Jeremy Clarkson makes big move as 'co-star' becomes a hit with viewers

Jeremy Clarkson is reportedly banking on his cherished pig Richard Ham becoming a profitable enterprise. The swine has gained television fame after being the tiniest of the brood and then getting saved on the celebrity's programme Clarkson's Farm. The TV star has now lodged an application with the UK's Intellectual Property Office to trademark the name.

The ex-Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter is apparently looking to utilise the pig's moniker for apparel, domestic goods, horticultural tools and even cookery publications and Christmas ornaments, according to the Daily Star. The petite pig won over viewers' affections during the fourth instalment of the enormously successful show about life on Jeremy's Diddly Squat Farm.

The tiny runt moved audiences when he battled to put on weight and needed isolating from his siblings to avoid bullying. Jeremy, 65, faced a tough decision about whether to put down the small creature but opted to save him.

His girlfriend Lisa Hogan recently revealed that the pig, named after Jeremy's former Top Gear co-presenter Richard Hammond, is flourishing like never before.

She shared a video of the pig on social media to show Clarkson's Farm fans his extraordinary progress.

"Look who it is!!! It's Richard 'porker' Ham," she captioned the clip.

As the now-massive hog emerged from his enclosure, she remarked: "Who recognises this beast?

"It's Richard Ham. Yes, you're huge. Yes, it's because you've been hand fed for all these months."

Jeremy has been quick to seek trademark protection for a variety of names, product titles and catchphrases from the programme.

These include 'Snail Juice' - a skincare product range, 'Diddly Squat Drive', which is one of the fragrances available in the farm shop, and 'Grubby Farmer', Jeremy's toiletries and scent collection. He has also secured trademark rights for 'I am a f***er' - a phrase featured on t-shirts sold through his Diddly Squat Farm Shop website.

Furthermore, he has put protections in place for 'I did a thing' - his signature phrase that gained popularity during the programme.

He has also submitted applications for 'The Farmer's Dog' - the name of his establishment from the show - covering merchandise such as beer mats, glassware and beer pitchers, tea towels, clothing, beer, cider and vodka.

Clarkson's Farm is available on Amazon Prime.