Sid the apology - sack him

The trouble is, bags, that there are plenty of people with sexist and racist views who see them as being reinforced when 'celebrities' like Clarkson endorse them. I am not sure what you mean by saying there is too much Political Correctness - can you expand? I am sure you don't mean that sexist, racist or homophobic behaviour or statements should not be challenged.
Can you tell us what views the people you knew in Chipping Norton held which made you class them as very right wing? I have, unfortunately, also known some people with very right wing views and they were mostly sexist and racist, as well as snobbish.

What a relief that Andy Murray didn't go to a public school!

I haven't been reading this thread because of the title! I thought it was something frivolous. It's not - it's important!

More care when starting threads perhaps?

I detest Clarkson. He is a nasty snide bully and full of racist and sexist remarks. The prat thinks he is being funny. No doubt he will says his remarks are just meant be a bit of fun.

Like the reactions of Russel Brand and Jonathan Ross. when their nasty phone call ws made. Over paid with an over inflated sense of their own importance.

bluebell, not only Virgina Wade but also Angela Mortimer 1961 and Ann Haydon-Jones 1969. We're about due for another woman champion and I hope the pressure of expectations doesn't weigh too heavily on Laura Robson and Heather Watson.

Well, I knew quite a few Chipping Norton type tories in Oxfordshire (though not in CN itself). Their politics were pretty far to the right but they weren't racist or sexist. I guess I'm extrapolating from experience.

I suppose I view Clarkson as a comedian. Other comedians make edgy racist and sexist jokes, and they do it deliberately to raise consciousness. The extreme remarks Clarkson has made have been so over the top that it was obvious to me that he didn't 'mean' what he said. He was playing the game that Top Gear is. A very lucrative one too.

JC has said several times something to the effect of "of course I don't mean the stupid things I say on Top Gear."

I'm not saying I like the man, but I just take him at face value – at which level he is constantly taking the piss about political correctness. I have some sympathy with that. There's way too much of it.

I am afraid I can't buy the possibility that Clarkson is so subtle he is just trying to get people to think. He is pandering to the sexist, racist petrol-heads. I remember that many people thought Alf Garnett had the right idea about immigrants - irony is lost on some people.
Bags - I know you don't have TV, so perhaps your view of Clarkson is generous because you haven't seen his sneer!

bags Clarkson may be a "shock jock" deliberately appealing to rather unpleasant laddish tastes in order to make money. (sexist jokes and drive too fast... lovely)
I am sure that he knows just what market he is in. But if he has this level of awareness - he has a choice and what choice does he make? Nasty, cynical piece of work I reckon.

Bags - I just think your interpretation is incredibly generous. And it begs the question as to whether it would be ok to upset people with sexist and racist comments to make them think. Sounds like a get out of jail card to me! MicElf - I 'd forgotten that - says it all !

I know he's one of the Chipping Norton set. Socialises with Cameron et al on a very regular basis.

Re Clarkson, I don't know him well enough to judge whether he's actually sexist or racist, but I think his on screen persona is an act, as are the May and Hammond acts. You may be right, bluebell, and it's the real him; I just don't think so.

John Huggan (@johnhuggan) tweeted at 6:57am - 8 Jul 13:

Still best line from yesterday... In 2014 it will be 78 years since an Englishman won Wimbledon

Bags - dont agree about Clarkson - that would mean he had some subtlety and I'm afraid there are too many examples of crassness in his behaviour to lead to that conclusion. I think he's deeply unpleasant - racist as well.

Murray has ended a 77 year wait for a British male Wimbledon champion. Yesterday everyone was talking about the men's championship, not the women's or mixed doubles.

Not that it matters what nationality the Wimbledon champs, male or female, are.

I think all the sexist remarks Clarkson makes are made not because he is a sexist twerp but because he isn't. He does it deliberately to outrage, to make people think about why they're outraged.

I suspect this Inverdale chappie is just stupid.

Times headline today - Murray ends 77 year wait for Britain.

Wither Virginia Wade? Oh yes , and guess what type of school
the editor of the Times went to?

I've never said it is confined - just that Clarkson and Inverdale are public school boys and sexist twerps. Happy to take examples of sexist state school boys at BBC - oh wait a minute - that would be like looking for high court judges and top civil servants who are stater educated....plus, it's the lauding of public school education that gets my goat when I look at some of its products. As for why I'm black and not blue, it's because of my work!

Inverdale is a disgrace, and the BBC should do something about him.

But bluebell oikery is not confined to public school products, even, I suspect in the BBC. Methinks you do protest too much, and have a dark secret to hide (perhaps that is why your name is in black, not blue); did you have a rotten time at Roedean?

'calm down dear' - a fitting epitaph maybe?

And look at how Etonian educated Cameron has covered himself in glory at PMQ with sexist comments!

Agreed that not all public school boys are unthinking idiots, but I doubt if he will be sacked because he may be part of the old boys network.

Kitty - I know that's true but the worst offenders on the BBC happen to be!

I think what he said was absolutely appalling but would point out that public school educated people don't have a monopoly on being rude, sexist or whatever nor are they all like that.

I hope the beeb sack him!

But lets not forget what Clare said to poor Liam about his teeth . Which was probably much worse [taken in context] than what John Inverdale did [I mean, he didn't ask Marion to parade on screen to prove his point]. Having said that, my opinion of him has changed due to what OGM has said about him. Someone I knew met John Craven once and said he was quite rude and unpleasant, so perhaps it comes with the job [although Clare is lovely on screen and off and was mortified about her comments on Liams teeth].

Lets clone Ms Balding and get rid of all those chauvinist dinosaurs!