Vinnie Jones: comparisons to Clarkson’s Farm ‘upsetting’

Actor Vinnie Jones has said he finds comparisons between his TV show and Clarkson’s Farm “upsetting”.

The former footballer described naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough as one of his “heroes” and said he wants the public to see the real him on Vinnie Jones In The Country, which is now in its third series.

Jones told the Radio Times that he finds it “upsetting” that the programme, which airs on Discovery+, is often compared with Clarkson’s Farm.

He said of presenter Jeremy Clarkson: “Jeremy’s done a fantastic job raising awareness for farmers, but ours is a different little show.

“It’s a show without an agenda, and it’s not a farm show – it’s an in-the-country show.”

Jones told the magazine that he had been made out to be a “lunatic” in the past.

“A lot of that I brought on myself with the drinking,” he told the magazine.

“But I’m 12 years sober this April, and I wanted to show people what I actually do in my spare time.

“Yesterday, I sat for six hours just to see a kingfisher. I’m not a south London gangster, never have been.”

Jones said his love of the outdoors came from his father, adding: “He was always a passionate country man.

“I still remember finding my first lapwing nest in a field.

“If I were on Mastermind, my specialist subject would be British nature – not many people would beat me.”

Jones, whose first film role was in Guy Ritchie’s 1998 debut Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, stars in the director’s new action thriller, Viva la Madness, later this year.