Jeremy Clarkson’s shocked ex-girlfriend Diddly Squat Farm became TV show

Jeremy Clarkson’s former girlfriend has revealed she was “shocked” to hear his dream of the Diddly Squat farm was turned into a TV show.

Phillipa Sage, 52, who dated the ex-Top Gear presenter before his now-girlfriend Lisa Hogan, recalled Clarkson’s dreams of “an empty journal and tinkering around on the farm”.

The 62-year-old launched his Amazon Prime Video programme, aptly named Clarkson’s Farm, last summer after trying to farm a piece of land in Oxfordshire with Kaleb Cooper at his side.

However, it came as a shock to Sage, who expected a more private venture for Clarkson.

“I’m shocked at what he’s done with it now because I thought he always wanted to keep his private life private. He wanted peace and quiet,” she told MailOnline.

“He talked about me running the shop – sort of a mini Daylesford – but as if it were a cute vegetable barn and not a thriving commercial enterprise. I do not get it.’

He’s since evolved further as just a “cute vegetable barn,” with the latest news from Clarkson, who has opened a restaurant on his farm in Chipping Norton.

The restaurant, which has been given the typically factual name of the Diddly Squat Restaurant, will serve food grown and raised on the farm.

The TV presenter had his planning application for the restaurant initially rejected by West Oxfordshire District Council in January and has endured quite the ordeal to open the restaurant, which was seen as “not in keeping with the surrounding area”.

But (presumably) after another bid that proved more successful, Clarkson has announced that the restaurant can finally open its doors.

In a statement posted to Twitter, he said: “I am delighted to announce that you now have the opportunity to taste the amazing food we grow and raise on my farm at the brand new (but quite rustic) Diddly Squat Restaurant .

“You can’t just show up I’m afraid but you can make a booking by following the link,” before directing his followers to the booking page.

Clarkson’s Farm is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

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