Clarkson Is Gone, Long Live Clarkson
The rumor started to spread a couple of weeks ago, was more insistent last night on the web, and became unfortunately official earlier today. The BBC recently announced that Jeremy Clarkson will no longer host Top Gear moving forward. This is a sad day for all fans of Top Gear UK, but is it really?
Skimming through our Twitter stream, the sentiment around Clarkson’s dismissal is clearly mixed. Many people are sad to see him go and believe the BBC made a mistake. Many others think Jezza got what he deserved after many controversial stories and outbursts over his Top Gear career.
As far as MotoringFile is concerned, losing Clarkson, and quite possibly the rest of the Top Gear team, is a definite blow. I came late to Top Gear fan-dom and discovered the show when it was already highly popular in 2009. Watching it for the first time, and comparing it to the car shows I grew up with in France, was like receiving a fresh glass of water in hell. However, being fans of Top Gear doesn’t mean being blindsided, and we’ve strongly condemned Clarkson’s dangerous slip-ups over the years. As Captain Slow likes to say, “Jeremy can be a real knob sometimes.”
A great era has come to a sad end but it’s probably for the best. Looking back, the show has lost some of its greatness over the past two seasons, and a number of sequences have started to become repetitive and barely funny. This is somehow expected for such a long-running show which is why this break will do the team some good. We call it a break because given the huge following Clarkson, Hammond and May have accumulated, we wouldn’t be surprised if they came back to our screens sooner rather than later.
The ball is in your camp, Netflix.
Netflix should snatch Clarkson, May, and Hammond asap. Obvious choice. #topgear #netlfix
— Alex (@AlexandreSitbon) March 24, 2015
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<p>Many others think Jezza got what he deserved after many controversial stories and outbursts over his Top Gear career.</p>
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<p>I liked the controversial stories and outbursts, I liked the irreverence Clarkson brought to the show. I’m a big Top Gear fan, and will sorely miss it.</p>
<p>But let’s not confuse all that with physically and verbally assaulting a coworker. No one should be subject to being punched in the face at work, and no one should be above the blindingly obvious repercussions of instigating workplace violence and threatening someone with their job. That sort of behavior goes far beyond being “a real knob sometimes”.</p>
<p>A lot of Top Gear fans are pointing fingers at the BBC and even at the producer who was assaulted, blaming them for killing such a great show. Well, this Top Gear fan is pointing his finger where blame really belongs, squarely at Clarkson himself. Great job, Jezza… way to ruin everything… way to send a truly great show out on such a terrible, terrible note. Top Gear didn’t deserve this sort of ending, and it’s entirely his fault. Clarkson owes fans, the BBC, and not least of all his coworkers a massive apology.</p>
<p>I completely agree. I wouldn’t hold my breath for an apology–but that would be the classy thing to do.</p>
<p>Apparently, he’s apologized repeatedly to the person he assaulted. That’s definitely a good place to start, but obviously the effect of his actions spreads much wider than that.</p>
<p>The findings state that Clarkson was actually the one who reported the incident and not the victim.</p>
<p>Following an enquiry by South Yorkshire Police, it has been reported that Oisin Tymon, JC’s producer, has no wish to press charges.</p>
<p>I’m also in this camp. One contributing factor that seems to be grossly under-reported is the fact that he returned “…after a late night drinking session…” prior to the incident. Would you care to guess how many times per day in the U.K. or U.S. some drunk punches his/her spouse/kid/friend and in that momentary, alcohol-induced lack of judgement flushes the life they enjoy and the people they love down the toilet? The regrets upon sobering up tend to ring hollow.</p>
<p>The press are reporting that in the final episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson, described as “The Unreasonably Priced Star”, has been in a Mini Fracas. Mr Clarkson reportedly said that, “The Mini Fracas might sound small, but it packs one hell of a punch.</p>
<p>He reportedly went on to say, “I’m not happy with the handling of the Mini Fracas, and the suspension leaves a lot to be desired. Still, with its state-of-the-art BBC retraction control system, a U-turn’s not out of the question, especially since a Mini Fracas can get you from zero to 1,000,000 signatures in six seconds.</p>
<p>Mr Clarkson concluded that, “With the Mini Fracas, the sky’s the limit – and Sky is exactly where I’ll be going. And on that bombshell, it’s goodbye to the Beeb!”</p>
<p>Note to self: Never punch a coworker or boss in the mouth and call him a “lazy Irish c***” because there’s no food to eat.</p>
<p>Seriously, that’s indefensible and worse than Conrad Hilton calling airline passengers “peasants.”</p>
<p>I suspect that this whole story is about salary and dollars( pounds ).</p>
<p>never liked him, seems like an asshole</p>
<p>I don’t believe Jeremy Clarkson’s public persona is a real reflection of who he really is – it’s exaggerated to appear controversial. That will automatically make some people think worse of him. Just watch the BBC episode of “Who do you think you are” where they trace his family tree.</p>
<p>Having said that, he obviously can be a bit of a knob, but certainly no worse than the occasional trolls that seem to frequent this site.</p>
<p>Anyway, anyone who punches Piers Morgan can’t be all bad, in my book.</p>
<p>No worse than the trolls on this site? He physically assaulted someone, splitting open their lip because he didn’t like the catering. He could have knocked out a tooth or given the man a concussion if he misjudged his amount of force. Sorry, that’s never okay, and far different than people being stupid behind a keyboard. I don’t think that kind of behavior should be rewarded, it should be punishable and they took the appropriate action.</p>
<p>What does the producer say to his children when he goes home with a distorted face? “Oh, yeah that guy on TV is the one who did this to me, but it’s okay. He’s filming the next season now. He’s a swell guy.”</p>
<p>If you think that highly of him even after doing this, fear not as he will turn up on another network before long.</p>
<p>If you re-read what I wrote, I was comparing his personality to the trolls, not defending his action of actually hitting someone. And as we know, the potential for trolls to have a more serious impact on someone’s life is very real. Just look at the cases regarding social media recently.</p>
<p>However, my point was that I believe he’s being persecuted far more than anyone else not in the public eye, and that it’s based on their perception of him. If a man in the street makes a lewd suggestion to a woman and she slaps him, that can be just as much an assault (albeit provoked) but is looked upon quite differently. ‘Raking’ in rugby games is quite common, with resulting in far worse injuries than a split lip, but are these players hounded out of their teams? Does the context really justify the actions?</p>
<p>There’s far too much public denunciation of people’s actions in this ‘trial by internet’ age. Far worse things happen every minute, and yet strangely enough they provoke less media interest.</p>
<p>Even the victim didn’t report the incident to the police or his superiors. I sounds like he was less offended than many others…</p>
<p>As always, interesting take of Chris Harris on the matter: <a href="http://jalopnik.com/how-top-gear-made-us-all-care-about-cars-1688464737" rel="nofollow ugc">http://jalopnik.com/how-top-gear-made-us-all-care-about-cars-1688464737</a>. Which makes me double down on my earlier comment; Netflix is really the best, and perhaps only, option for Clarkson and team.</p>
<p>Jeremy Clarkson was the perfect antidote to the excesses of political correctness.</p>
<p>I think Top Gear was past it’s prime. Really, I’ve been finding Fifth Gear to be better for things automotive for a long time. Top Gear really was more of trips to the absurd more than just car stuff..</p>
<p>But if Clarkson wants to do something else, I’m sure there will be money from somewhere willing to take the bet that the fans will follow the man, no matter how many co-workers he hits, or what he says, on or off the air. I’m not hoping for it, but I kind of expect it.</p>
<p>In spite of things he has said and even his supposed racially motivated rants I have no issue with Jeremy Clarkson. I have thought hard about it over the last few days while catching up with this season’s Top Gear episodes and honestly I really enjoy the trio together. Their chemistry is so spot on. They’re like three brothers from different mothers who happen to live in the same household much like Will Ferrell and John C. Riley in Step Brothers. When they’re together craziness is guaranteed to ensue and you never completely know what will happen next. A joy to watch every time.</p>
<p>I should like to set the record straight on Jeremy Clarkson.</p>
<p>First and foremost, Top Gear is pure show business, and Jeremy Clarkson is a highly talented showman. He turned Top Gear from a very dull and boring UK regional TV show, into a global phenomenon. He is no fool, although he often acts like one, and due to him Top Gear became the BBC’s most watched programme, and was exported to some 240 countries around the world.</p>
<p>Jeremy Clarkson never made ‘gaffs’. Everything he said and did was rehearsed and DELIBERATE. Jeremy was not employed by the BBC, and so could not be sacked. He was under contract and his current three year contract expires at the end of this month. When he renewed his contract in 2012, he very shrewdly sold his share in the Top Gear Franchise to the BBC for £8.4 million (US$13 million).</p>
<p>Unfortunately, internal politics have increasingly played a major part in Top Gear. The ‘PC Lefties’ in the BBC, loathed and despised Jeremy, and he in return loathed and despised them. Some commentators who are close to Jeremy, suspect that he was, after 27 years on Top Gear, becoming tired of his long war of attrition, and felt that it was time to go. He is wealthy – he was paid £4million a year by the BBC – and he never needs to work again should he choose not to.</p>
<p>With regard to hitting a co-worker, well that was show business at it’s best. Jeremy and his highly experienced (and highly paid) producer Oisin Tymon, have worked together for almost a decade and get on extremely well, and together have achieved much success. Jeremy, was never going to leave Top Gear with his tail between his legs and, in typical JC style, contrived to go out with a bang. The ‘PC Lefties’ may have got their way, but Jeremy Clarkson is laughing all the way to the Bank!</p>
<p>Well said!
It’s becoming quite sad to see so many people believing TV or show-business in general is real, and basing quite strong opinions on what they see.</p>
<p>Do you work for the show?</p>
<p>BBC Worldwide, in charge of the BBC’s commercial business around the world, announced yesterday evening that Jeremy Clarkson will join his former Top Gear co-stars on tour, and fans are said to be “over the moon” at the reunion. Instead of being called ‘Top Gear Live’, the show will now be known as ‘Clarkson, Hammond and May Live’.</p>
<p>A spokesman from BBC Worldwide said: “So as not to disappoint the thousands of people around the world who have already purchased tickets, BBC Worldwide has agreed with our joint venture partner Brand Events that the remainder of the tour can continue. These events will not however feature any BBC Top Gear branding or content. We believe this is a sensible approach in the circumstances.”</p>
<p>Poor Jeremy, he only punched someone in the mouth and got fired for it, they should have overlooked it and let the tired old show carry on for the sake of the folks who have nothing better to do then park their brain at the door and watch the rubbish that was on it for the last two or three years, not sorry to see it go, its had its day, when shows run that long, they tend to go downhill fast, I think Hammond seen it coming he has a couple of shows of his own going, and as for May I don`t think he has to worry, contrary to Clarkson, those two are quite intelligent.</p>