recorded messages, I got through to a girl.” Clarkson recalled the exchange: “I said, ‘I know it’s going to sound like I’m from 1856, but I’ve had some sheep stolen’.” He continued, “She went through the name and address and then she said, ‘oh, not your Easycares’. She’s obviously been watching the show, but it is the Easycares.”
At the time, Clarkson valued the missing sheep at around £2,000 at market and expressed concern that additional animals from his flock might also be unaccounted for. He also issued a stark warning to potential thieves: “It’s a farm. We’re armed. Just so they know.” Police had initially confirmed an investigation was underway into the theft of a “number of sheep.”
National Television Awards Win Amid Controversy
The resolution arrives on the heels of a professional milestone for Clarkson. Earlier this month, Clarkson’s Farm secured the award for Best Reality Docuseries at the National Television Awards, beating nominees including At Home With The Furys, Fletchers’ Family Farm, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, and Stacey & Joe. Clarkson accepted the award from the new hosts of his former show The Grand Tour—Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman, and Thomas Holland.
During his acceptance speech, Clarkson remarked, “Crikey. Some lovely programmes in that category.” He added a personal anecdote: “I’ve just discovered Paris Fury is from Doncaster like I am.” He concluded, “I don’t want to drone on forever, on behalf of everyone who makes this amazing show, thank you.”
Backstage Comments Contradict Police Findings
Despite the police conclusion, Clarkson maintained his belief that a theft had occurred while speaking backstage at the awards ceremony. He insisted, “There’s none on the farm, and there’s no blood and guts there, so somebody stole them and they will have butchered them by now. They’re sheep; they were going to be eaten anyway, let’s be honest.” He reiterated the financial loss: “Apart from anything else, they’re £205 each for a sheep, so that’s £2,000 of sheep that were stolen.”
LADbible has reached out to Jeremy Clarkson for comment.
Why This Matters
The incident highlights the intense public scrutiny surrounding Clarkson’s Farm and its star, where even routine farm management issues become national news. The series, which documents Clarkson’s steep learning curve in agriculture at Diddly Squat Farm near Chadlington, has transformed the property into a tourist destination and cultural touchstone. The police’s definitive statement—that a simple miscount sparked the alarm—underscores the challenges of livestock management on a working farm, especially one operating under the watch of television cameras and a massive global audience. With the show renewed for future seasons, the farm’s operations will likely remain a blend of genuine agricultural enterprise and high-profile entertainment content.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Were any sheep actually stolen from Diddly Squat Farm?
- No. Thames Valley Police confirmed that no sheep were stolen and that an accidental miscount led to the initial report. All sheep have been accounted for.
- How many sheep did Jeremy Clarkson initially report missing?
- Clarkson reported 11 Easycare sheep missing during a count conducted with farm manager Kaleb Cooper.
- What was the estimated value of the supposedly missing sheep?
- Clarkson stated the sheep were worth approximately £2,000 at market, citing a value of roughly £205 per animal.
