About this Clarkson row

[blackburn_stevie]

What the smeg is going on?

It's a TV show, not a live broadcast.If there's a major issue, just edit it out before the final take. Problem solved.

So then the story is leaked to the newspapers, etc.

I think the report isn't so much about Clarkson's antics but more about Top Gear and he BBC's inability to control a leak.

By the way ....... 'Morning all

[fallen-archie]

Quite so Caution, the other thing so far not mentioned is the ongoing undermining of the Beeb by commercial interests or Sky/ Murdoch etc, they want to own all then sell to the highest bidder. The Beeb gets kicked all over the place and whilst nowhere near perfect they are in a no win situation. TG Is popular commercials hate that.

[joe_bloggs*]

I actually used to watch it when it was about cars,now it's about 3 blokes having a mid life crisis,unfunny and very predictable stunts that invariably go wrong while we have canned laughter from the studio audience  and Hammond looking at Clarkson all doey eyed and lovingly.Nigel Farage would be a good replacement for  Clarkson.

Personnaly i enjoy Wheeler Dealers,especially Edd getting down and dirty (on the cars) much more practical and down to earth program showing car repairs on a more realistic budget instead of the latest ferrari which Clarkson appears to drive,but in close up on the fast cornering the windows appear to be a bit blurry...

[aernethril]

Taking offence imay be a choice but not one that should be forced.

That's why we have to have laws on speach that is hateful, racist, homophobic etc - because some people think that they can say what they want, to whoever they wan,t as and when they want without any respsonsibility on their part.

And as a presenter of a worldwide popular programme from what many around the world still consider to be one of the top broadcasting programme providers, he has a responsibility to ensure he doesn't risk going beyond what is generally acceptable.

It's not just that he fails to do this - it's that he actively enjoys being offensive.

I have no idea what is checked or approved in advance but he carries a huge amount of power over what goes on and goes into those shows, and given his behaviour and comments, I would not be at all suprised to find that a lot is aired without proper approval.

There is also probably a failing on the Beeb's part to not rein him in more but as he is getting worse - and he is - and he cannot find more offensive stuff to get away with, something has to change.

It would not surprise me to find that he has engineered this because his contract is due to expire soon and he's trying to drum up support to bring him back.

But whatever is happening or is going on - I think it's been a great shame that he's been allowed to control so much and that there is no new blood in that programme - no-one is allowed to be the next person to take the show forward into the future.

[cee-dee]

Wheeler Dealers is far more interesting with all sorts of cars.

Thing is, they never seem to weigh in the fuel when totting up the costings and the road test with all the shouting "woo-hoo, wahey" is where I mute the sound.

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

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@aernethril wrote:

Taking offence imay be a choice but not one that should be forced.

That's why we have to have laws on speach that is hateful, racist, homophobic etc - because some people think that they can say what they want, to whoever they wan,t as and when they want without any respsonsibility on their part.

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Well, he has made a few gaffs, to be sure, but that hardly qualifies him as a hate preacher.

The Argentinian number plates could not have happened without "prior approval".  Who's to say it was even his idea?  TV progs are very manipulated by producers these days (witness X Factor, etc, where even the almighty Simon Cowell has to do as he is told, etc).  All those DIY SOS ones are faked to the eyeballs.  Sensationsalism gets publicity ... and the producers of TG are not above garnering it for their own ends, I'm sure.

I think he does what he does well.  He has taken an intrinsically boring topic (cars) and made a show that is accessible to a wide audience.  

[fallen-archie]

Why is it that a comment about a Jewish person immediately is leapt on as racist, or a person of native African decent has one skirting round trying not to offend when in reality all you want is to have a mildly funny conversation free from ill intent.
I think some are so sensitive they jump on a situation involving a celeb and go for the jugular. Why? Why must we walk on eggshells constantly editing a statement because it might be taken the wrong way.

[dark_castle1]

Quite simply put he alledgedly punched a fellow workmate at his workplace ! If this turns out to be true. Therefore gross misconduct and as he was already on his last warning (so they say) dismissal is the only solution.

If not he will become even more big headed than he is now and think he can get away with anything.

[joe_bloggs*]

It doesn't get any better:

http://www.aol.co.uk/article/2015/03/11/david-cameron-backs-huge-talent-jeremy-clarkson/21152329/?nc...

[wskneil]

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@joe_bloggs* wrote:

It doesn't get any better:

http://www.aol.co.uk/article/2015/03/11/david-cameron-backs-huge-talent-jeremy-clarkson/21152329/?nc...

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Probably because he has seen how many People have signed the petition to get Clarkson reinstated.

The sooner we are rid of the pair of them the better.

[electric*mayhem*band]

'Prime Minister David Cameron has weighed into the row over the suspension of Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, calling him a "huge talent" and saying he hopes the situation can be resolved so his children will not be left heartbroken.

Clarkson - who is a friend of the Prime Minister and lives in his Witney constituency in Oxfordshire'

To quote Mandy Rice-Davies, "Well he would say that, wouldn't he" ? Might be best if he kept his beak out things that don't concern him, and concentrate on things that do.

[aernethril]

I haven't called him a hate preacher at all  - those are your words.

And he doesn't make gaffs - when he's reprimanded for a quite deliberate offensive comment, he then goes on to do it again, finding ways he can push the limit to see how far he can go.

That has got nothing to do with cars and certainly isn't entertaining.

[cee-dee]

I think Clarkson appeals to those who find foul-mouthed commedians funny.

In all probability after mulling it all over the BBC will give him "one more chance" which will fuel his self-importance even more.

[aernethril]

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@fallen-archie wrote:
Why is it that a comment about a Jewish person immediately is leapt on as racist, or a person of native African decent has one skirting round trying not to offend when in reality all you want is to have a mildly funny conversation free from ill intent.
I think some are so sensitive they jump on a situation involving a celeb and go for the jugular. Why? Why must we walk on eggshells constantly editing a statement because it might be taken the wrong way.

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no-one has to walk on eggshells to be genuinely funny.

If you want to have a "mildly funny conversation free from ill intent" (intent of what exactly?) I'm sure you could do it with your friends, in private but doing it on prime television, that is sold around the world is a different matter.

Whether we agree with it or not - purely as an common example - the use of the "N" word is generally not permitted or tolerated, not because of how we feel about it but because of how and why it was used as a form of abuse for so long by others.

So, if Mr Clarkson had used that word - as an example - would you be still supporting him and saying there is no harm in it or it's just mildly funny free from all intent?

You may say it, but it would most certainly not have been used 'free from any intent' at all - and the ways he has spoken about people, the words he deliberately chooses to use are just as offensive to others.

It's simply not good enough to say that people have to put up with his behaviour.  Where does it end?  If he is allowed to get away with it, then everyone else can and go on to do more and worse.

So it's not about his 'little funny quips or gaffs' - it's about him and his grossly infated ego that has led to him believing that warnings and respect for others don't apply to him.

If he was a nobody, nobody would care that much, if at all.

But in his position, one of giving reviews and advice on tv - which has long been known to have an impact on people's lives and how they think etc - he has a responsibility to make sure he gets it right and doesn't take cheap pot shots at those who cannot defend themselves in any way.

[aernethril]

I've no idea but I hope that if they do, it includes him having to take new talent on board with a view to them one day taking over the reins and moving the whole programme on.

[electric*mayhem*band]

And as for Cameron saying that he [quote] 'Hopes the situation can be resolved so his children will not be left heartbroken' [unquote] does he really think that if he (Clarkson) does lose his job, that there won't be an army of people queueing up for his services ? Plus the fact that the fortune he has amassed over the years, it's hardly likely that the Clarkson clan will find themselves out on the streets.

Every time that man opens his mouth, I lose another nerve cell.

[al**bear]

Cameron is not just  Clarksons MP, he is a very close family friend

They were frequent 'diners' around Clarksons Family dinning table on a Sunday lunchtime

along with Andy Coulson, Rebekah Brooks & Hubby etc etc

You may notice something that unites them

They all view themselves as 'special' and above the rules & Laws that they think, are in place to keep the prolitariat in order and don't really count for them.

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It is a severe blemish on British Society, that many many more people signed a petition in his support in 24hrs, than we managed to get in 12mths for a well publicised petition on the Historical Child Sexual Abuse inquiry.

It also dwarfs the number of People who have signed a petition for an inquiry, into the softly softly approach by HMRC to mega-rich Tax avoiders

[******lynda******]

CD , Wheeler Dealers never seem to factor in labour time either. The idiot (he puts me right off the programme) has no dealing skills, his 'haggling' is laughable and the mechanic guy usually ends up working for peanuts or less, ignoring what the show pays, of course.

[geographically*challenged]

CLEAR OFF CLARKSON I complained about how he swears so much years ago. I cant stand people swearing at all and on a popular prog. It was needless.,

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Aerne, I didn't say you called him a hate preacher. I was merely drawing attention to the fact that his faux pas are fairly mild in comparison to what others do freely and intentionally. I don't think JC is any more a liability than, say, Boris Johnson, and certainly not as much of a one as the Duke of Edinburgh.

Just my opinion, of course, but in the scheme of things ...

Now, some like him, and some don't, but that goes for any celeb presenter. Personally, I can't stand Piers Morgan.

[cee-dee]

Who writes this stuff?

It seems that after a day filming Clarkson was annoyed there was no hot food and was told the chef had gone home:-

“When they arrived just after 10pm Clarkson got angry.

“It was more like a scuffle. But he did swear using every bad word you could think of.

“The producer stood there looking quiet and embarrassed. He was being blamed for not arranging hot food.

“The general manager ended up cooking himself for the three presenters.”

So, the general manager cooked himself, I wonder if he tasted nice?