Channel 4 to launch Clarkson-style pub revival series with Jon Richardson
Channel 4 is taking inspiration from the success of Clarkson’s Farm with a new More4 series that follows comedian Jon Richardson as he tries his hand at rescuing a rural Yorkshire pub.
Richardson, who has long joked about his obsession with pubs, will swap comedy clubs for beer pumps in A Yorkshire Pub with Jon Richardson (w/t). The observational series, produced by Full Fat TV, will document his attempts to help the village of Fadmoor restore The Plough, a local inn that has stood since 1782 but has been closed for 14 years.
The project sees Richardson become a shareholder in Fadmoor Community Pub Limited, the group leading the effort to revive the historic venue. Cameras will follow him as he gets to know villagers, pitches in with renovations, and faces the practical hurdles of turning a derelict building into a functioning community hub.
“I love pubs so much that I turned my garage into one, but it didn’t scratch the itch so now I’ve ended up owning one. Or a share of a crumbling one, anyway,” Richardson said. “When I first heard about The Plough, I had to go and see it and then when I met the amazing people working to rescue it, I couldn’t resist getting involved. Like a good pint, they are lively and cool with good heads on them, and they make you feel better about the world. Pubs are the beating heart of their communities and we’re, hopefully, going to have a great time bringing The Plough back to its former glory. I know it’s going to be hard work, but I’m ready to roll my sleeves up and watch other people getting their hands dirty.”
Channel 4’s Senior Commissioning Editor Jayne Stanger called the programme “a dream commission,” noting that it combines “a much-loved comedian with a passion, a fantastic community brimming with brilliant characters, plus a mission to save one of the most-cherished British traditions – the humble local pub.”
Full Fat TV boss Colette Foster said the idea grew from noticing the rise of community-owned pubs: “At Full Fat TV we'd been reading about the decline of pubs, however it was the rise of community pubs halting that decline that really inspired us - locals buying pubs at risk of closure and repurposing them to offer services for the entire community as well as a pint. We were delighted when Jon said he wanted to invest in The Plough, allowing us to follow him and the Fadmoor community as they bring this special local in a spectacular part of Yorkshire back to life.”
Fadmoor Community Pub Limited’s chairman Peter Jones added: “We have a lot of work to do to renovate this derelict pub, which has been closed for 14 years, and bring it back to life as a thriving community pub at the heart of this village. We look forward to sharing this journey with Jon and More4 viewers, especially as Jon has offered to buy the first round when we open!”
The eight-part series will air on More4, blending humour, local grit and community spirit in a format expected to echo Jeremy Clarkson’s hit farming show.