Vinnie Jones Denies Copying Clarkson’s Farm on Discovery+ 2026

Key Points

• Vinnie Jones, the actor and former footballer, is upset by frequent accusations that his Discovery+ series Vinnie Jones In The Country copies Jeremy Clarkson’s Amazon Prime hit Clarkson’s Farm.
• Jones insists his show predates Clarkson’s Farm, claiming he pitched the idea six years ago via a three-minute video to broadcasters.​
• He describes his programme as “a show without an agenda” focused on country life, not farming, distinguishing it from Clarkson’s farmer challenges.
• Jones praises Clarkson for raising farmer awareness but finds comparisons “upsetting” and “disappointing”.
• The former Wimbledon hard man denies being a “south London gangster,” emphasising his lifelong passion for British wildlife inherited from his father.​
• Vinnie Jones In The Country is now in its third series, set on his 2,000-acre West Sussex estate, exploring rural pursuits, grief, and mental health.
• Jones reveals he was “fing ped off” when Clarkson’s show launched, feeling overshadowed despite being a fan.
• He names Sir David Attenborough as one of his “heroes” and idols.
• The show evolved organically to cover personal loss after his wife Tanya’s death in 2019 and lockdown isolation.​
• Jones clarifies: “It’s very, very different from Clarkson’s Farm…we don’t grow anything. We don’t have any animals”.​

West Sussex (South London News) February 10, 2026 – Vinnie Jones, the actor known for tough-guy roles, has spoken out against claims that his rural series Vinnie Jones In The Country rips off Jeremy Clarkson’s Clarkson’s Farm. He finds the comparisons upsetting and insists his programme offers a distinct take on countryside living. The third series airs on Discovery+ amid ongoing public perceptions likening the two shows.

Why Is Vinnie Jones Upset About Clarkson’s Farm Comparisons?

Vinnie Jones revealed his frustration in an interview with Radio Times, stating that people frequently accuse him of copying Jeremy Clarkson.

“Many have attempted to associate it with Clarkson’s Farm, which I find somewhat disappointing,”

as reported by Radio Times journalists. He praised Clarkson, saying,

“Jeremy has done an excellent job of highlighting the challenges faced by farmers,”

but stressed,

“Ours is a distinct little program. It’s a show without any agenda, and it’s not focused on farming – it’s more of an in-the-country experience”.

The Independent echoed this, noting Jones described the situation as “upsetting” while acknowledging Clarkson’s role in promoting farmer awareness. Telegraph Reporters quoted Jones directly:

“Jeremy’s done a fantastic job raising awareness for farmers, but ours is a different little show”.

This sentiment aligns with his earlier comments where he called Clarkson’s Farm “the biggest thing to happen for the country in thirty years” in a July 2024 Telegraph piece.

Jones has repeatedly denied any imitation. In The Sun, he declared,

“Another Clarkson? No, it ain’t. My show’s about the countryside, it’s not about some novice who’s bought a farm”.

He emphasised the differences: “It’s very, very different from Clarkson’s Farm…we don’t grow anything. We don’t have any animals or anything like that. It’s all part-timers and misfits…We are definitely not Clarkson’s Farm!!!”.​

When Did Vinnie Jones First Pitch His Countryside Show Idea?

Jones claims originality, telling The Mirror that he conceived the concept six years ago, predating Clarkson’s Farm.

“Six years ago, I submitted a three-minute video pitch to various broadcasters, showcasing myself on a quad bike while discussing nature,”

as recounted by Mirror reporters. He recalled rejections:

“They were, ‘, we it, we’d prefer to you with Walsh or a bear I was like, ‘That’s not the direction I’m aiming for. I want to demonstrate that I can surpass most people’s knowledge when it comes to the countryside’”.​

Undeterred, he launched a YouTube series The Crafty Countryman, which gained popularity. However, when Clarkson’s Farm debuted, Jones admitted frustration: “Sure sure. But was f p*** off, I’d had the idea”. The Mirror noted he clarified no negativity towards Clarkson’s success, as he remains a fan. This timeline underscores his upset, especially as his Discovery+ show, now in series three on his 2,000-acre West Sussex farm, faces scrutiny.​

Radio Times detailed how the idea formed pre-pandemic, post his wife Tanya’s 2019 death:

“Once we emerged from that period, my immediate desire was to immerse myself in the countryside. It felt like standing on a diving board with the ladder removed – I had to jump in”.​

What Makes Vinnie Jones In The Country Different from Clarkson’s Farm?

Jones positions his series as broader rural exploration.

“It’s a program without a specific agenda, and it’s not merely about farming – it’s an exploration of life in the countryside,”

he told Radio Times. Unlike Clarkson’s tractor-heavy, profit-struggling Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire, Jones’s show avoids agriculture:

“Look at Clarkson’s Farm: it features tractors and combines – everything you would expect! After our second season, we even received a sponsored rake!”.​

The Sun quoted him reinforcing:

“My show’s about the countryside, it’s not about some novice who’s bought a farm”.

Telegraph reviews described it as “like Clarkson’s Farm, but much swearier and far more poignant,” following Jones coping with loss via country immersion, with sidekick Paul Worby (Wobbly) and Cockney builders.

Farmers Guardian highlighted series three showing Sussex farmers’ irritation with encroaching walkers, not crop yields. Jones told Radio Times it evolved to cover grief and male friendship organically:

“It was never part of the plan, but we allowed the show to evolve naturally, much like a river”.

Mental health in rural isolation features prominently.

Has Vinnie Jones Always Been Passionate About the Countryside?

Jones traces his love to childhood.

“I caught my first trout alongside my father when I was just seven years old. He was always an enthusiastic outdoorsman – we had fishing rods, firearms, and bred working dogs,”

he shared with Radio Times. Growing up in Watford,

“I vividly recall discovering first lap nest in field. If I were on Mastermind, my specialized topic would undoubtedly be British wildlife – not many could surpass my knowledge”.​

He rejects gangster stereotypes:

“I am not a south-London gangster, and I never have been,”

insisting past tabloid images stemmed from drinking, now 12 years sober. The Independent noted his passion inherited from his father. After 15 US years in Burbank, he missed British nature, favouring spots north of Vancouver for eagles.

Sir David Attenborough is a hero: “I will always tune in to David Attenborough; he’s one of my idols”. He critiques Springwatch and Countryfile for weak narratives, praising Clarkson over Chris Packham.

How Has Personal Life Shaped Vinnie Jones’s Show?

Grief drives the narrative. Post-Tanya’s death and lockdown,

“I found myself feeling incredibly isolated… my immediate desire was to immerse myself in the countryside”.

Just yesterday,

“I spent six hours waiting to catch a glimpse of a kingfisher”. Reinvention suits him: “Each day feels like 1988: playing against Liverpool in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley”.​

Future plans include Guy Ritchie projects like The Gentlemen spin-off and Viva Madness. No fourth series yet: “I don’t want the show to overstay its welcome – three seasons felt like the sweet spot”. Countryside life exhausts: bed before 9pm with new puppy.​

What Is the Public and Media Reaction?

Media mixes praise and comparison. Telegraph called Clarkson’s Farm transformative, Jones echoing in 2024. Mirror and Sun captured his candid anger: “fing ped off”. Reddit threads discussed his praise-turned-frustration. Yahoo NZ stressed distinctions.

Jones thrives on activity: “I experience anxiety if I lack plans for each day of the week”. His journey from Chelsea/Wimbledon footballer to actor (Lock, Stock) to countryman captivates, proving reinvention.