Clarksons farm series 3

[Windy1234]

Anybody watching? The pigs oh I love the bugs but had no idea how hard they would be compared to other farm animals

To be frank, I got rather emotional. But, there again, that is the reality of farming.

I totally respect their feelings for their pigs and watching people going through such genuine grief is rough. That's the part I had to fast forward through.

Just as another data point, there's a couple on Youtube that I'm subscribed to, (I'll link to them below), they got some of the exact same breed of pigs at about the same time.

The breeding sow they got had a litter of ten the previous year and all piglets did well, as had her previous four litters.

This time, there were seven still births and three that survived (although it seemed to be touch and go for one of them).

Some people say that farrowing cages are required, however, this couple had a large farrowing area for the sow and then a separate area (called a "creep area") barred off which had a heat lamp that the piglets are attracted to.

I also had a lump in my throat, although I had read what was coming and was steeling myself! Isn't Lisa great though, she's so willing to get stuck in.

I have to say that other than the pigs I haven't enjoyed these episodes as much as previous series. It feels more obviously staged and some of the cast seem much more conscious of the cameras than before, which I guess was inevitable with all the success and exposure they have had. Still looking forward to the remaining episodes from Friday though.

Yes I would agree with both points.

I am a farmer, although we have cattle not sheep. Iv thoroughly enjoyed the last two series but agree that it does seem more staged this time. Felt the last episode dragged on a bit, it was very sad of course watching all the piglets but not much else has been happening on it yet. Will also finish this weekend.

Only watched the first episode so far. I felt sad about Peppa the cow having to go.
Definitely not cut out for farming.

Yes agree it’s more staged feeling but I think that is inevitable as it’s such a bit hit now and people like Kaleb are known in their own right now compared to S1 when all but clarkson were “regular people”.

I love Lisa. She’s brilliant and just gets stuck in. By iI’m ding the fence in that rain and then dealing with the pigs. She seems to do the active caring like the injection and feeling for the piglet too. She’s a real trooper and it seems very much their farm not just Clarksons when she’s on screen. I reckon she has good ideas and input too. He does the entertainment stuff like the hovercraft but I bet she’s behind a lot of the actual ideas of the farm itself too. It’s such a huge undertaking. I mean financially we all know they are sweet. So yes they can loose money on crops etc but they have plenty in reserve and income from Amazon etc etc etc so they aren’t “regular” farmers in that sense. However, they do seem to out the graft in still. I admire them as it’s a massive lifestyle choice of theirs. They could easily just bum around with his money but they are doing this instead (and yes it’s turned into big money spinner program too but even so it’s a commitment). I have no farm or even country background/knowledge but have really enjoyed learning a bit about it all through this series. Looking forward to Friday for the next batch.

I must admit I was yelling at the TV quite a lot this series. I had noticed previously that Jeremy shouts at his dogs randomly and praises them for things they haven't done. All the 'heel' shouting felt staged this series.

As a farmer, would you have taken those piglets away immediately that first night and put them under a lamp (from the sow with no milk)? I don't farm but I couldn't understand why they didn't do that - or take them in a put them next to the aga on day one.

Also, with the blackberry picking - surely they would have checked where the wall finished before starting the job? I know they need a bit of drama for the show, but I hope they make it more realistic if they continue.

I loved Kaleb's 'I can tell you're a pop star comment' - he's brilliant

I found the piglets a very hard watch. I grew up in a farming community and the sows would always be in farrowing crates when I was a child to help reduce piglet deaths (which was and is barbaric and even though it was the ‘norm’ I hated the way they were cooped up). The children’s farm we used to visit when mine were small always had piglets and in that setup the sow had indoor and outdoor space and the piglets had separation and space too. I guess with Clarkson’s Farm I just found it so upsetting that there was clearly a problem but they didn’t do anything about it.

Why is there such a trend for programmes like this these days? I can't bear to watch anything that comes across as staged or false. All the staged elements are so obvious and yet everyone is happy to watch it.

I never understood this as you even get it in programmes like this that would be just as good I'm sure without all the staged nonsense. Top Gear was dreadful for it and it seems to be part of Clarkson's style. So many programmes like this, I can't watch any of them.

It can't be that staged given it was over such a long period and the nature isn't predictable

The staged bits are not realising there is a wall through a hedge, spilling valuable grain, not being able to separate the piglets etc

I don't like any amount of staging in these sorts of reality type programmes. There all like that now. I find it unwatchable.

I noticed Jeremy's hands shaking quite a bit this series.
I chuckled at the cheeky bits, like Lisa will have lube 😆
Yes, staged, it's got to be to some extent otherwise it'd be a reasonably uneventful programme. Still really enjoy it though.

Just finished this series. I know nothing about farming but am pretty hot on economics. All that work for so little ££ reward. Clarkson acknowledges he has other income streams ( and how) but many farmers do not. It’s bloody hard, and Jeremy using his platform to highlight that is good imo.
And so glad to see Pepper. And so very happy to see Gerald doing well.

I’m still enjoying it, love the pigs and the farm shop antics. I can’t get over the amount of kit Jeremy buys.
i agree some of the more stupid ideas are staged. The blackberry machine going along the wall was bonkers. There is no way Kaleb thought that a good idea. Then never mentioned again.
the nettle gathering contraption was contrived but still v funny. And making all that soup that had to be sold in 2 days was funny.
the council are ridiculous in how much they hate him and want the farm to fail. There must be one or two individuals on the council that absolutely hate Jeremy to put so much effort into stopping him make money. His restuarant was great and actively supported other local farmers so why close it?
it stil a great watch

Kaleb trying to put the pump to clear the blockage with his bum going up and down cut to Jeremy’s fake shocked face was hilarious.

I don't think the council can win in this situation though.

Clarkson essentially is goading them for entertainment purposes. They have put restrictions on him because he keeps ignoring them then complaining when they enforce them.

Their alternative is to treat him differently to others to avoid being criticised on TV which then opens them up to complaints from everyone else.

I like the shows, am a farmer myself in an entirely different part of the country but I do feel his portrayal of the council is at times unfair.

I thought the white board financial part in the episode I've just watched was excellent, so I take back what I said about it being staged, as it is the entertainment value that will keep viewers.

Lisa is great- must have the patience of a saint!

I think its great that Lisa is getting more screen time - suspect that for the first series she was "oh no I'm not getting involved, its a stupid idea' and then as it's taken off she's become an important part of it. Loved her with the piglets.

I don't think Jeremy ever buys the equipment he uses - except for the Lambo tractor. I suspect that the owners/makers of the blackberry machine, the hovercraft, the nettle harvester etc will loan them to him for the publicity.

Re the council, I do feel the show is being more sympathetic this series as more than once either Jeremy or Charlie have explained why they need to follow the rules, however stupid they seem to be! Bureaucracy is petty and stupid and this show does highlight that - its the whole system thats screwed up, they aren't just targeting Diddly Squat.

I’ve never liked Clarkson but I bloody love him and all of them in this. I admire how they properly get stuck in with actual farming and it’s brilliant how farming issues are being highlighted.

I do have sympathy for the council. Its not just a farm shop or restaurant. Its a tourist attraction. People are going because its JC, not because their potatoes or steak are good (no idea on what their quality is like).

And tourists have to be carefully managed. Weve got a big tourist attraction in our village... they recently paid for a junction to be improved as its their additional raffic causing the problem, not the locals for example

I also have some sympathy for the council. It's not a regular farm shop.

So glad my kids were not watching the pigs episode. Those igloos seem a stupid design..

Clarkson has always staged his shows though, I think that's to be expected and why he is a good TV producer. Top gear and the grand tour both have ridiculously staged sections where James may ends up in a river or they drive through a cave with ebola bats just to end up in a minefield. Without them the shows would be 3 old men driving about which is frankly very dull and Clarkson knows it!

None of the tiny piglets would have made it despite anyone's best efforts.

Just finished and think the final four episodes were actually better than the first four, loved the ending with Gerard thanking everyone

Totally agree, I much preferred the second set of episodes. They felt more natural and there were less of the silly Top Gear style stunts, e.g the hovercraft. I understand the appeal of those segments but they don't add a lot for me. It really is a great programme overall and deserves all the plaudits. I'm finding that I'm becoming very fond of the whole team!