Jeremy Clarkson pays Richard Hammond £20,000 for tractor work
- During the recent episode, Jeremy Clarkson sought assistance from Richard Hammond to modify a tractor for his pub.
- The modification cost was revealed to be £20,000, leading to shock and humor during their interaction.
- Clarkson ultimately had to agree to Hammond's terms due to the impending opening of the pub, highlighting their ongoing friendship amid business.
In the UK, Jeremy Clarkson faced a significant financial surprise when he had to pay Richard Hammond a hefty sum of £20,000 for work on a tractor. This event took place during an episode of Clarkson's lifestyle series, filmed at his 1,000-acre Diddly Squat farm. Clarkson was working on opening a new pub named The Farmers Dog, which prompted him to seek Hammond's help in modifying the tractor to hang it from the ceiling. Despite Clarkson's surprise at the cost, he had to agree to Hammond’s terms because he was only five weeks away from the pub's opening, leaving him little choice but to proceed with the investment. The encounter marked a reunion for the two former co-stars since the end of The Grand Tour series last year. Clarkson and Hammond first worked together on BBC’s Top Gear since 2002, before transitioning to Amazon’s Prime Video for The Grand Tour, which began in 2016. For Clarkson, the pub venture is an extension of his country lifestyle that began after he purchased his farm in 2009. Following the retirement of the previous villager managing the farm in 2019, Clarkson decided to explore this agrarian lifestyle himself, ultimately resulting in the production of a successful series about his experiences. The cost for the tractor's modification raised some humorous banter between the pair, with Clarkson quantifying the expense against the economy of various European nations. His insistence on knowing the cost beforehand adds an amusing element to this business arrangement between long-time friends turned rivals. In this light, the financial negotiation not only showcases the challenges Clarkson faces in his new venture but also exemplifies the camaraderie and business acumen that exists between the two friends who share a long history in entertainment.