What's latest with Clarkson/BBC/TopGear?

[jubjub]

Chris said he wouldn't do it, he's my boss actually a really nice guy

To be fair, he's had the golden touch with practically all he's done...Big Brekkie, Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, TFIF, Virgin Breakfast, and of course Radio 2.
Pretty much always had his radio shows on. Good banter, great guests, cars, money,charity work, etc.


Pretty much living the dream

[macspring]

Glad to be of service.

Sorry, apart from being smart, yes you are correct JC is 99.6% at fault, but the producer and the BBC are not completely blame free was my thoughts.

Happy to be hear other opinions though, as mentioned at the end of my post.

[anthonys2]

I think managing JC is liking Liverpool trying to manage Ballotelli bloody impossible but TG will never be the same the 3 guys work so well and their banter is funny I loved TG live at Newcastle really great show I hope Sky get the 3 of them and do something then my subscription would be worth while I guess it's a case of watch this space and good luck to them

[andy10v]

At the outset Clarkson was at fault.

And here's the but, why would a producer stand there infant of him for 20 mins while JC rants, builds up a head of steam and then stays within range to be assaulted for 30 seconds ? Just sayin.....

What were the other members of the crew, including Hammond and May, doing while this was all going on ?

I know none of us were present, but surely a producer is supposed to deal with / be involved with those types of issues, i.e. food after filming etc. When the situation demands it, do whatever has to be done to get the matter sorted and across the line, regardless of demarcation of responsibilities.

Clarkson was the fire that burned the building, but who was the match that ignited the fire that burned the building ?

The BBC should have been looking after their golden goose who was laying the golden eggs for them. I'm sure football clubs assist their star players if they have alcohol or drug issues. Star presenters should be chaporoned in the same way for their own good, regardless of whether the star likes it or not. It goes with the territory. You can't collect such a good salary and not have to make a few compromises.

Anyway what's done is done, no winding the clock back. The next version of Top Gear while it can't be the same, could turn out to be better, as in the last few seasons there were comments that the show was slipping, especially with the stupid set pieces and childish messing. Still watchable most of the time because like the audience, am a petrolhead, and can't access the cars, locations and the crack that they have, but didn't watch it with quite the same enthusiasm.

Going forward, and assuming May and Hammond depart with JC, then the presenters in Fifth Gear line up are very good, in fact Fifth Gear might get a extra boost in attention it wasn't expecting, but which would not be undeserved.

Maybe Chris Harris could get a go as guest presenter with a couple of others, a bit like they way they do guest presenters on "Have I got News For You".

I feel sorry for the people who work behind the scenes on Top Gear - the programme, the magazine, the live shows.

Just my tuppence. Will be fascinated to see what happens to the three presenters and what the BBC do with the Top Gear programme / brand. They get to find out if their disaster planning is any good. They had foretaste of it with Hammond's high speed accident.

Just my own tuppence, which counts for nothing in the bigger picture, but just idly curious what others on here think.

I do get the point that if your job is to pander to a divas every whim then when a diva get upset and throws a tantrum as you did not provide.....

However how would you feel if your wife came home with a burst lip because a pissed diva could not get hot food after work? A bit beyond a reasonable reaction, shouting at the guy he is an incompetent moron might be considered reasonable (IF it was his job to provide hot food AND he had not made an attempt to do so, not every eventuality can be covered though).

You dont go to work in that role and expect to be physically assaulted.

Anyway why did the producer not lay Clarkson out flat in self defence?

[macspring]

Note and appreciate your comments.

Still think why would you stand still for TWENTY minutes and not move away to deal with the problem being complained of and or for your own protection, and then stand still for THIRTY seconds while someone is getting physical with you is something I can't quite get my head around.

Just saying..........

NCT JC

[andy10v]

Not a clue, some people seem to have no self preservation instinct. Also some people like being right, or doing things they are entitled to more than anything else.

Also at the end of a long day when people are tired they can be particularity grumpy/difficult, could have also been the final straw, other things could have led up to it.

[Colesy]

It is a bit of a joke really. They could have handled the whole incident in a disciplinary behind closed doors, fined him or similar to make a point.

Instead they chose to take the show off air, have a trial by media while they **** about for two weeks and come to a decision. You'd have thought that issues with their highest grossing show mid series could be dealt with within a day. Get everyone in a room together, find out what happened and take action. It seems like they have reveled in the charade of doing "the right thing" and firing someone for being abusive to a colleague at work. I suppose this makes up for the decades they covered up Jimmy Savile being a nonce...

Any other commercial organisation would look at the revenue Top Gear brings in and find a way to keep it going with him in it. Instead they pay him to act like a prat for the last 10 years and now fire him for being a prat...

But I suppose they can just bump up the TV license to cover the drop in revenue or just reduce the budgets for all the other **** they make.

I haven't been the biggest fan of Top Gear for a while with it being so contrived. But the show was something different that pushed boundaries and was based around petrol heads. One of the few shows that I actually record. So from my point of view it's a great loss. The sooner they scrap the license fee the better...

[macspring]

I haven't been the biggest fan of Top Gear for a while with it being so contrived. But the show was something different that pushed boundaries and was based around petrol heads. One of the few shows that I actually record. So from my point of view it's a great loss. The sooner they scrap the license fee the better...

Steady - Do you need food right now ?





Sorry, now messing and trolling.......

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

Whatever the reasons behind all of this and it was reported on Newsnight tonight that there was some illness and a death in the Clarkson family which must have been a factor, i would imagine, the producer was doing his job in listening to Clarksons rant for 20 mins because that's what he was paid to do, look after people although he forgot the Hot food which was the reason why this all blew up in the first place.

I will miss Top Gear at the BBC, Clarkson,May and hampster so that goes with out saying!! However it does seam that in any walk of life the bigger more popular the celeb/individual, the more people surrounding them try to cover up their misdemeanors as they become seen as too big a person/celeb to question,chastise or remonstrate with.I think the BBC are guilty of not managing their Star better and as a consequence we are all the loosers.

[hunker7]

BBC made this out to be a massive deal, like May said. I understand that punching people is inexcusable but the victim (whatever his name was) didn't say anything, so BBC could have just kept it under wraps and sort it out internally, instead they ruined a brilliant show. Look at TV license fee increase to make up for lost revenue.

[hunker7]

It is a bit of a joke really. They could have handled the whole incident in a disciplinary behind closed doors, fined him or similar to make a point.

Instead they chose to take the show off air, have a trial by media while they **** about for two weeks and come to a decision. You'd have thought that issues with their highest grossing show mid series could be dealt with within a day. Get everyone in a room together, find out what happened and take action. It seems like they have reveled in the charade of doing "the right thing" and firing someone for being abusive to a colleague at work. I suppose this makes up for the decades they covered up Jimmy Savile being a nonce...

Any other commercial organisation would look at the revenue Top Gear brings in and find a way to keep it going with him in it. Instead they pay him to act like a prat for the last 10 years and now fire him for being a prat...

But I suppose they can just bump up the TV license to cover the drop in revenue or just reduce the budgets for all the other **** they make.

I haven't been the biggest fan of Top Gear for a while with it being so contrived. But the show was something different that pushed boundaries and was based around petrol heads. One of the few shows that I actually record. So from my point of view it's a great loss. The sooner they scrap the license fee the better...

Read this straight after posting my reply and I totally agree.

[farmerphil]

I do get the point that if your job is to pander to a divas every whim then when a diva get upset and throws a tantrum as you did not provide.....

However how would you feel if your wife came home with a burst lip because a pissed diva could not get hot food after work? A bit beyond a reasonable reaction, shouting at the guy he is an incompetent moron might be considered reasonable (IF it was his job to provide hot food AND he had not made an attempt to do so, not every eventuality can be covered though).

You dont go to work in that role and expect to be physically assaulted.

Anyway why did the producer not lay Clarkson out flat in self defence?

She did as a nurse in the community trying to sort out peoples problems ,the point is this we all watched Top Gear why? because it entertained us why? because they went out and did the things which we as individuals could only dream of doing ,in some ways the show was a bit of are child hood on the T.V. thats why we watched it not because they tested the latest euro box ,but they went on an adventure some where in the world which we had never seen and may never see in are life time ,one thing you all must realize is they were all having a mid life crisis ( may be ) .There is all a bit of Clarkson in us all trying to get out and thats why we watched Top Gear in that format ,if they change it to a full blown car show it will be boring and point less ,would you watch it if they were testing the latest Toyota euro box ?

[rs2coupe]

Steady - Do you need food right now ?





Sorry, now messing and trolling.......

Your humour has been lol worthy

I think we all liked Clarkson because he often misbehaved and maybe BBC didn't want to get sued so they had no choice but to fire him and play it like the politically correct thing to do. Whate a shame it really was only 1 out 3 channels I view.

[anthonys2]

Totally agree with so many comments made on this thread. I think JC will argue the toss about being fired as the bbc statement says "Not renewing JC contract"!! Anyways I've said my piece and I think the bbc have shot themselves in the foot and have lost a huge revenue maker hope the baztards suffer

[Error404]

It is a bit of a joke really. They could have handled the whole incident in a disciplinary behind closed doors, fined him or similar to make a point.

Instead they chose to take the show off air, have a trial by media while they **** about for two weeks and come to a decision. You'd have thought that issues with their highest grossing show mid series could be dealt with within a day. Get everyone in a room together, find out what happened and take action. It seems like they have reveled in the charade of doing "the right thing" and firing someone for being abusive to a colleague at work. I suppose this makes up for the decades they covered up Jimmy Savile being a nonce...

Any other commercial organisation would look at the revenue Top Gear brings in and find a way to keep it going with him in it. Instead they pay him to act like a prat for the last 10 years and now fire him for being a prat...

But I suppose they can just bump up the TV license to cover the drop in revenue or just reduce the budgets for all the other **** they make.

I haven't been the biggest fan of Top Gear for a while with it being so contrived. But the show was something different that pushed boundaries and was based around petrol heads. One of the few shows that I actually record. So from my point of view it's a great loss. The sooner they scrap the license fee the better...

especially the part about them revelling in "doing the right "
Seeing as they have now written off one of the only viable revenue streams they have, when do we get a refund on the portion of our licence fees that we have invested in the Top Gear franchise?