Clarkson in the dog house again.

[Stephen]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31828184

It's all 'allegedly' at the moment.

I think what happened was, it was the end of the days filming, everyone was tired and hungry. The producer tripped on a cable just as Jeremy was punching in the air at having had such a good day on the track and the producer just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as he fell forward.

It could happen to anyone


I'm not condoning for one minute what he is alleged to have done, but. I think the BBC need Clarkson more than he needs them. We shall see.

[colwill]

They would seem to have little option, now that he's (allegedly) hit/tried to hit a BBC employee. Amusingly, no one seemed to care when he (allegedly) walloped Piers Morgan.

The Beeb does indeed need Clarkson more than Clarkson needs them, and Top Gear needs Clarkson 'cos he writes (very well IMHO) much of the content. Sky must be delighted.

[Manoverboard]

Perhaps they will see sense and sack him on a permanent basis so that we can revert to having a programme about cars rather than the ego of one self opinionated idiot.

[Stephen]

Perhaps they will see sense and sack him on a permanent basis so that we can revert to having a programme about cars rather than the ego of one self opinionated idiot.

I think there is more chance of the pope being sacked. But I'm not taking bets.

[oldbluefox]

If he did thump the producer then I think he has to go otherwise a precedence has been set. However, from past experience the BBC has a habit of giving a mild slap on the wrist and before long they are back again viz. Brand and Ross.
Personally I wish the programme would return to telling us about cars rather than some of the mindless gimmicks Clarkson & Co have cooked up.

[qbman1]

I see there is a petition to persuade the BBC to bring him back. Where do I find the one that will mean we never have to see or hear anything about him ever again ?!

[wolfie]

I see there is a petition to persuade the BBC to bring him back. Where do I find the one that will mean we never have to see or hear anything about him ever again ?!

Great idea! Start one and I will sign up.

How about Chris Evans as a replacement? He's a great car enthusiast, has a huge collection of cars, organises an annual CARFEST, writes car reviews, and seems an all round good egg.

[barney]

I think that Clarkson has been engineering to get the sack for a long time.
He's certainly been doing his best but to no avail, so now resulted to lamping someone.

He knows that HE is Top Gear.

Although he is on a good salary, the money making potential of this type of show is enormous.
I'd expect him to be fired and show no remorse.

Then almost immediately set up his own production company (remember Chris Evans)? and do an alternative show on another channel, probably ITV.
He may even poach the other two and use a similar format.

The Beeb makes millions out of TopGear but without the personalities, it's just another motoring show.
They will be the losers, not Clarkson.

Personally, I find him mildly assuming at times, purely because he is not PC.
(which I'm also not)
As for occasionally offending some folk, well, no one ever died of being offended.

[colwill]

If he did thump the producer then I think he has to go otherwise a precedence has been set. However, from past experience the BBC has a habit of giving a mild slap on the wrist and before long they are back again viz. Brand and Ross.
Personally I wish the programme would return to telling us about cars rather than some of the mindless gimmicks Clarkson & Co have cooked up.

They can come down hard when they feel like it. Anyone seen Carol Thatcher since she used a word, in private conversation, from the Beeb banned list?

[Stephen]

I see there is a petition to persuade the BBC to bring him back. Where do I find the one that will mean we never have to see or hear anything about him ever again ?!

Great idea! Start one and I will sign up.

How about Chris Evans as a replacement? He's a great car enthusiast, has a huge collection of cars, organises an annual CARFEST, writes car reviews, and seems an all round good egg.

Good point about Chris Evans Woolfie. I never thought about him and Top Gear, but yes, I can see him doing the show, and being good at it. But does he have Clarksons charisma.

[colwill]

I see there is a petition to persuade the BBC to bring him back. Where do I find the one that will mean we never have to see or hear anything about him ever again ?!

Great idea! Start one and I will sign up.

How about Chris Evans as a replacement? He's a great car enthusiast, has a huge collection of cars, organises an annual CARFEST, writes car reviews, and seems an all round good egg.

Good point about Chris Evans Woolfie. I never thought about him and Top Gear, but yes, I can see him doing the show, and being good at it. But does he have Clarksons charisma.

Not just Clarkson's charisma, but his writing skills?

[Delboy]

Think the BBC needs him, more than he needs the BBC, as has been said Sky must rubbing their hands in delight, especially as there has been talk JC will not renew his contract which is due for renewal in a months time.

Think the BBC has to think very carefully what to do, especially as Top Gear has earned them over £1 billion since 2007, and has been their most successful programme in terms of revenue ever, although they have cancelled the rest of this series of Top Gear.

Nobody can replace Clarkson on Top Gear, he is Top Gear and certainly not Chris Evans, No,No,No. CE one of my least favourite presenters.

See over 300,000 have signed a petition to keep Clarkson on TG.

[Frank Manning]

If he did thump the producer then I think he has to go otherwise a precedence has been set. However, from past experience the BBC has a habit of giving a mild slap on the wrist and before long they are back again viz. Brand and Ross.
Personally I wish the programme would return to telling us about cars rather than some of the mindless gimmicks Clarkson & Co have cooked up.

I agree. I stopped watching it because it became so stupid. I think Clarkson needs to grow up, but I can see he would appeal to the sort of mad cap driver who has no holds barred on the road.

[wolfie]

I see there is a petition to persuade the BBC to bring him back. Where do I find the one that will mean we never have to see or hear anything about him ever again ?!

Great idea! Start one and I will sign up.

How about Chris Evans as a replacement? He's a great car enthusiast, has a huge collection of cars, organises an annual CARFEST, writes car reviews, and seems an all round good egg.

Good point about Chris Evans Woolfie. I never thought about him and Top Gear, but yes, I can see him doing the show, and being good at it. But does he have Clarksons charisma.

He hosts the 'One Show' on BBC on a Friday and comes over as very likeable and amusing. I think he has what it takes.

Clarkson can go and set up his version of Top Gear but surely there are copyright limitations as to what he can call the show?

BBC offers the other 2 presenters enough money to stay, security over a Clarkson new venture, and you have a great threesome.

As for 'charisma' Stephen, he never had any IMO. Just a self promoting egotist who hasn't grown up.....ALLEDGEDLY, of course.

[Gill W]

If he did thump the producer then I think he has to go otherwise a precedence has been set. However, from past experience the BBC has a habit of giving a mild slap on the wrist and before long they are back again viz. Brand and Ross.
Personally I wish the programme would return to telling us about cars rather than some of the mindless gimmicks Clarkson & Co have cooked up.

Although Ross is now on ITV and Brand is a Hollywood film star..... I don't think the BBC re-instated them?

Ross and Brand were egotistical idiots, thinking everything they did was funny. But they didn't hit anybody.

With that in mind, it'd be outrageous if Clarkson was allowed back after thumping someone!

[oldbluefox]

But it's not so long ago that Brand appeared on BBC's Question Time spouting his usual load of claptrap.
This morning the PM had got himself involved saying his children would miss Top Gear. Is children's entertainment the level Top Gear has slipped to. Sorry but I'm not a fan of Top Gear in its current format, nor Clarkson or the creepy Brand. Fortunately I can, and do switch over.

[Not so ancient mariner]

We don't know the circumstances regarding the alleged incident. If he did throw a punch, was he the first to do so - or was he provoked in another way? If not, there is law regarding 'common assault' and the police could become involved.

Personally I find the kind of thing messrs Brand and Ross got up to worse than a punch thrown during a heated argument: - Not that I am condoning Clarkson's actions, if these allegations are indeed upheld.

[Manoverboard]

On Breakfast News this morning it seems that the punch was thrown by JC because he couldn't have his own way in a restaurant regarding a steak .... hence one headline of " Thump Steak ".

[towny44]

If they sack him the only winners will be the lawyers since he will obviously want to continue and produce his own Top Gear programme, and the Beeb will claim they have the rights to that name.
It could become the setting for a new reality TV programme.

[david63]

If they sack him the only winners will be the lawyers

... and Clarkson himself. Allegedly he will earn significantly more if (when) he goes to another channel

[Dark Knight]

I am struggling to summon up any interest to be honest
it is a programme about cars that only the 1% can afford and is now akin to 3 lottery winning chavs pissing about

[Mervyn and Trish]

it is a programme about cars that only the 1% can afford and is now akin to 3 lottery winning chavs pissing about

Perhaps that's why I like it! I seem to be a minority on this thread but I'm a fan of Top Gear. I wouldn't really be interested in a programme about Vauxhall Corsas and Fiat Puntos, the sort of cars I could afford, and I regard this as an entertainment show rather than factual.

I agree Clarkson cannot get away with hitting someone, if that's what happened. But if he were to go elsewhere, as I understand it he couldn't take the format or title with him. He and the executive producer used to own the rights but I believe the BBC bought out his share some time ago.

And while I feel the BBC has more to lose if the show ends (it's a big money earner in overseas sales) they could replace him and in the end what is Clarkson without Top Gear? We see Richard Hammond and Richard May on other shows but what else can Clarkson do?

[colwill]

it is a programme about cars that only the 1% can afford and is now akin to 3 lottery winning chavs pissing about

Perhaps that's why I like it! I seem to be a minority on this thread but I'm a fan of Top Gear. I wouldn't really be interested in a programme about Vauxhall Corsas and Fiat Puntos, the sort of cars I could afford, and I regard this as an entertainment show rather than factual.

I agree Clarkson cannot get away with hitting someone, if that's what happened. But if he were to go elsewhere, as I understand it he couldn't take the format or title with him. He and the executive producer used to own the rights but I believe the BBC bought out his share some time ago.

And while I feel the BBC has more to lose if the show ends (it's a big money earner in overseas sales) they could replace him and in the end what is Clarkson without Top Gear? We see Richard Hammond and Richard May on other shows but what else can Clarkson do?

I like it too, plus agree Clarkson cannot get away with hitting (or missing because he's not very good at it) someone. What Clarkson can actually do is write, in fact I think he's a far better writer than presenter.

Don't think the name of the show matters, as long as they keep the team/format - that's what sells the programme. They could call it anything they like and their huge fan base will follow them.

[Stephen]

it is a programme about cars that only the 1% can afford and is now akin to 3 lottery winning chavs pissing about

Perhaps that's why I like it! I seem to be a minority on this thread but I'm a fan of Top Gear. I wouldn't really be interested in a programme about Vauxhall Corsas and Fiat Puntos, the sort of cars I could afford, and I regard this as an entertainment show rather than factual.

I agree Clarkson cannot get away with hitting someone, if that's what happened. But if he were to go elsewhere, as I understand it he couldn't take the format or title with him. He and the executive producer used to own the rights but I believe the BBC bought out his share some time ago.

And while I feel the BBC has more to lose if the show ends (it's a big money earner in overseas sales) they could replace him and in the end what is Clarkson without Top Gear? We see Richard Hammond and Richard May on other shows but what else can Clarkson do?

Does he need to do anything Merv. It's not like he needs the money. He has his column and book writing and no doubt fingers in several other pies. As others have said, Sky are waiting in the wings, so I can't really see him off our screens for long. As for format and title rights, there is always a way around these things with the right legal team. And you can bet Sky have some of the best.

[gfwgfw]

Respect

For JC Mk II

He will be back showing off his rusty nail scars

With a massive wink and a slight nod