Martin Clunes stars in Heavy Horsepower on ITV
Actor and horse lover Martin Clunes is to star in a new programme, Heavy Horsepower tonight (Thursday 7 February).
The one-off show is on ITV at 9pm and features Martin learning about working horses.
Martin will be focusing on the important role of heavy horses in Britain, as well as travelling to Europe and America. He travels to a working vineyard in Italy, “horse fisherman” shrimping in Belgium and meets the famous Budweiser Clydesdales in New Orleans.
He also starts training his own Clydesdales — Ronnie and Bruce — to work on his Dorset farm. He’s had the pair for two years and describes them as “lovable but uncontrollable teenagers”.
“If you’d said ten years ago that I would be driving a seven and a half ton truck with my own two young Clydesdales taking them to hoof camp I’d have laughed in your face. But it is a reality and it’s very exciting,” said Martin.
“People say I must get my horses working. Now they are at an age where they need development. They are getting a bit bored.”
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.