Jeremy Clarkson

I do know that whenim, its just human nature and the media at play. If you're putting together a pitch for a potentially expensive new programme would you risk employing the guy who,in whatever way,led to the BBC's biggest cash cow being lost? Business is business and its a hard life in the media.

Jane10- what else could the BBC do? They could not be seen to say 'this was assault, bullying and abuse of several kinds- but because the programme makes us a lot of money we won't do anything about it- and just give him yet another final warning...until the next one'???

Could they?

If a footballer is the top scorer for the England team and rapes someone a few days before the Cup- do they say 'well that was wrong, but the Cup is more important, so we will keep him'.

These 'stars' do get away with stuff like that all the time, often from a young age, and know because people value their talent, they do get away with 'murder'.

One of the boys, aged 13, at one school where I taught, assaulted 2 girls on the bus (aged 12), pulled their knickers down and touched them up with other boys, with the girls screaming. The Head of the school said it was just boys being boys, no harm done, ad he couldn't expel them for a few days as they had a football final on Saturday and he needed them all. I was young and meek then- and it was my first job- later in my career I would have taken it to the Governors. He also said the girls were pretty and like to flirt- so they were 'sort of the cause' of the incident.

This is how Prima Donas are confirmed, and how they learn their talent is so valued that eyes and ears will be closed to much demeanor.

So Clarkson behaved like a certain Labour Deputy PM... the question now is - will he finally buy some grown-up trousers instead of those lousy jeans he favours?

Feetle - cheap shot. I wouldn't condone Prescott throwing that punch but it was not a 30 second pummelling and a 20 minute foul mouthed tirade including a threat to the person's livelihood. Grow up!

Oh feetle who hit Clarkson?

The BBC knew exactly what he was like. They knew he needed careful management. I know, just like a toddler, but he is a valuable popular toddler. He should have been better managed so the situation shouldn't have arisen. Its a mess all round and the license payer will have to fund it. How can the BBC make up the £100million gap they will be faced with now?

There is a law against employing toddlers in this country jane

Yes - Jane - I agree the BBC are culpable as well - they let him get away with far too much for far too long and didn't seem to realise that something like this was bound to happen.

Did they "let him get away with" stuff that really mattered or did they just respond to hyper-sensitivity about 'correctness'? Has he been accused or found guilty of abusing anyone before? I don't think his nonPC expressions are comparable to hitting someone.

And I agree that it is possible to criticise the production management team without condoning the violent act in question. I actually think that expecting a hot dinner at 2200 is unreasonable but I expect I'd find a lot of the expectations of programme production unreasonable too.

Jane10 - we'll never agree on this issue, and that's ok isn't it.

You ask who'd risk employing a guy, who in whatever way, led to the BBC's biggest cash cow being lost. I know you mean the producer - but he wasn't responsible for JC being let go, JC did that all on his own.

A middle aged man in need of careful handling ? A valuable popular toddler?

So any man who is tired after a days work, spends two hours in the pub, gets home , angry because he can't have the dinner he wanted so thumps his wife is just a man in need of careful handling?

Yesterday he was described as - the bad boy of tv ! No he is a middle aged man , a bigot, a racist, a bully, foul mouthed , arrogant

Anyone who can excuse this mans behaviour will excuse any man who punches someone , it doesn't take thirty seconds to land one punch so just how many blows were inflicted on the victim

That's what I can't understand, Anniebach. If the producer suffered a split lip after thirty seconds of physical assault, there must have been other injuries. It doesn't add up.

Who declared it was 30 seconds and who was holding the stop watch?

Just wondering.

There were many witnesses Merlotgran , I doubt a stop watch was involved, what matters is a man was subjected to a tirade of abuse then hit until someone pulled his attacker off . For me it is quite simple , a person is free to carry out abuse or not , if it's acceptable for Clarkson it is acceptable for any one to hit out and the law on ABH should be scrapped . Men should be free to hit their partners.? Bosses free to hit their employees ?

Of course its not acceptable to hit anyone. Of course none of this is acceptable. However ,my view is that this situation was predictable and preventable. I'm being pragmatic rather than literal when stating he behaves like a toddler. In fact all my comments are just being pragmatic. Life isn't fair. If the world was run by Grans I'm sure it would all be very different but unfortunately its just not. Yes Im64 looks like we wont agree on this - but don't worry it wont come to blows!

Of course it would have been preventable if the bully had ever learned to curb his tantrums. Only one person was at fault here.

Well, going back to the 30 seconds and injuries. If I had been hit in the face with one first punch, I think I would have cowered and put my head down between my arms to protect myself- so other punches would have hit my back- mabe a few bruises and no other injuries. Try it- count slowly to 30 in your head- it is quite a long time.

Can't compare to Prescott- he was hit and retaliated by instinct, ONCE. Again, no excuse, but VERY VERY different.

anya I was trying to get beyond the simplistic view. I thought I had made it quite clear that it shouldn't have happened at all.

The BBC has called it workplace bullying, and, reluctantly, I have to admit they are right to do so. The sacking is justified.

One quick swing could well cause bleeding from a cut lip. The producer drove himself to hospital to be checked over. I guess his jaw could have been dislocated, even broken. I doubt there were any more injuries, but, yes, the hit, and the verbal tirade was bullying.

I hope the other two stay with the programme. I guess Chris Evans would be a good replacement.

Give it a rest granjura the man's medical records are confidential as you well know. Sounds like you are picking holes in the victim's story for no good reason. If JC had been an employee all details would have been confidential.
As it is the BBC no doubt have to tread carefully and follow legal advice to the letter.
Well said anniebach. I don't think any careful handling would have worked on this over-inflated ego. As every abused wife knows, tiptoeing round a bully does not work for long and you can only stand up to them if you have power of some kind (huge muscular brothers, financial power etc)

I agree anniebach

JessM- totally the opposite actually. I am trying to explain why the victim's face did not show further injuries from the (totally inexcusable and 30 seconds) attack.

I therefore totally agree with anniebach too.

Bored of the whole Clarkson debacle now. Having read all the details, absolutely the sacking was justified, outrageous and boorish behaviour on JC's part, he really doesn't deserve to have the same initials as Jesus Christ, can't imagine him turning his other fat and rather flabby cheek! The victim has acted with exemplary dignity. Have to admit I'm not a fan of Top Gear, I know it earns the BBC squillions, but it's right up there with golf, cricket and snooker, just bores the drawers off me.

I fervently hope we are not now to be subjected to endless repeats of old programmes.

granjura , maybe a few other bruises ? One bruise is one to many , you may have covered your face etc, you have had days to think what you would do, talk to battered women , ask them how one blow to the face caused a black eye , a cut lip, a bruised cheek, simply because they didn't have days to think I will cover my face , curl up etc . This vile man had to be pulled off his victim , no one knows what they would do if a fat lumping bully lunged at them yelling abuse , people can freeze

No one has any right or any excuse to hit another person . If this had happened in a school sixth form and a master hit a seventeen year old student , would some say - well, we all know what it 's like to be tired and stressed

I am so cross at the excuses given for this violent mans attack , he was hungry, his employers should have kept him in control .the man needs a physciatric ward , not excuses