Entrepreneur Rachel Hawkins has finally broken her silence after her controversial appearance in Clarkson’s Farm, expressing disappointment over how she and her business partner and aunt, Sue, were portrayed in the hit Amazon Prime series.
Speaking out for the first time, Hawkins, 40, claims the show’s editing cast the pair in an unfair light, making them appear as “villains” to create drama.
“It seems to be the way doesn’t it?” she said when asked if she thought the show was edited to make better television.
“It’s a shame it was us, but it is what it is – we will keep a smile on our face, and keep our chin up.”
Hawkins and Sue had been brought in to help Jeremy Clarkson transform a local pub into The Farmer’s Dog, but their brief appearance in the final episodes of the latest series drew backlash.
Viewers slammed the duo as “snobby” and “unprofessional,” especially after they exited the project just 48 hours after its grand opening.
Critics accused the pair of “jumping ship” when “the going got tough,” while others took to social media to call them an “awful pair of individuals.”
Despite the intense online criticism, Hawkins revealed her hands are tied due to a non-disclosure agreement with the show’s production company.
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“I cannot really say anything else because of the show. There is indeed an NDA in place,” she explained.
“I think it is best to not say anything further. I don’t want to get myself into trouble. I don’t want to inflame anything.”
A friend speaking on her behalf said: “She feels that she’s been stitched up a bit. The filming and editing of the show has put Rachel and Sue in a bad light when they were giving Jeremy sensible advice based on their vast experience in the hospitality industry.”
One such suggestion included installing £40,000 worth of umbrellas, lighting and heating for the pub’s outdoor space – an idea that was initially ridiculed but later accepted by Clarkson himself.
“Turns out Sue and Rachel had a point,” Clarkson admitted on Instagram, alongside a photo of the installed umbrellas. “The Farmer’s Dog did need big umbrellas after all!!”
Rachel reposted the image, adding: “And behold… the exact 40k umbrellas that have been the topic of so much discussion.
“Not blocking the view and providing a year-round weather solution with heating and lighting in order that 75 guests can dine comfortably on the terrace all year round… seems like 40k well spent?”
Despite this apparent vindication, Hawkins does not anticipate returning for another season. “Err, I don’t think so,” she said when asked if she’d appear in future episodes. “I think it’s kind of best if I don’t say anything at all, just in case.”
Well-acquainted with the charm of the Cotswolds pub scene, Rachel and Sue have built a strong reputation in the region for breathing new life into struggling establishments and transforming them into thriving destinations.
