I can't stand the guy now, but I do have distant memories of watching Working Lunch and liking the show and liking him.

You appear to be a Clarkson fan. I can't stand either Chiles or Clarkson and struggle to see how either attracts the value they obviously do.

When he departs, it will be interesting to sse what happens to the Clarkson and Top Gear brands

I wouldn't say I'm a fan, I haven't signed the petition for a start. He's ok and I can tolerate him for an hour while I watch Top Gear, a programme I've enjoyed since the 80s. I'm not going to cut off my nose to spite my face.

double post

I struggle with his constantly needing to be a dick, seemingly just for the sake of being a dick.

Against my original instincts, I watched his documentary on the Arctic Convoys and was blown away by his professionalism. It was a subject that was obviously dear to his heart, he'd researched it well and did an excellent job in presenting it

That's Jeremy Clarkson.

He's a dick on Top Gear because the majority of his audience love it and that's what he knows they love, so he gives them what they want. A serious approach to motoring wouldn't really appeal to his fuel injected, testosterone charged disciples. Sometimes he gets carried away and goes too far.

A documentary about the Arctic Convoys will have a more discerning audience, hence he's professional and sympathetic to the subject. His boorish Top Gear approach wouldn't go down too well when talking about some of the bravest efforts of WW2.

That still doesn't explain why he obviously chooses to be a dick when he's not in the Top Gear studios

Fair point.

As if Clarkson gives a toss. The man is a multi-millionaire many times over.

I don't go out of my way to watch Top Gear, but I enjoy it now and then. But I've always liked Clarkson, largely for the fact he doesn't give a toss what lefties and/or eternally outraged think of him. I love that so many people get so wound up by him (see this thread for a start!), and meanwhile Top Gear continues to see massive ratings and he rakes in the pennies. Ok, so he spouts pub humour now & then - clearly a helluva lot of people relate to that, given up to 8 million people in the UK watch each episode. Unfortunately the perpetually offended have a loud voice these days.

The BBC have, however, typically ballsed up their reaction. Taking the remaining series off air? Risking their international sales of TG? Killing that massive cash cow? Really? Pathetic. Apologising to Mexico was bad enough.



The irony is all this outrage is probably doing him a favour. Clarkson is receiving more massive publicity and will walk into a multi-million pound deal within days if the BBC give him the boot. The petition to keep him has reached 500,000. No, I haven't signed it. For all of the above, whether Clarkson gets fired or not isn't actually high on my list of concerns.

Who'd have thought?

BBC being as it is these days, they'll replace him with a woman... probably Clare Balding, or Myleene Klass

I'm going for Mel and Sue. You can't turn the TV on these days without seeing their chuffing faces on at least 3 channels!