Jeremy Clarkson makes major life changes for grandchildren

The Clarkson’s Farm star is back on screens this week with the fifth series of his hit show, which follows his attempts to turn Diddly Squat Farm in rural Oxfordshire into a viable business.

Viewers see him juggling livestock, red tape and unpredictable weather on land near Chadlington and Chipping Norton, but away from the TV chaos, he has also been rethinking his own health and how long he wants to be around for his family.

Around a decade ago, the 65‑year‑old openly mocked the idea of working out, clean eating or cutting back on his vices, cheerfully admitting he never exercised, smoked 40 cigarettes a day and, in his words, drank four pints of wine daily.

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That attitude has shifted dramatically in recent years, with the broadcaster now talking about longevity and the need to look after himself in a way he once dismissed.

At the centre of this change of heart are his grandchildren and the time he wants to spend with them as they grow up.

Writing in a column for The Times, Mr Clarkson said: “I’m not going to dwell on the joys of being a grandparent because what can be said about it has already been said.

“But I have decided that it is so wonderful that I want it to go on for as long as is humanly possible. Which means I must do everything in my power not to die.”

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Health scares have helped concentrate his mind further, starting with a hospital stay for pneumonia in 2017.

He then suffered what he has described as “really bad coronary artery problems” towards the end of 2024, experiencing a sudden downturn in his health that required urgent treatment.

The latest series of Clarkson’s Farm shows that “sudden deterioration” and the moment he needed a stent fitted.

This was to restore proper blood flow, and it underlines the seriousness of the episode for both the 66-year-old and his loved ones.

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Since undergoing the procedure, the former Top Gear presenter has tried to build new habits into his routine, turning to activities that support rather than undermine his long‑term health.

He has started doing reformer Pilates, embracing the low‑impact but tough sessions to work on strength, balance and flexibility as he gets older, according to a new article from Men’s Health.

Back at his Oxfordshire home, he has also had a pickleball court put in, adding the fast‑paced racket sport to his options for staying active without resorting to traditional gym workouts.

Walks have become part of his life too, with Mr Clarkson heading out from the farm when the weather cooperates to stretch his legs along local footpaths and fields.