Exercises Presenting Top Gear, Is No Stranger to Controversy

Jeremy Clarkson - Undone by a Foolish Fracas

BBC TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, most famous for Exercises presenting Top Gear, is no stranger to controversy. He is a bloke’s bloke and his irreverence and lack of political correctness have frequently landed him in hot water. In May 2014 he was told in no uncertain terms that just one more incident would see him sacked. Clarkson himself described this as being akin to having a death sentence hanging over him and the case would not be if but when.

In early March 2015 Clarkson was involved in a ‘fracas’ with a TV producer over Comprehension the lack of hot food at a hotel after a day’s filming. The altercation led to the What do the following words producer receiving a cut lip. Clarkson was immediately suspended pending an and phrases mean? internal inquiry. 1. bloke’s bloke Clarkson’s suspension provoked great 2. irreverence 3. political correctness outrage that divided the country. On one 4. in hot water hand some argued that he had gone one 5. told in no uncertain terms warning too far and should be sacked (as 6. being akin to would a regular employee who did not have 7. fracas the protection of celebrity status) for 8. altercation 9. waded in attacking a colleague. On the other hand he 10. loathe received popular support, even to the extent 11. divisive figure 12. warranted immediate that a man dressed as The Stig handed the dismissal BBC a petition bearing a million signatures in 13. figurehead 14. sidekicks support of reinstating Clarkson. Even Prime Minister David Cameron 15. vulnerable initially waded in by saying it would be a shame to see Clarkson removed from 16. endemic culture our TV screens as his children enjoyed watching him. 17. set a precedent 18. in the wake of 19. the BBC stable Love him or loathe him Clarkson is a divisive figure. 20. blokishness

What were the issues that the BBC had to consider? 1. The first and most important issue is that Clarkson’s conduct warranted immediate dismissal. He had received numerous warnings and it was clear that he was on his last chance. As far as the BBC were concerned his attack on the Top Gear producer was the final straw. Look at the list on the left to see his most unacceptable behaviours. It is considered that attacking a fellow employee went way beyond his previous conduct – and there is a powerful argument that even if this had been his first ‘offence’ it would have crossed too many lines.

2. Top Gear is a major revenue source for the BBC. According to Wikipedia it is shown in 170 countries with a global weekly audience of more than 350 million people (making it one of the most popular TV shows in the world). Its roadshows, merchandising and DVD sales also provide a significant income for the BBC. Clarkson is very much seen as the figurehead of the show with Richard Hammond and James May being perceived as his sidekicks. Speaking *

1. Look carefully at the arguments 3. The BBC may be particularly sensitive to be seen as doing the right thing in the presented on both sides wake of ‘Operation Yew Tree’. This was an investigation following the revelations concerning whether Jeremy Clarkson should have been that Jimmy Saville had used his status as a BBC celebrity to at first gain access sacked. Summarise the dilemma and then sexually abuse vulnerable people including children, hospital patients the BBC faced in your own words. and the elderly. The wave of publicity that followed has led to a number of 2. Are there any other issues that convictions of prominent BBC celebrities of the 1970s and 1980s including Rolf the author has overlooked? If so what are they? Harris, Stuart Hall and David Lee Travis. Investigations are ongoing with other celebrities of that era. What appears to be apparent is that there was an endemic 2. Should commercial or popular considerations come before culture at the BBC which cultivated opportunity for such predators as a blind eye ethical and moral ones? was turned. As a marked contrast no such culture appears to have been apparent 3. How far do you think the BBC at other UK TV stations. In the wake of this the BBC needed to be seen as being overreacted in the aftermath of decisive. Operation Yew Tree?

4. Do celebrities represent the 4. Sky Sports had set a precedent when in 2011 they sacked Andy Gray and views of their employers? Should Richard Keys who were caught off camera making chauvinistic remarks about a they? female assistant referee’s ability to understand the offside rule. There is a 5. Should Jeremy Clarkson have common association between a TV station’s values and those of its celebrities. been sacked?

* You need to prepare these Clarkson is part of the BBC stable and as such his conduct and views could be questions for conversation during seen as representative of the BBC’s values. your next online / face-to-face session with your tutor.

Following the inquiry the BBC announced on 25 March 2015 that they would not Fbook G oogle+ be renewing Clarkson’s contract. While Clarkson’s immediate future seems uncertain he will undoubtedly remain a popular media figure because many find his ‘blokishness’ appealing and in a world of political correctness gone mad Clarkson speaking his mind offers a refreshing change.