Jeremy Clarkson has pulled out all the stops for his latest beer advert – but the farmer has fumed that it’s been banned by the “fun police”.
The Clarkson’s Farm star, 65, filmed his first commercial to flog the beer, hiring a 34-strong choir of British farmers to sing opera classic Flower Duet.
“It’s difficult to put into the spoken word how hard it is to make Hawkstone lager, so instead I’ve put it into a song for some farmers to sing,” Clarkson says at the beginning of the ad.
But instead of singing the original French lyrics by Léo Delibes, the farmers sing: “F*** me, it’s good.”
Posting the advert on Instagram, Clarkson wrote: “Our first ever proper Hawkstone commercial and for some extraordinary reason it’s been banned.”
Speaking to The Sun, the former Top Gear presenter criticised “the fun police in their beige offices” for the advert not being compliant with broadcasting regulations.
“It’s a cock-up, as usual. I’ve made my biggest, most heartfelt, and frankly, most expensive advert ever, and it’s been banned,” he said.
“The fun police in their beige offices have decided that the public can’t be trusted to watch it.
“It’s been kicked off the telly, silenced on the radio, and barred from the cinema.
“Apparently, it’s 'not compliant’. With what, I have no idea. Common sense?
“If the regulators won’t let the people see it, then perhaps the newspapers will. I’m asking every editor in the country: will you publish my banned ad?”
Clarkson launched his Hawkstone beer and cider brand in 2021, offering a range of premium British beers and ciders.
Alongside his beer brand, he opened The Farmer’s Dog in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, last August.
Although it hasn’t been smooth sailing, the Clarkson’s Farm star said last October that he feared he wouldn’t make his money back after spending more than £1million on the pub.
From his own experience, he offered to help other pub owners who are struggling by offering 1,000 free kegs of beer on Hawkstone’s Instagram account earlier this year.
“The only thing that is saving me from financial ruin is the fact that we serve Hawkstone lager,” he said.
“If you’ve got a pub and if you want to see if this strategy works for you as well, get in touch with us at our website, and if we like the sound of your pub, if it is the kind of place we want to be in, we’ll send you a free keg.”
