Harriet Cowan became a hit with Clarkson’s Farm viewers when she stepped in to help Jeremy Clarkson while Kaleb Cooper went away as she revealed the harsh realities of the industry

Harriet Cowan has laid down the harsh realities of farming(Image: Prime Video)

Clarkson’s Farm star Harriet Cowan has revealed the harsh realities of farming as she admitted to not making any money from it. The 24-year-old won over fans when she stepped in for Kaleb Cooper on the latest series of Jeremy Clarkson’s show.

His hit Amazon Prime Video documentary series sees the former Top Gear host try make a living on his Diddly Squat farm. Due to Jeremy’s lack of expertise in farming, he relies on Kaleb for all the tips and tricks of the trade.

However, as Kaleb’s own career has picked up since appearing on the show, Jeremy was left without a hand when he headed on his UK tour.

Harriet has worked on the farm all her life(Image: harrietcowan_x/Instagram)

Harriet stepped up to the job, with many wishing for her return to screens. She has become her own star on social media thanks to her TikToks dancing in her tractor.

Her main source of income comes from farming, having grown up on her grandad’s livestock farm. Yet, Harriet revealed the industry has little financial gain for her family as it has become a lifestyle over a business.

“We cannot reiterate how important this is for us, that we don’t do this because it’s going to make us money,” she said on BBC’s Farmwatch. “Because probably 90% of farms do not make money from the farm, I know I don’t.”

The Great British Bake Off’s Mike Wilkins, who appeared on the show with Harriet, added it was because farmers don’t pay themselves, as money gets put back into the farm.

“We just work for free seven days a week, and it becomes such a lonely, lonely place,” Harriet shared. Mike added: “Profitability is so under pressure. Most farms aren’t making any money, and people really are doing it because it’s their lifestyle.”

Harriet’s journey onto Clarkson’s Farm kicked off thanks to social media when she was contacted by the production team. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Harriet explained: “Charlie (Ireland, Clarkson’s land agent) let me know they were looking for someone to come and help.

“I think they were keen for it to be a woman who could do that role and show they could do it well.” She also shared her first impressions of Jeremy, confessing she wasn’t particularly acquainted with his previous work, though she’d certainly heard his name.

Harriet confessed she wasn’t “really into the cars” and described Jeremy as being “very much like every other farmer I’ve ever met”. In a particularly cheeky observation, she quipped: “He’s got the physique of a farmer.”

The young farmer also has another very impressive career as she works as a nurse. Harriet chose dual career paths after becoming inspired by her parents. Her mother, a nurse, hoped she would follow in her footsteps, whereas her father manages the family farm.

After graduating from the University of Derby in 2023, Harriet now juggles full-time nursing with helping out on the farm, using social media to shed light on the realities of farm life.