May 2nd 2024.
Gerald Cooper, one of the key members of the hit show Clarkson's Farm, was noticeably absent from the beginning of its third season. It was later revealed that Gerald had undergone an operation after being diagnosed with cancer. This came as a shock to both the cast and fans of the show, as the 74-year-old farmer had become an integral part of the series since its debut. His presence on the farm as a farmer, dry stone waller, and "head of security" at Diddly Squat farm had won the hearts of many, especially his close bond with show host Jeremy Clarkson, despite occasional difficulties in understanding Gerald's strong West Country accent.
In the first episode of season three, which was filmed last year, Jeremy received a phone call informing him of Gerald's illness. "Gerald's got cancer. Oh, s**t," Jeremy was heard saying to the camera crew. The following episode confirmed that Gerald had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Jeremy and Gerald's sweet bond was evident as they discussed ways to help their friend while working on rebuilding a wall, a task usually done by Gerald.
Jeremy, 64, and fellow farmer Kaleb Cooper, 25, were seen talking about Gerald's situation at the farm. "I've been phoning around, doctors and things I know, and his odds are really good but it's scaring him to death," Jeremy shared. "He doesn't understand, you know that," Kaleb responded. Jeremy sympathized with Gerald's confusion and fear, stating that he was upset and terrified. They both praised their friend's strength and resilience in the face of this challenge.
As the season progressed, there were positive updates on Gerald's health. "He had his op three days ago. Have you talked to him?" Jeremy asked Kaleb, who replied, "Yeah, I spoke to him two days ago. I'm going to take him some pork. He wants some belly pork, so he must be feeling a little bit better. He seems happier now as well." Jeremy also shared that Gerald was on the mend, to which Kaleb joked, "That's what we like to hear. There are a few walls that fell down, so we need him to be back at it." Jeremy agreed, saying, "I know we do want him back."
Gerald's absence was deeply felt by everyone on the farm. He had been working on the land for over five decades, and Jeremy had spoken fondly of the time they spent together on the Chipping Norton land. "It doesn't matter if you can't understand what he's talking about, because he's usually talking about Manchester United," Jeremy had previously told Oxford Mail. "He's fantastic. We've known each other for a very long time. He's 72, and has also never been outside the village, but has worked on this farm for 50 years."
Interestingly, Gerald was the inspiration behind the show, according to Jeremy. He thought Gerald was such a character and would be great on TV. As Jeremy met more people in the farming industry, he realized there were many local people with potential for the small screen, and he didn't feel like other shows accurately depicted the reality of rural jobs. "I realized nobody had a clue what farming was really about. And I thought we could do wheat, barley, [oilseed] rape on a perfectly straightforward, ordinary 1,000-acre farm. And that's where the idea came from," he explained.
The third season of Clarkson's Farm, which also features Jeremy's partner Lisa Hogan and land advisor Charlie Ireland, sees the farm welcoming pigs. However, tragedy strikes as a number of them die, devastating both Jeremy and Lisa. Speaking to The Agency and other press, Jeremy shared, "You don't say, 'Let's buy some pigs and hope they die.' I've always liked pigs. My mother used to buy me toy pigs every Christmas and birthdays." He fondly recalled his childhood love for pigs and thought it would be fun to have them on the farm. However, things didn't go as planned, and the pigs died in alarming numbers.
Clarkson's Farm season three is now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, get in touch with The Agency entertainment team. You can email us, call 020 3615 2145, or visit our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you.
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