Jeremy Clarkson

Many people are injured and damaged in many ways. Jeremy Clarkson is not responsible for all the evils of this world. I think this thread has moved far away from the OP. Yes he's tactless, yes most of you don't like him but the difficult issue is what the BBC is going to do about it.

rosequartz I have one grandson who drives and one having lessons. Like any parent/grandparent I worry and hope they stay safe but I think good sense will be more likely to protect them than not being allowed to watch a programme on the telly.

You have to trust their judgement. It's part of letting them grow up.

I'd be more worried about the younger grandchildren watching TG and possibly hero-worshipping the presenters.

My nine year old grandson isn't driving yet.

I don't think he hero worships anyone either.

He laughs at the antics.

I don't think they do hero worship them, Ana. Clarkson is an old man in their eyes. Hammond is probably regarded as a bit cool but it's the humour they like.

If a "lesser mortal" punches his producer[assuming he has]. I dont think he or she would be very welcome on any channel.
It doesnt look good on one's cv.

"The difficult issue is what the BBC are going to do about it."?

We are the BBC. If it wasn't for us paying the licence fee, there would be no BBC.

We dont have the power to hire and fire though dj.

But the PAC, in the form of Margaret Hodge, is having a good try at firing one of the directors.
I notice that Michael Gove is backing Clarkson now.

You simply cannot trust the judgement of 17 year old male drivers, however much we might like to hope that we can. They are in thrall to their biology. They are known to be high risk. They need sound influences and guidance about what driving means - not the crass juvenility of Clarkson.

"A petition to have Clarkson reinstated by the BBC currently has well over half a million signatures – more than the number of all political party members combined. In 2008, 50,000 people presented a petition to Number 10 calling for Clarkson to be made Prime Minister and, according to YouGov, he is more popular than either Nick Clegg or Nigel Farage among first-time voters."

That's what happens when you let your kids and grandkids watch Top Gear.
Rather frightening, isn't it?

Looking forward to Question Time next.
Clarkson and Farage to be discussed. Wow, the excitement!

Or perhaps what happens when you allow kids to vote .

Daddy Pig for prime minister !

Mishap. What makes you think that most 17yr old drivers don't have sound influences and guidance about what driving means. A comment like that is not fair on sensible and caring parents.

Yes, they are high risk but it's unfair to suggest that they are all influenced by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson.

Young tearaways were causing accidents long before Top Gear was even thought of.

gillybob, maybe they shouldn't be allowed to vote until they are 30!

I don't believe that JC drove the cars as they appeared to be anyway. For goodness sake who would trust him driving a million pound Buggati the way he appeared to drive it ? Likewise most of the other expensive cars.

No maybe 30 is carrying it a bit too far durhamjen but at 18 I was "married" ( to a waste of space) with a child. I worked full time and had no benefits whatsoever. I was clueless about politics. I only knew that I paid tax, rent and lived from hand to mouth.

I imagine that Dr Who and the entire cast of Holly Oaks are more popular than Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage durhamjen should we ban all programmes except current affairs?

DD has loved Jeremy Clarkson for the last 25 years. She passed her test first time at 17, is a very good driver and has had one very minor shunt in 23 years. Enjoying something doesn't necessarily mean being unduly influenced by it .

I can`t believe that this boor has warranted 10 pages (so far)!

Can anyone quote exactly what Cameron and Gove have said on this subject? I ask because I feel extremely doubtful that they have really "entered the fray". DH says Cameron simply said he hoped the issue would be sorted out. That sounds to me far more likely than him "supporting" JC.

Quotes, anyone? I googled "Gove and Clarkson" and the most up to date info that came up is from May last year.

Here is the DC quote on Huffington post Bags www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/03/11/cameron-backs-his-friend-clarkson-wants-him-back-on-tv-for-the-sake-of-his-children_n_6849972.html

I really do hope the BBC resolve this mess asap. If he was an employee the details of the investigation should be treated as confidential during and after. All that would be known was the outcome. (e.g. if he was a headteacher, all you'd know is sacked or not.)
But though he is not, technically an employee and the BBC has leaked like a sieve, one would think that public figures would have the maturity to keep quiet on the subject at least until the matter has been resolved. It is, in effect "sub judice". Also trial by media and social media is not a good idea.
But this is not a one off - Cameron was criticised by a judge for commenting on the trial on another of his buddies, Coulson, not so long ago:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/10925324/David-Cameron-criticised-by-phone-hacking-judge-for-open-season-on-Andy-Coulson-as-jury-fail-to-reach-final-verdicts.html

Thanks, jess. So DH was correct. Cameron said he hoped it could be sorted out, that JC is a friend and a constituent of his (which is public knowledge already), and that Cameron's kids enjoy Top Gear.

I don't call that "weighing in". He did not judge the situation. He was equally supportive of the BBC.