Kaleb Cooper addresses I'm A Celeb stint after bosses 'keen' for him to join but there's 1 huge issue
Kaleb Cooper, best known as Jeremy Clarkson's right-hand man, has been inundated with global work offers but still doesn't own a passport. The 26 year old became an overnight sensation after appearing on Clarkson's Farm in June 2021, leading to book deals, a charity single, and a sold-out UK tour.
Despite his newfound fame, Kaleb remains grounded, saying: "It's pretty unreal. I pinch myself every now and then, going. ‘Christ, this is crazy! ’" But don't expect him to abandon his farming roots for the glitz and glamour of showbiz. "Hollywood to me is the farm in the middle of a field with cows or a tractor," he says. "I am happy there."
His latest achievement? A one-off special performance at the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre, filmed during the final night of his 37-date UK tour. The World According to Kaleb: On Tour will be available globally on Amazon Prime, featuring celebrity guests like Strictly Come Dancing star star JB Gill and offering Kaleb's unique take on everything from sheep to celebrities to why farming is the best job in the world.
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Kaleb, the first farmer to embark on a theatre tour, has given fans a sneak peek into what they can expect. He shared: "It's an informative chat about what I love doing and about who I am as a person. I think what makes it unique is that I’m completely honest with everything I say and everything I believe in. I give it my heart, that's for sure."
Despite being known for his reluctance to leave Chipping Norton, Kaleb was encouraged by his good friend Jeremy Clarkson to venture further afield.
"Jeremy was like, ‘When you go to Yorkshire, go to this bit here,’ and then in the back of my head, I'm getting these little thoughts going, ‘Actually, I could go a little bit further away’, And that's what inspired me to do the tour itself."
However, Kaleb admits he's not the most seasoned traveller. "I haven't got a passport. I've not ever caught a train. I've never caught a bus," he confesses.
"I've only been on a tour bus that we had on the show, but I’ve never caught a plane! " Fresh from filming season four of the hit Amazon Prime show Clarkson’s Farm, Kaleb hinted at some "extreme" trials ahead. "Well, I don't want to spoil anything in general, but the weather is a big part of season four, and, of course, a big part of the farming industry. The weather in season four is extreme," he teases.
The show has become a massive hit, with Kaleb inspiring many young adults to consider farming as a career. "A lot of the tour was actually little young kids asking: ‘How do I do this? ’ It just fills my heart with warmth. They come and thank me, and I'm like, ‘You don't need to thank me for anything,’" he shares.
As for his own children, Oscar, 4, and Willa, 2, Kaleb isn't sure if they'll follow in his footsteps. "I never want to push them into the job. I want them to choose farming because they like it," he explains.
"I'm never going to push them and say: ‘You've gotta come and help me. You've gotta come and do this.’ They've got to come to me and say: ‘Look, Dad, I really want to do this.’" However, there's one thing Kaleb won't do when it comes to his kids’ future - visit London. "I've always said this. If they ever go to London to become an accountant or anything like that, I just want them to know that I'm never going to visit them. They can come and see me," he chuckles.
One place he is willing to travel to is Australia. Kaleb reveals he’s had offers for shows including I’m A Celebrity .... Get me Out Of Here! and he’d "never say never," he just has to get his hands on a passport first!
"Yeah, the offers have been there, but I've just said ‘no’. I'm too busy at the moment on the farm. and I've always said I’d like to do I’m A Celebrity, but I’ve got to get a passport first. That's a scary thing for me. I've only just managed to go round part of the UK! ".
Kaleb Cooper, the breakout star from Clarkson's Farm, has hinted at future ambitions, saying: "One day I'll maybe get there, but I've got to get some sort of courage to do that."
'The World According To Kaleb' Theatre Show is set to premiere on Prime Video on 29 November
