Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that his views towards climate change were part of a “caricature” he portrays on screen.
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His famously grumpy character can be seen on hit motoring shows Top Gear and The Grand Tour, which propelled him to fame and helped him secure columns in various national newspapers.
Speaking to The Guardian ahead of the release of the third season of Clarkson’s Farm, coming to Amazon Prime Video on May 3, Clarkson shared how he acted as an “exaggerated” version of himself on television.
“Everyone assumes the character they see on motoring shows is me, but it’s exaggerated,” he shared. “To think that I was like I was on Top Gear is the same as thinking that Anthony Hopkins is a cannibal,” referring to the actor’s acclaimed role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence Of The Lambs.
Jeremy Clarkson on June 09, 2021 in London, England. CREDIT: Getty/Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
He also spoke about previous dismissive comments he has made about global warming, now suggesting that they weren’t necessarily serious.
“That was part of the caricature,” he shared. “It was a joke.”
He added: “Now you think, ‘Jesus Christ, my neighbours over there, they’ve had to replant everything because it’s all drowned.’ I can’t believe it’s not dominating the news agenda. Oh no, wait, it is.”
Clarkson also weighed in on the topic of electric cars in the interview, suggesting that they won’t have a significant impact on climate change. “I won’t drive a Tesla. I’ve probably got 10 cars, all with V8 engines. I don’t think electric cars solve anything.”
He added: “Science is going to be needed here, not politics. Science will solve it eventually. Always does.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Clarkson shared he no longer feels the need to uphold his trademark controversial persona. “I don’t have to think, ‘Right, I’m going to say something stupidly provocative now.’ That’s relaxing,” he said.
“Also, you don’t wake up every morning to find you’re in the middle of a tabloid maelstrom for something you’ve said or done.”
The third season of Clarkson’s Farm will arrive on Prime Video on May 3.
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