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The BBC suspend Jeremy Clarkson (assaulting producer?) cancel rest of Top Gear Season

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Nodnol

Member
Unless it was was sometging indefensible, I can't see them firing him. Even "minor" cases of gross misconduct will be overlooked if need be.

As much as his ego gets a bashing, that's what makes him who he is, and that's part of the reason Top Gear is so watchable. Yes it's no longer a car show, yes it's out of touch some (most) times, but that's why people watch it. If they wanted honest consumer advice on family hatchbacks they'd buy Auto Express.

If Clarkson goes, the show simply wouldn't have the same dynamic, regardless of who they replace him with. I'd be done with it.

If he does go, I bet you anything ITV will pick him up for something.
 
Burger

Burger

Member
Andy Wilman is a tosser. "Sorry the show got a bit crazy there, we've listed to your comments about the segments being too scripted and outlandish. Sorry."

Makes show even more outlandish and farcical.
 
N

Nakkilokki

Banned
Wasn't the 'racism' thing completely blown out of proportion? As I recall it was something he said in a rehearsal that was never going to air. Some old riddle.

I know Clarkson is a hot head and not the most polite person, but you can't help but think BBC is over-sensitive about his actions
 
K

KidJr

Member
JonathanEx said:
Well, he has several employers. But for the TV show, it's produced within the BBC, he works for them (likely as a freelancer or through a tax shell company - but regardless of how, he works for them).

My point is - he's a big deal for them, but that doesn't put him above the employer/employee relationship.
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Yeah sorry didnt meant come off cocky or anything was replying during work hours.

But when employing a contractor it's not an employee/employer relationship, its a company to company relationship which makes boundaries a lot less substantial .

I do wonder what he did do though!
 
J

jelly

Member
I've heard he is way worse in real life compared to his Top Gear persona, a truly horrible person.

Will be interesting to see if the BBC sack him or let him off as it wasn't on air.
 
A

Air Zombie Meat

Member
Bold One said:
think they would have used a word more akin to 'Affray' or 'Rumpus' had it been an a violent altercation...could be wrong though
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Fracas is defined as a noisy or violent argument\brawl. I think they would have just called it a row if it was a normal argument. Also the fact he's been suspended for it suggests it's more than a few cross words.

Of course I could be completely wrong also ;) Anyway I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.
 
L

leadbelly

Banned
Nakkilokki said:
Wasn't the 'racism' thing completely blown out of proportion? As I recall it was something he said in a rehearsal that was never going to air. Some old riddle.

I know Clarkson is a hot head and not the most polite person, but you can't help but think BBC is over-sensitive about his actions
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Yeah. I've already explained it.

It was the well known nursery rhyme 'eeny, meeny, miny, moe'. Clarkson is old enough to know the original version of that rhyme. Well, it is at least one of the oldest versions of that rhyme.

I think it was originally intended to be shown as well. I am basing that on Clarkson's apology and explanation. He explained that, when he played the video back, he realised that it kind of sounded like he said it, even though he never meant to. And so they never aired it.

Based on that, it seems to me the joke was meant to be him intentionally self-censoring a well known version of the rhyme.
 
K

kitch9

Banned
dc89 said:
I think they will fire him. Top Gear should have a shake up anyway, I'd like to see it move away from being a comedy show and go back to it's routes.

I could see Sky (BSkyB) going HAM for Clarkson if he becomes available.
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No one gives a shit about normal cars anymore they all share their chassis with half a dozen other cars anyway so are all effectively the same.
 
D

DrGonzo615

Banned
leadbelly said:
Yeah. I've already explained it.

It was the well known nursery rhyme 'eeny, meeny, miny, moe'. Clarkson is old enough to know the original version of that rhyme. Well, it is at least one of the oldest versions of that rhyme.

I think it was originally intended to be shown as well. I am basing that on Clarkson's apology and explanation. He explained that, when he played the video back, he realised that it kind of sounded like he said it, even though he never meant to. And so they never aired it.

Based on that, it seems to me the joke was meant to be him intentionally self-censoring a well known version of the rhyme.
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I watched that clip of video a few times and I didnt hear him say the word. Seemed like it was blown out of proportions.

I think the "slope" controversy was more well founded but seemed to get less attention. Either way, Clarkson isnt going away.


BTW for those in here to think Top Gear has gotten too goofy, I highly recommend you check out Chris Harris' channel on Youtube.
 
M

Mindwipe

Member
Nodnol said:
Unless it was was sometging indefensible, I can't see them firing him. Even "minor" cases of gross misconduct will be overlooked if need be.
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If it's anything involved in physical violence it is pretty much impossible to ignore.

The BBC went through a major bullying at work scandal at a similar time to the Saville stuff. There were a bunch of constructive dismissal payouts. The Director General spent a lot of time and effort going to the unions and promising action, and Clarkson is on his last warning anyway. If he's lamped someone it's just politically inconceivable they could let him get away with it, not least because it probably has significant employment law implications - everyone who ever wanted to serve a constructive dismissal lawsuit against the BBC would cite it and they'd win as a result.
 
J

Joni

Member
He shouldn't have sold the show to BBC. Would have been a huge hit to the channel if he switched Top Gear to someone else.
 
N

Nodnol

Member
Mindwipe said:
If it's anything involved in physical violence it is pretty much impossible to ignore.

The BBC went through a major bullying at work scandal at a similar time to the Saville stuff. There were a bunch of constructive dismissal payouts. The Director General spent a lot of time and effort going to the unions and promising action, and Clarkson is on his last warning anyway. If he's lamped someone it's just politically inconceivable they could let him get away with it, not least because it probably has significant employment law implications - everyone who ever wanted to serve a constructive dismissal lawsuit against the BBC would cite it and they'd win as a result.
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Granted. I wasn't really referring to violence as a "minor" case of gross misconduct (not that there is such a thing).
 
T

Triggerhappytel

Member
Nodnol said:
If he does go, I bet you anything ITV will pick him up for something.
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He'll probably get a talk show where he basically moans about stuff with occasional guests. But yes; I'm sure ITV would love to pick him up. Isn't that how they get most of their presenters or actors?
 
L

leadbelly

Banned
DrGonzo615 said:
I watched that clip of video a few times and I didnt hear him say the word. Seemed like it was blown out of proportions.

I think the "slope" controversy was more well founded but seemed to get less attention. Either way, Clarkson isnt going away.
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It was The Mirror that leaked the video, right?

You can't really hear it when played back at normal speed. What The Mirror had to do was slow it right down and increase the volume for it to be actually intelligible. Even then it sounds like the word is mumbled, but you can at least tell it is that word being said. Basically they had to try really hard to make a story out of it.

If they were going to air it, obviously Top Gear would have scrutinised it themselves to make sure it was absolutely unintelligible.

Jeremy Clarkson explains it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8vnyP65SuA
 
J

JonathanEx

Member
Mindwipe said:
If it's anything involved in physical violence it is pretty much impossible to ignore.

The BBC went through a major bullying at work scandal at a similar time to the Saville stuff. There were a bunch of constructive dismissal payouts. The Director General spent a lot of time and effort going to the unions and promising action, and Clarkson is on his last warning anyway. If he's lamped someone it's just politically inconceivable they could let him get away with it, not least because it probably has significant employment law implications - everyone who ever wanted to serve a constructive dismissal lawsuit against the BBC would cite it and they'd win as a result.
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Exactly, in to that the scandal of payoffs to senior management being huge, the cuts to the license fee and upcoming Charter Renewal discussions, the corporation's history of employment tribunal issues as you mentioned (including ageism and John Linwood more recently), hush-money or finding a different scapegoat aren't options, they have no choice but to play it 100% by the book. First whiff of coverup or payoff, newspapers and politicians and lawyers will be on it. Even if not physical, they can't brush over certain verbal things either.

I think it's possible he could come out of this not fired - but if he did something wrong, there'll be some form of punishment. If it's not high on severity I can see 'last chance' not being such, also not to risk action from Clarkson's side...
 
F

Firemind

Member
leadbelly said:
It was The Mirror that leaked the video, right?

You can't really hear it when played back at normal speed. What The Mirror had to do was slow it right down, and increase the volume for it to be actually intelligible. Even then it sounds like the word is mumbled, but you can at least tell it is that word being said. Basically they had to try really hard to make a story out of it.

If they were going to air it, obviously Top Gear would have scrutinised it themselves to make sure it was absolutely unintelligible.

Jeremy Clarkson explains it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8vnyP65SuA
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sigh when did the brits become an overly sensitive bunch of tossers
 
Z

Zaph

Member
Clarkson sold his Top Gear ownership rights back to the BBC a few years ago. They probably want to fire him, but they know there's a good chance James and Richard would get poached by another network and join Jeremy in forming their own production company for a new car show.

Wouldn't be surprised if there are already offers rolling in.
 
L

leadbelly

Banned
Firemind said:
sigh when did the brits become an overly sensitive bunch of tossers
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Well, it was interesting that The Mirror was the newspaper that leaked it. This was the paper that Piers Morgan was editor of. Around that time Jeremy Clarkson was slagging Piers Morgan off quite a lot.

It lead some people to speculate that Piers had some involvement in it.
 
G

Grampa Simpson

Banned
thelatestmodel said:
Top Gear is their most valuable IP. It is the most watched factual TV show..... IN THE WORLD (it actually is, I just had to do the Clarkson voice). I can't see them getting rid of it.

If they get rid of Clarkson, which it seems like the BBC are creeping towards, then the entire soul of the show goes with him, and I'm really not sure you could find a decent replacement. Not to mention Hammond and May, I've no idea what their feelings on it would be. Then again, we all know that the three of them are getting on and can't do it forever.

We may be looking at the beginning of the end of Top Gear as we know it. A reboot with new presenters maybe?
Click to expand...

And a new show on Channel 4 with Clarkson, Hammond, and May.
 
K

King_Moc

Banned
Firemind said:
sigh when did the brits become an overly sensitive bunch of tossers
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They didn't. There's a section of the right wing media in the UK that want to close the BBC as it's a bit too socialist for their tastes. If anyone on the BBC does anything remotely dodgy, they get jumped on so that these pricks can add them to their "reasons to close the BBC" pile.
 
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