Jeremy Clarkson Admits He’s “Exasperated” by Kaleb Cooper’s Lack of Pop Culture Knowledge

Clarkson Opens Up About His Unlikely Farm Partner

Clarkson’s Farm star Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that working with his young co-star Kaleb Cooper can sometimes leave him completely “exasperated” — though he insists the farmer’s expertise in the field is second to none.

The 65-year-old former Top Gear presenter has worked alongside Kaleb since 2021, as cameras follow their misadventures running Diddly Squat Farm in the hit Amazon Prime series.

Despite their success — and clear affection for one another — Clarkson admits there are moments when communication between the pair can be “a challenge.”

“It’s Often Difficult to Get a Conversation Going”

Writing in his new book Diddly Squat: The Farmer’s Dog, Clarkson described the everyday struggle of chatting with his farm manager, who appears to have little interest in — or knowledge of — popular culture.

“I see Kaleb Cooper, my farm manager, most days,” Clarkson wrote, “but it’s often difficult to get a conversation going.”

He quickly added that Cooper isn’t unintelligent — in fact, he’s brilliant when it comes to farm work.

“It’s not that he’s thick. He really isn’t. You can ask him how much diesel you’ll need in a 150-horsepower tractor to clear 40 bales from a nine-acre field and he’ll know in an instant.”

Pop Culture? Not His Field

The broadcaster then revealed what truly astonished him: Kaleb’s total lack of familiarity with cultural icons.

“He’s never heard of Robert De Niro. And he’s never watched a James Bond film.”

But things reached a breaking point when the subject of music came up.

“It transpired last week that he’s never heard of Fleetwood Mac, and I found this exasperating,” Clarkson said. “He tried to argue that they were before his time. ‘Yes, but so was Mozart,’ I thundered. ‘Who’s Mozart?’ he replied.”

Kaleb: The Farm’s Secret Star

Kaleb Cooper became an unexpected fan favorite when Clarkson’s Farm premiered in 2021. Viewers loved his no-nonsense attitude and the hilarious dynamic between the confident young farmer and the famously stubborn TV host.

On the show, Kaleb is the one teaching Clarkson how to operate tractors, manage crops, and handle livestock — often with eye-rolling patience.

His popularity has since launched a new career path: Cooper has written several books and even toured the UK with his one-man stage show, The World According to Kaleb.

During Clarkson’s Farm Season 4, he temporarily stepped away from the series to focus on the tour, with Harriet Cowan filling in during his absence.

Different Worlds, Same Field

Despite their differences — Clarkson the city-born celebrity, Kaleb the down-to-earth countryman — their chemistry has helped make Clarkson’s Farm one of Amazon Prime’s biggest hits.

The generational and cultural gap between them is, ironically, part of what makes their partnership work. Clarkson may find Kaleb’s blank stares over Fleetwood Mac “exasperating,” but fans can’t get enough of the banter.

Clarkson’s Farm continues to be one of Amazon’s most popular unscripted series, with Jeremy and Kaleb’s unique friendship — and constant bickering — at its heart.