Chris Packham reveals how he REALLY feels about 'antagonistic' Jeremy Clarkson - calling out his 'changing views' after move into farming
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Springwatch star Chris Packham has opened up on how he REALLY feels about former Top Gear host turned farmer Jeremy Clarkson, calling out his 'changing views'.
The TV presenter, who is most frequently seen on screen beside Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams on the popular BBC programme, including its winter spin-off Winterwatch, admitted that despite their differences, he harbours no hate for Jeremy.
Chris, 64, and Jeremy, 65, have often found themselves on opposite sides of the debate about the British countryside - from conservation to farming.
But, Chris has now admitted that the public perception of the relationship between the pair could not be more different to the reality.
Rather than 'hating Jeremy', the Winterwatch star said the duo had actually 'worked together' and found the Clarkson's Farm star 'hospitable' and 'like himself'.
He told the Telegraph: 'Everybody expects me to hate Jeremy. But we worked together and he was extraordinarily hospitable. And he's like myself.
Springwatch star Chris Packham has opened up on how he REALLY feels about former Top Gear host turned farmer Jeremy Clarkson, calling out his 'changing views'
Chris, 64, and Jeremy, 65, have often found themselves on opposite sides of the debate about the British countryside - from conservation to farming
'He sometimes sees the need to antagonise a situation to promote a conversation. In recent times, we've see him swinging more in my direction.'
Since Jeremy took over his farm, Diddly Squat, in 2019 - the TV presenter has become increasingly outspoken about issues that affect farmers across the UK.
He opened up on how bovine TB affected his own farm, as well as the importance of buying local produce and supportive British farming, and the issues caused by extreme weather patterns.
Chris, who has presented Springwatch since its launch in 2009, has often used his platform to speak about the importance of protecting the environment.
The presenter hit out that he felt the BBC, who broadcasts Springwatch and its spin-off series, have not been 'as forthright' as he hoped them to be in supporting the environment.
He continued to the Telegraph: 'It's a dereliction of duty not to be informing people of the gravity of the situation...'
In 2024, Chris encouraged today's youth to 'fight back' against 'buffoons' like Jeremy amid claims that The Grand Tour host purchased a 'gas-guzzling' Range Rover 'just to spite' him.
Clarkson opted to buy the environmentally unfriendly SUV after 'Chris Packham said something annoying on television', he told The Daily Star in February 2024.
Since Jeremy took over his farm, Diddly Squat, in 2019 - the TV presenter has become increasingly outspoken about issues that affect farmers across the UK
Chris, who has presented Springwatch since its launch in 2009, has often used his platform to speak about the importance of protecting the environment
The presenter had initially decided to buy a Land Rover with a 'smallish diesel engine' but 'cancelled' the purchase in a 'hot internal walnut of spite'.
He hoped to 'annoy' and 'punish' the Springwatch star by buying a 'Range Rover with a V8 that produces more carbon dioxides than India'.
He added that he found it 'comforting to know that by talking about the environment Packham has actually made it a little worse.'
Packham hit back, branding Clarkson a 'buffoon' and telling Saga Magazine that his 'spiteful' decision 'betrays such a tragic ignorance it has an almost comedic value'.
The Range Rover rage was the latest incident in the apparent ongoing feud between the pair, which saw Packham launch a furious tirade at Clarkson in after the outspoken presenter admitted he wasn't impressed by Sir David Attenborough's latest Planet Earth series.
'I got a Google alert last night saying Jeremy Clarkson had been thinking about buying a Land Rover with a relatively small engine,' Packham told the magazine.
'But then he'd seen me on TV saying something which offended him - probably something positive about the environment - so he'd bought a five-litre, gas-guzzling, twin turbo-charged Range Rover just to spite Chris Packham.'
The Winterwatch presenter hit out at Clarkson in his latest attempt to highlight the gravity of the climate crisis, saying it is an 'existential problem' and 'so big that it's beyond us as individuals to do anything'.
Chris Packham (pictured in July 2022) encouraged people to 'fight back' against 'buffoons' like Jeremy amid claims he purchased a 'gas-guzzling' Range Rover 'just to spite' him
Sir David Attenborough (pictured) is a British broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and author who has fronted many nature programmes that explore environmental issues such as global warming
However, he pointed out that 'every single one of us has the capacity to do something positive' and encouraged the younger generation to consider their individual 'impact' on the environment.
Packham, who is often referred to as Sir David's successor, argued that today's generation are 'influenced by TikTok' and need a 'young person' to get them fired up about the environment.
'We don't need another David, we need another person on social media doing the same job and that isn't going to be me - it's going to be a young person,' he said.
Packham, who says he was 'very angry young man, encouraged the youth to get upset about climate change, but also 'turn that anger into something positive'.
The pair's spat comes after Packham in November 2023 used his social media presence to attack Clarkson for sharing a mixed response to Planet Earth in his column with national tabloid The Sun.
Taking to X, the celebrated naturalist referred to Clarkson's notorious former comments about the Duchess of Sussex - published in the same column.
He wrote: 'Not content with fantasies of throwing s**t over members of the royal family he now slams the world's greatest broadcaster and the man who has done more than anyone has or ever will to protect life on earth . . . What a massive c**kchafer'.
Jeremy Clarkson has become increasingly outspoken on agricultural issues since running his own farm, Diddly Squat
The explosive rant was in response to Clarkson having voiced his lack of enjoyment for 97-year old Attenborough's latest series, going so far as saying he 'hates' the show and urged for a change in its direction.
The former Grand Tour host admitted that while he's been captivated by the new BBC series, he found the script 'insane'.
Clarkson wrote in his column with The Sun: 'Oh the photography is brilliant. Spellbinding even. But the words are driving me insane'.
The outspoken broadcaster then pointed out that despite once admiring Attenborough's in-depth knowledge of animals, he now feels his mission to educate viewers on the impact of global warming has become a bit repetitive.
He wrote: 'Now all we ever get is, 'Here's a see-through fish with an orange stomach, and it's future is threatened by climate change and then it's: 'Here's something with pointy teeth and soon it will be wiped out by global warming.'
'We know already. So please, in future, tell us about the animals, not the b****y weather.'
