Jeremy Clarkson has said he was labelled “racist” after naming one of his dogs, recalling the episode as part of a broader reflection on past controversies. The former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter lives at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, which he bought in 2008. The working farm is the setting for Amazon Prime Video’s hit series Clarkson’s Farm, first aired in 2021 and now running for four seasons, with a fifth in production.
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Well known for his fondness for animals, Clarkson’s farming programme regularly features livestock ranging from sheep and cattle to pigs, alongside the challenges of rural life. Away from the cameras, he also keeps several dogs as pets.
In his latest column for The Sunday Times, the 65-year-old revealed that one dog’s name previously attracted criticism. He had called his small black dog Didier Dogba, a play on the name of former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, a footballer Clarkson has long admired as a supporter of the London club.
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At the time, an ITV report said the name prompted a wave of complaints, with some critics claiming it was offensive because both the dog and the footballer are black. Clarkson said he was taken aback by the reaction, suggesting it illustrated how easily accusations can arise.
Reflecting on the incident, he placed it alongside his often fraught relationship with the BBC, arguing that episodes like this were relatively minor compared with other disputes he has faced during his career.
