Clarkson's Farm has returned to Prime Video with the final two episodes of season five, shining a spotlight on one of the show's longest-serving cast members — vet Dilwyn Evans. Dilwyn, who hails from Llanddewi Brefi, Ceredigion, was introduced to Jeremy Clarkson by his neighbour and has been caring for the farm's animals ever since the show first launched.
Now retired and in his early 60s, Dilwyn dedicates much of his time to helping Clarkson navigate the challenges of managing all the animals at Diddly Squat. In the latest series, he performed a graphic post-mortem on a deceased sheep, a scene so unsettling that Clarkson was prompted to issue an apology to viewers. Dilwyn has weathered many difficult moments alongside the former Top Gear host, from uncovering a devastating TB diagnosis to assisting with numerous animal births.
Dilwyn's Insight into Jeremy Clarkson
Speaking to BBC Radio Cymru, the experienced vet lifted the lid on what Clarkson is truly like, revealing: "Sometimes you think he's joking, but his questions are completely genuine – you have to tell him what's what and that's how he learns."
Dilwyn added: "Jeremy has learned a lot during the programme. The work is on a different scale to being a vet but the phone may go off at any time asking for help. I believe I have been very lucky - I was in the right place at the right time."
Reflecting on Clarkson's progress since filming began, Dilwyn noted: "He didn't know a lot at the beginning, but now he knows how animals behave. He looks more like a farmer during the course of the programme."
A Life Rooted in Farming
Farming has always been deeply ingrained in Dilwyn's life, having grown up on a 67-acre farm alongside four siblings. "Things were tight," he admitted. "My parents never had a holiday, and we only used to go away for a day trip - to the Royal Welsh, for example. We milked the cows before and after our trip. There wasn't enough money for us all to go on a school trip - we took turns."
He went on to study veterinary medicine at Edinburgh, revealing that his ambition to become a vet was sparked by the much-loved James Herriot series All Creatures Great and Small. "Seeing All Creatures Great and Small as a child encouraged me to be a vet, and I saw myself as a James Herriot," he explained. With a natural flair for academia, his mother urged him to nurture his scholarly abilities rather than take on the family farm.
Dilwyn's Life Beyond the Farm
Dilwyn is active on Instagram, where he regularly updates his followers on his interests beyond veterinary practice, including attending football matches and enjoying days out with his wife, Helen.
Clarkson's Farm season 5 is now streaming on Prime Video.
