Clarkson’s Farm’s Kaleb Cooper risked being ‘blinded’ in terrifying encounter in his own home
CLARKSON'S Farm's Kaleb Cooper has been left scarred for life after a terrifying encounter with a tarantula as a teenager that could have left him blind.
After appearing on Jeremy Clarkson's hit Amazon Prime show, Kaleb became an overnight sensation.
And now, the TV celeb has released a new book, It's A Farming Thing, where he revealed the sheer terror he felt when his mum's poisonous arachnid pet went missing.
He was always petrified of the spider and used to have nightmares about it escaping.
Then one day he woke up and asked his mother: "I had a funny dream last night, that you told me the tarantula had escaped," to which she responded, "No, Kaleb, it has; I can't find it anywhere."
The Chilean rose tarantula can shoot fur into your eyes and blind you - which is terrifying.
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Ironically, it was eventually found under the sofa - one of the first places Kaleb tried to hide when he first heard the news.
And that wasn't the only near-deadly encounter he experienced growing up.
He also narrowly escaped being suffocated by her pet snakes.
He revealed: "I've already survived a poisonous fur-flinging tarantula and a man-eating reptile with coils or death…"
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Living with his mum and her eclectic taste for unusual and deadly pets helped prepare him for life on the farm.
He is also haunted by flashbacks from when a goose chased him and almost left him infertile.
"I've never forgiven the goose that attacked my, um, delicate parts and almost ended my family line," said father-of-two Kaleb.
Now, Kaleb is more used to sheep and cows on the Diddly Squat Farm he helps Jeremy run.
In a previous interview, he said they have a competitive relationship and that he isn't afraid to tell the opinionated presenter, and The Sun columnist what's what.
He said: "Jeremy is my boss but he is also a friend. He is difficult to work with because he doesn't listen."
Clarkson's Farm series guide
By Conor O'Brien, TV Reporter
Clarkson's Farm airs on Prime Video and follows TV personality Jeremy Clarkson as he manages his Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds.
Three series have been released to date and here is an overview of what has happened so far.
Series 1
- Jeremy takes over the day-to-day running of the newly renamed Diddly Squat Farm.
- Lisa Hogan, Kaleb Cooper, "Cheerful Charlie" Ireland and Gerald Cooper are also introduced.
- Jeremy starts to assemble what he needs for his farm - as well as laying the groundwork for things to come later.
- He buys key equipment including a tractor and cultivator, as well as taking on sheep and opening a farm shop.
- Jeremy takes over the day-to-day running of the newly renamed Diddly Squat Farm.
Series 2
- This series sees Jeremy look for ways to increase the farm's revenue.
- One such example is bringing in a herd of cows although this isn't without its issues.
- Jeremy also had the idea to convert the abandoned lambing barn into a restaurant where he could sell his meat from the farm.
- For this plan to move forward, he had to get planning permission from the local council.
- Viewers also meet Pepper, a heifer among the herd who ultimately becomes the star's favourite.
Series 3
- The third series contained some of the show's most emotional moments to date.
- In heartbreaking scenes, dozens of newborn piglets died as a result of overlaying - their mother rolling on to them.
- Jeremy said goodbye to his favourite pig - the Baroness - after she developed cancer and needed to be put down.
- Dry stonewall expert and "head of security" Gerald Cooper was diagnosed with cancer.
- Jeremy and Kaleb began a competition between themselves - with Kaleb looking after the arable side and Jeremy taking the non-arable elements.
- Fellow farmers - and famous faces - Andy Cato and George Lamb appear in this series
In the book he delves further into his firey relationship with the TV star and about life on the farm.
Clarksons Farm, filmed on Diddly Squat Farm, is currently in its fourth season and the next season is expected to drop on Amazon Prime next May.
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Season five has also been confirmed.
Kaleb Cooper: It's A Farming Thing, published by Quercus Books, is out now and costs £20.