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!

Myleene Klass would be a wonderful addition to Top Gear. Clarkson would have to stay though, as he'd be able to fawn over her in the right way, while May and Hammond would just be scared of her and too shy to speak.

Think this all rests with the producer. If he's an idiot he'll stick to the possible truth that Clarkson gave him a little slap because he didn't get his food delivered within 3 seconds of him asking for it. If he's got any sense though his report will say that Clarkson was just understandably tired, emotional and hungry and just shouted at him. Big pay rise for the producer, Clarkson gets off again and that last 3 episodes of Top Gear get 25% higher ratings than they would have done without this fuss.

I expect if Clarkson does have to walk over this, he'll probably just retire with his millions and tell the world to do one.

I think you think that, and opinion aside, and whatever anyone thinks about Clarkson, that's a sad endemic of British journalism.

I may not agree with the gist of the Indy at times, but I've always thought of it as a quality publication, and enjoyed many of their articles.

However, a few months of following the Twitter and Facebook feed and I now view them alongside...well, the Beano, frankly. It's awful.

I hope they've mistakenly hired some social media 'guru' because if Indy journos are writing this stuff then things are worse than we think

Not that many others are much better, but the Indy is particularly laughable.

Clarkson is one of those who sometimes annoys me and sometimes I enjoy him. Most of the time I've enjoyed watching Top Gear, and the times I haven't have rarely been because of Clarkson (I'm not that interested in watching a supercar go round the track for instance). Most of the time he's annoyed me it's been either comments or his occasional newspaper articles he's done outside the Top Gear show.
On the show I've never really minded his laddish behaviour or the jokes. I think sometimes he does it a bit too often, when it's not needed.

I didn't like the nursery rhyme thing, I think that's him trying too hard and it just made him look like a childish idiot.

However, if he's assaulted someone, without serious provocation, then he has to be sacked. No ifs, no buts he's got to go.

If someone assaulted me at work merely over a workplace disagreement then I'd expect them to be sacked.
If that has happened I can't see how the BBC can do anything but sack him, or they're leaving themselves open to a constructive dismissal claim from the producer.

I aren't outraged by him.
If he came in my local and I didn't know of him I'd garner he was a bit of a tosspot within a fairly short period of time, I believe.
He's a type isn't he?

Always helps to like a bit of a jerk-off if you're a bit of a cock yourself.
I've found.