Gransnet forums

News & politics

Jeremy Clarkson

(689 Posts)
merlotgran Wed 11-Mar-15 13:35:59

Quite rightly he's being suspended but should the BBC be cancelling episodes of Top Gear?

If a man working in a factory punches a colleague he would probably be sacked but I doubt they'd remove the product he was making from the shelves.

mrsmopp Wed 25-Mar-15 18:00:12

A 30 second attack doesn't sound very long but I just sat here and looked at my watch for 30 seconds. It is a long time to be hitting someone. And Clarkson is a big powerful man. He should be locked up.
I am amazed at the amount of support he has received. His fans think the sun shines out of his ******.

Mishap Wed 25-Mar-15 17:58:30

I heard the DG speaking on the radio and his position seemed very reasonable - he had instigated an investigation which had shown that JC abused a fellow employee both physically and verbally and therefore he had to be sacked. End of.

merlotgran Wed 25-Mar-15 17:56:08

No, Ana and tanith, I don't think the BBC should have let him off for the sake of the money but TV companies are obsessed with ratings so they are bound to be concerned about losing a huge income.

I notice Johnathan Ross, who was sacked by the BBC, is gradually being 'let back in'. It's only a matter of time before he lands another prime time show at the Beeb.

At no time during this thread have I condoned Jeremy Clarkson's behaviour.

loopylou Wed 25-Mar-15 17:51:50

Take responsibility? Never has so far in any of his toxic 'exploits' so highly unlikely to do so now.

Anne58 Wed 25-Mar-15 17:51:41

Conversation/interview on PM Radio 4 between Eddie Mair and Alan Yentob just a minute or two ago.

Worth a listen. I thought Yentob was actually quite rude to Eddie.

loopylou Wed 25-Mar-15 17:47:21

The Guardian says Oisin Tymon took himself to A&E after a 30-second physical attack caused swelling and bleeding to his lip, the inquiry found. It was accompanied by a sustained verbal tirade containing the “strongest expletives” and a threat to sack Tymon

Perhaps his supporters find that acceptable, many including me, don't.

JessM Wed 25-Mar-15 17:25:46

He's probably turned himself into a "toxic brand" with many companies.
Firstly because he has proved he cannot be trusted to treat other people with respect in the workplace. Who would want to work with him? Sleepless nights waiting for him to embarrass your company.
Secondly because doing a similar show on a commercial channel would be a problem as no car manufacturers (the obvious advertisers) would touch it with a bargepole - they'd be holding their breath, waiting for them to say something crushing about their latest model.
He's a journalist and I am sure will not need to sign on.

Anne58 Wed 25-Mar-15 17:24:02

Very well put, ga

grannyactivist Wed 25-Mar-15 17:19:05

As far as I'm concerned this is a straightforward matter of workplace law. Jeremy Clarkson assaulted a colleague at work, he admitted it. Ergo, he had to be fired. If he had not been fired it would have set a precedent and also opened the BBC up to being sued for damages.
I am appalled at the continued abuse being meted out to the victim of the assault and think that Jeremy Clarkson might go some way to redeeming the situation by speaking out in support of Oisin Tymon and taking personal responsibility for the consequences of his own actions.

tanith Wed 25-Mar-15 17:03:25

Did they actually have another choice merlotgran? The man punched a colleague and subjected him to a foul mouth tirade if thats not crossing a line then I don't know what is. Who cares if they go elsewhere .

Ana Wed 25-Mar-15 17:03:14

So do you think they should have 'let him off' for the sake of the income Top Gear raked in, merlot? confused

merlotgran Wed 25-Mar-15 16:57:14

I'm not condoning what he did but I think the BBC are on a hiding to nothing because they'll go to another channel, their fans will watch them wherever they are so the only loser will be the BBC.

thatbags Wed 25-Mar-15 16:52:11

What David Cameron said: Responding to the news, Prime Minister David Cameron said he believed that "if you do something wrong at work there can be consequences" and that "aggressive and abusive behaviour is not acceptable in the workplace".

Good that the BBC has got some balls at last when an employee abuses someone. I'm not talking about the non-PC stuff. That never bothered me.

The producer chappie who was hit should be left alone. He didn't report the incident, Clarkson did. I reckon he knew he'd gone too far.

If May said anything about a tragedy, I think he means that JC 'lost it' and so ended the programme as he, Hammond and JC have known it. May seems a decent sort. I'm sure he accepts the dismissal as fair.

rosequartz Wed 25-Mar-15 16:40:06

Channel 4 said previously that they don't want him anyway as they don't condone that sort of behaviour.

I hope the producer doesn't get repercussions from this - I think there have been some very unpleasant threats towards him online.

Ana Wed 25-Mar-15 16:40:06

Well, at least the tv licence fee payer won't be contributing towards his obscenely huge remuneration any more!

mrsmopp Wed 25-Mar-15 16:36:17

Good riddance as the man is a thug.
However he will probably have the last laugh because he will more than likely be snapped by another TV channel who will pay him even more dosh that the BBC !!
Thete is no justice.

Grannyknot Wed 25-Mar-15 16:27:42

I read somewhere that more people signed the "reinstate Clarkson" petition than the "Stop FGM" one sad

Anne58 Wed 25-Mar-15 16:26:05

Unfortunately I don't think this is going to hit Clarkson in the wallet area, he'll probably be offered something with Sky. Wish he had a clause in his contract that forbade him from taking up similar work with a rival organisation.

soontobe Wed 25-Mar-15 16:24:31

replying to Ana's post.

soontobe Wed 25-Mar-15 16:23:57

In which case, he is wrong.

Anne58 Wed 25-Mar-15 16:23:57

GillT57 I was just about to post something very similar. I think James May will come to regret that choice of words.

Ana Wed 25-Mar-15 16:20:02

James May said 'It's a tragedy' when asked his views on Clarkson's sacking. I've just watched the video footage.

soontobe Wed 25-Mar-15 16:14:53

It says a 'tragedy'.

I never know, when something is written like that, if that is the exact word said, or a paraphrase.

soontobe Wed 25-Mar-15 16:11:38

I cant see how giving someone a cut lip which needed A&E, would have been a wise way at all to go about hit.

I am wondering who is going to dare hire him.
But may be there are indeed many queueing up.

I find even a 20 minute irate rant at a person to be out of order myself.
20 minutes is a very long time, whether it is in the work place or at home.

GillT57 Wed 25-Mar-15 16:10:23

Will try that ana. He is guilty of believing his own publicity I think, felt he was beyond normal rules of behaviour probably. Just went over to DM and read reports, and James May, who I always thought was intelligent and not too much of a prat ( praise indeed from me), has said that this is a tragedy. Tell that to the families flying out to The Alps to collect their dead teenagers from the plane crash. It is not a tragedy, it is the end of a very silly, although popular TV programme, no more.