Alan Townsend provides health update as Clarkson's Farm fans left concerned by 'heart operation' bombshell

Townsend and his team of labourers had been working at breakneck speed to get the doors of Clarkson's pub, The Farmer's Dog, open, pulling off the feat despite the former Top Gear star's tight deadline.

And Townsend did it all with the daunting prospect of a "quadruple bypass" ahead of him, something he opened up about when he, Clarkson, Charlie Ireland, Lisa Hogan, Gerald Cooper, Kaleb Cooper, and Annie Gray gathered at the end of episode eight.

Following the opening of The Farmer's Dog, the team gathered at a neighbouring pub to discuss the rather chaotic day, which was plagued by mishaps and malfunctions.

Moving on to "a more sobering topic", Clarkson and Hogan asked Townsend about his upcoming surgery, to which the builder replied: "Yeah, we're in next Tuesday at the hospital. Quadruple bypass coming."

"And they've got to test for stroke likelihood as well," Clarkson added, to which Townsend confirmed: "Yeah, because I had that stroke."

Gesturing towards his "head of security", Gerald Cooper, Clarkson referenced how the "G-Dog" overcame prostate cancer at the end of season three.

"You know, last year. It was him [Gerald], wasn't it? You'd gotten yourself better. So we're ending this year, with our fingers crossed," he said to Townsend.

"Yeah, well, it should... It's pretty routine these days, isn't it?" Townsend said as he tried to remain positive.

When Clarkson replied that he "must be scared to death", Townsend conceded: "Oh, frightened to death. I don't even like thinking about it.

"That's why I keep going to work, keep out of the way. They told me to really just take it easy and stay at home. But if you stay, you'll be worrying to death about it."

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Clarkson and Hogan both raised a glass as the crew wished him luck, with the latter quipping: "I'll kill you if you don't get better."

"We'll come through. They do it every day," Townsend defiantly said, before Clarkson lightened the mood: "We couldn't have gotten the pub open without you. We'll name a wing after you.

"I'm not saying if it goes wrong we'll name a wing after you, we'll name a wing after you anyway. The Alan Townsend Wing," he added as everyone chuckled.

Townsend's pal, the "G-Dog", then had everyone in hysterics when he chimed in: "I've got a foot pump, I'll bring him around, don't you worry... If he starts deflating, I'll pump him back up."

Following the finale's release, Townsend has returned to social media alongside his pal and Clarkson's Farm co-star Cooper to assure fans the surgery went well.

Sharing a snap alongside Cooper digging a hole at the pub, Townsend captioned the social media update: "Gerald and Alan digging post holes at their age??"

Inevitably, the comments section of the post was soon flooded with fans keen to hear how he was doing, including from one fan who asked: "Alan how did the heart surgery go? It looks like it went well!"

Assuring everyone the operation was a success, Townsend replied to the concerned Instagram user: "Brilliant thank you x."

And before long, fellow fans rushed to heap praise on the builder and his pal for his upbeat attitude and determined work ethic on the show.

One fan commented: "Lovely to meet you both at the Farmers dog today. Thank you for letting us take a photo and for being such lovely gentlemen. You are both legends."

"Lovely to meet you both today at the Farmer’s Dog!" a second said. "Thank you for being stand up gents!"

And a third echoed: "Great work you two. Looks like you need a Hawksone after that." (sic)