Jeremy Clarkson advises public to “not be fooled by Brian May” over his defence of “bastard” badgers

Jeremy Clarkson has called out Brian May for his defence of badgers, who, according to the former Top Gear presenter, cause “much heartache” to farmers.

The Queen guitarist has frequently aided in the protection of the species, and has lead multiple campaigns to ensure their survival. Most recently, May reaffirmed his stance against badger culling, a process used by farmer and Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis. When asked if his band would ever play the festival, May stated: “Would I ever do it? No. As the man who runs it advocates killing badgers for no good reason and I could never level with that.”

In opposition to May’s view, Clarkson recently explored the alleged damage that badgers cause in his new Amazon Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm. The programme captures the presenter’s attempt to run a farm in the countryside with no prior experience, while battling against animals, such as badgers, who get in the way of his efforts. Clarkson additionally highlights in the show how they spread bovine tuberculosis to cattle.

In conversation with The Daily Mail, the broadcaster explained how he was apprehensive of documenting his anti-badger experience without upsetting viewers.

“We thought, ‘What do we do?’ because if you want to make a popular show you have to say, ‘Oh, look at the little cuddly-wuddly badgers,’” he says.

“But I thought: no, it’s a farming show, and you’d lose your core audience – the farmers – if you went around saying, ‘Look at these sweet little animals.’”

He adds: “So, I actually called them bastards and showed people what they actually do. It’s truthful.”

Taking aim at the Queen guitarist’s defence of the creatures, he says: “These are not nice animals. Do not be fooled by Brian May. This is what badgers do. This is how much heartache they’re causing to people who’ve worked for generations to build up a farm that’s been wiped out by badgers.”

Clarkson previously expressed disdain for badgers in a tweet from 2013, in which he revealed that they had damaged a part of his property.

“Dear Brian May out of Queen. Look what some bastard badgers have done to my wall” he wrote at the time.

Source: loudersound.com