Following Amazon's decision to cut ties with Jeremy Clarkson over his controversial Meghan Markle column, the future of Clarkson's Farm and The Grand Tour was in doubt.

However, it has now been reported that Clarkson's Farm may indeed still return for a fourth season.

Production outfit Expectation is currently making Season 3 for a 2024 premiere.

A renewal would continue to see cameras rolling next year at Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds.

The reports have come from Deadline, which says Amazon Prime Video has built a relationship back up with Mr Clarkson and is preparing to renew the popular show based on his farming exploits.

Multiple sources said relations had improved and Amazon is in active talks with Mr Clarkson over Season 4 of the farming documentary series, which is easily its best-performing UK original.

In February, the second season of Clarkson's Farm broke viewing records according to data from Barb, the UK's ratings body, with the first episode of the season more highly watched in the UK than the debut of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

"Positive discussions"

RadioTimes.com reports that nothing has been greenlit yet, but Deadline claims "discussions have been positive and there is ambition on both sides to bring the show back".

Although the Clarkson’s Farm talks are progressing, two sources said there was a bump in the road last month following comments made by Amazon executives at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Dan Grabiner, Amazon’s outgoing UK originals head, and unscripted chief Fozia Khan said the show was “bigger” than Mr Clarkson, suggesting they were thinking about life beyond the former Top Gear host.

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Mr Clarkson was said to be unhappy about the remarks and indicated that he was prepared to announce Season 4, telling his Twitter followers: “Stand by for some fantastic news from Clarkson’s Farm.”

Sources said Mr Clarkson was ultimately talked down and, 24 hours after his news tease, he hailed the arrival of a “HUGE amount of piglets.”

Mr Clarkson did not respond to a request for comment.

The renewal talks follow Variety reporting in January that Amazon had decided that it “won’t be working with Clarkson” beyond Season 3 of Clarkson’s Farm and a final Grand Tour special. Amazon did not confirm or deny the story.

Clarkson apologized for remarks

Mr Clarkson’s column about the Duchess of Sussex in The Sun newspaper was cited as a reason for the breakup.

Mr Clarkson himself acknowledged that Amazon was “incandescent” after he wrote that he hated the Duchess of Sussex on a “cellular level.”

Amazon’s Khan said the streamer was “shocked and disappointed” by the column. Mr Clarkson apologised for his remarks.

A source who has no vested interest in the series being renewed said the ratings were “extraordinary.”

This person said there was nervousness at Amazon about walking away from the show, despite some misgivings about Mr Clarkson.