Clarkson’s Farm star has worrying update from Diddly Squat

Harriet Cowan from Derbyshire was a new addition to the cast in the latest season, which was released on Prime Video across May and June last year.

The 25-year-old temporarily stood in for long-time fan favourite Kaleb Cooper as he toured, helping Mr Clarkson at the farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire.

She left midway through the series once her help was no longer needed, but became popular with viewers despite her short time on screen.

READ MORE: Sex, celebrity gnomes and David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show

Speaking exclusively to the Express, she explained: “Being part of farming, you are constantly relying on the weather all the time.

“This time last year, it was just too hot, there was a drought, and the grass just turned brown and died. Every year, you’re constantly wondering what’s going to happen.

“Last year, as Jeremy said, the farm really struggled because the grass that we would have grown and made would have fed the cattle all winter, but because there wasn’t enough rain, we obviously ran out.”

She went on to say that hay had to be bought in hay bales, and because businesses rose the prices up as knew farmers needed them, they put the price up.

READ MORE: TV legend’s daughter selling £3.95m Oxfordshire mansion with swimming pool

“So bales that were probably going for around £40 were now costing nearly £90, and when you think of that on a large scale, that’s insane.”

Ms Cowan also said that the ongoing conflict in Iran has had a significant knock‑on effect on farming, with the cost of diesel – including red diesel used in tractors – climbing steeply.

She believes many members of the public are unaware of the link, assuming everything looks normal from their windows, when in reality the situation is proving damaging for agriculture.

According to Ms Cowan, soaring fuel prices mean farmers are increasingly unable to afford to drill fields, sow crops and produce food as usual, a situation she finds extraordinary in 2026.

READ MORE: 1980s music legend reveals he’s a regular at Designer Outlet

She described it as a very difficult period for those working in farming and expressed hope that the war can be brought to an end soon so conditions can stabilise, saying the current pressures are unsustainable.

It is not yet known if Ms Cowan will return to Clarkson’s Farm, but she addressed the topic on BBC Breakfast News last year.

“We’ve always left it very open,” she said.

“I’m here if he needs me, but no plans at the minute. If he needs me, I’m here.”

Clarkson’s Farm will return to screens in June on Prime Video with series five, which wrapped filming in September 2025.