Jeremy Clarkson

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I agree - I also seem to remember that Oliver Reed at least, died a broken man and certainly not a respected one.

Here is the original and literary definition of "tragedy" -

"noun - (in ancient Greek theatre) a play in which the protagonist, usually a man of importance and outstanding personal qualities, falls to disaster through the combination of a personal failing and circumstances with which he cannot deal"

So I suppose you could say that it is a tragedy that his hubris led him to behave so crassly that he has thrown away his position as part of a successful series.

In the current meaning of the word, though, it is a long way from the tragedy of the fatal disasrter that shares today's headlines. He will survive the bad publicity - may even thrive on it in some circles.

A terrible tragedy happened yesterday- and Clarkson was NOT IT

TRAGEDY!!!!!!!!!
I'm speechless!

How on earth can that man's appalling behaviour be condoned let along called a tragedy in light of the awful accident yesterday?

It just shows that they have lost their grip on what matters in life.

Hammond sounds as if he is hedging his bets:
^Gutted at such a sad end to an era. We're all three of us idiots in our different ways but it's been an incredible ride together.
3:20 PM - 25 Mar 2015^

Certainly hope that our Prime Minister will have the decency to apologise for getting involved, but mainly for excusing the unexcusable physical and verbal assault and bullying.

Well that's a new definition of an idiot - someone who launches a foul mouthed tirade and physically assaults a subordinate . I'd call home something else

Some ( sighs at inability to handle auto correct)

It does make you think though- that the PM was prepared to support him, without waiting to know the full facts. Makes you think about more important issues- if that is the way he handles this!

Exactly - add in Andy Coulson and Team Nigella comments criticised by judge for nearly derailing trial and you have a well rounded picture of a balanced thoughtful person

INexcusable?

Good riddance - can't bear the man or his puerile programme
. He's an insufferable bore and its about time he grew up.

Oliver Reed died during the making of a film (Gladiator) in Malta. He allegedly fell off his perch trying to out-drink some sailors in a bar, so he was still working (and probably died doing what he loved most).

I liked Oliver Reid. Dishy.

Reed (whoops)

Apparently it was a heart attack, although the legend is that he was trying to out-drink sailors - foolish move!

Sacked Jane is not a word people use professionally - its a slang word. One would say that he had been "dismissed from employment". But JC's contract was not an employment contract, and I gather almost at an end and due for renewal. Therefore not renewing his contract is the proper terminology. There may have been a clause in his contract that would make it very difficult not to pay the full amount and the BBC would certainly not want a court battle (wasting a lot more money) over a few thousand.

It'll be a cost to the license payer- losing so many millions in revenue from sales of Top Gear around the world will have an effect on programme quality. The victim will struggle to find work again I reckon. There may not be a queue to employ the producer who didn't organise a hot meal for the team at the end of a long day leading to the events that followed. I agree that JC definitely shouldn't have hit him but the situation shouldn't have arisen. Jeremy will find new work easily. The producer? Not so much. No winners at all.

The Police are now able to look into the alleged incident. I don't know what the outcome will be, but it does seem if there has been a assault.

I think if someone had hit me, or any of my nearest and dearest I would want to press charges no matter who they were.

Maybe I'm wrong, and we should all vent our frustration with life, using a punch here or there?

x

According to interviews Top Gear will continue. It existed before Clarkson and will be rebranded with a new presenter or presenters. There are many gifted young presenters waiting in the wings. No one is irreplaceable.

I heard the interview with Alan Yentob and I was very angry at his failure to condemn Clarksons behaviour outright.

I cannot understand for a moment why Yentob was prevaricating about this. Perhaps he's worried about losing his cash cow.
It left me shouting at my Car radio.

It just won't be the same. I suspect that the chemistry between 'the boys', which is what I enjoyed, was the main reason for watching ( I certainly was not in the least interested in the cars!). That can't be replaced. A new car programme? Meh.

Absolutely J52. Last night, I counted to 30 seconds- it is actually quite a long time, and one could land a good many punches in a rage in that half a minute- and Clarkson only stopped because a third party intervened. That is the sign of a man out of control- and who could do it again- especially as this was followed ba a fit of rage that went on and on totally uncontrollably for quite some time. I wonder if other similar incidents may come out of the woodwork now?

Jane 10 -you still seem to be putting some responsibility on the victim for being assaulted and abused. A hot meal was organised, Clarkson was in the pub and arrived to late for it to be cooked so was offered something cold.
The producer was not sacked by the BBC, he remains in post and the comments from the BBC yesterday confirmed its duty of care to its employees. It isn't his fault Clarkson lost his temper.

Jess I take your point about the use of the word 'sacked' but neither is 'axed' a professional term, which is the word the BBC used in the 6 o'clock news.
I also agree that JC wasn't an employee, and the legal costs of terminating his contract a few days early would probably have outweighed the costs of paying him for the few remaining days.

However.....why on earth didn't Yentob just say that, instead of laying into Eddie Mair the way he did?
Nellie glad it wasn't just me who was shocked at Yentob's response.