Clarkson suspended from Top Gear
Clarkson suspended from Top Gear
Well, this was kinda inevitable at some point, however it’s rather unfortunate it’s happened in the middle of a series… Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended by BBC after ‘fracas’ with a producer. We don’t know what the ‘fracas’ was (although early reports are saying that he punched the producer), but you’ve got to imagine it’s something pretty serious for them to actually suspend him at this point, given the amount of stuff he’s got away with in the past. However, this rather puts the Beeb in a difficult position…
Firstly, they won’t be airing the show this week, which is fair enough. However, if they do fire him, they have a problem. Initially, they have to find a replacement for the studio bits. That’s not too bad (i’m sure Tiff Needell is hanging by the phone as we speak), but then there’s the second issue…
Top Gear isn’t just studio stuff. Most of the segments have been filmed throughout the year with Clarkson in them. So even if you replace him in the studio, you either throw away a bunch of expensive, pre-filmed footage, or you have to use the reports that feature Clarkson. That maybe a bit odd, using segments which include a host you’ve just fired…
There is also the third issue. Money. Top Gear, love it or hate it, draws in HUGE amount of cash for the BBC, and part of that appeal is Clarkson as a presenter. Clarkson, as James May has pointed out on a number of occasions, is a colossal bell-end, but he’s also quite an entertaining one. Can it survive without the man who was pretty instrumental in reviving the show in the first place?
There’s also the problem that the Beeb had made it very clear that, if he put a foot wrong again, he’d be fired… And unfortunately for the Beeb and Clarkson, I think that maybe the only thing they can do at this point… And on that bombshell, what are your thoughts?
Dave has over 20 years experience in the digital industry, and is founder and editor of Geektown. Obviously a huge geek himself, he can often be found in front of the latest tv show or movie, on various video games, or with his head in a comic book.
if this was a normal 9-5 office job he’d have been fired no questions asked so don’t see why he should get special treatment if he did actually punch someone!
That being said I don’t see Top Gear without him.
That, in essence, is the problem… As must as they may or may not want Clarkson there, if he *did* actually punched someone, and they made a great fuss about being on a ‘final warning’, i’m not sure how they can do anything but sack him… BUT that then probably kills Top Gear, which earns huge amount of cash for the BBC. And you could end up with Clarkson is then on another channel as a competitor. And what if May and Hamster go with him? You have a show on another network which isn’t called Top Gear, but basically is… Love or loath him, sacking Clarkson causes as many headaches as keeping him.
Footballer’s get suspended & fined, so why not go down that route. He gets out of line, he gets a slap on the wrist.
That way we could all pay less TV licence fee.
Win win?
We dont yet know the details, so its difficult to judge at this point.
However, as a fan of Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson, if they fire him then Top Gear is dead, I certainly wont be watching it.
If its simply an argument, then he has to stay, such things happen all the time.
If he does leave there will be plenty of other channels who will be willing to sign him, hes big box office.