Clarkson’s Farm presenterJeremy Clarkson has said that 11 sheep have been stolen from his Diddly Squat farm.
The 66-year-old said he noticed the livestock were missing while counting his flock in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, alongside co-star Kaleb Cooper.
In an interview with The Sun, he told those responsible to “put them back”.
The former Top Gear and The Grand Tour host stated that the stolen sheep were worth in excess of £2,000 at market, expressing concern that animals kept in other fields on the property might also have been taken.
He suggested the theft took place at night or on a day when filming for Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm was paused, explaining that otherwise there is “a film crew here all the time” and “a drone in the air”.
Asked whether he believed the show had made his farm a target, Clarkson said: “It’s more likely to make you a target than less, but I still don’t think they’ve been stolen because they’re on Diddly Squat.
“How can you (stop it) if someone’s determined to steal your livestock?
“This is 1,000 acres, it’s a big farm. Anyone could be anywhere and you wouldn’t know.”
The theft was reportedly raised with Thames Valley Police by Cooper and land manager Charlie Ireland.
Clarkson said: “The police have been very good, actually.
“Once you go through 700 hours of recorded messages, I got through to a girl.
“I said, ‘I know it’s going to sound like I’m from 1856, but I’ve had some sheep stolen’.
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“She went through the name and address and then she said, ‘oh, not your Easycares’ (a British breed of sheep). She’s obviously been watching the show, but it is the Easycares.”
He added: “It’s a farm. We’re armed. Just so they know.
“It p***** me off. Honestly, it just p***** me off.”
Earlier this year, Clarkson revealed he had been diagnosed with “aggressive” prostate cancer, which had been discovered early, during an episode of Clarkson’s Farm.
In a subsequent interview with The Sunday Times, Clarkson said that a PSA test in April showed no indication of cancer and he is in remission.
On Wednesday, Clarkson appeared at the premiere of the latest series of Prime Video motoring show The Grand Tour, which will see three new presenters, Francis Bourgeois, Thomas Holland and James Englesman, take over from him, James May and Richard Hammond.
Clarkson and Thames Valley Police have been contacted for comment.