Top Gear--BBC will not renew Clarkson's contract

[Sandstone Addiction]

"And on that bombshell..."

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32052736





Jeremy Clarkson's contract will not be renewed after an "unprovoked physical attack" on a Top Gear producer, the BBC's director general has confirmed.

Tony Hall said he had "not taken this decision lightly" and recognised it would "divide opinion".
However, he added "a line has been crossed" and he "cannot condone what has happened on this occasion".
Clarkson was suspended on 10 March, following what was called a "fracas" with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon.
The row, which took place in a Yorkshire hotel, was said to have occurred because no hot food was provided following a day's filming.


An internal investigation began last week, led by Ken MacQuarrie, the director of BBC Scotland.
It found that Mr Tymon took himself to hospital after he was subject to an "unprovoked physical and verbal attack".
"During the physical attack Oisin Tymon was struck, resulting in swelling and bleeding to his lip."


It lasted "around 30 seconds and was halted by the intervention of a witness," Mr MacQuarrie noted in his report.
"The verbal abuse was sustained over a longer period" and "contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack" Mr Tymon, who believed he had lost his job.

'Extraordinary contribution'

Mr Tymon did not file a formal complaint and it is understood Clarkson reported himself to BBC bosses following the incident.
After that, the BBC's director of television, Danny Cohen, felt he had no choice but to suspend the presenter pending an investigation.
The decision caused an outpouring of support from Top Gear fans, with more than a million people signing an online petition to reinstate him.

Announcing his decision, Lord Hall said Clarkson's dismissal was unavoidable.


"For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations."
However, he added: "This decision should in no way detract from the extraordinary contribution that Jeremy Clarkson has made to the BBC. I have always personally been a great fan of his work and Top Gear."


In a statement, Mr Tymon thanked the BBC for a "thorough and swift investigation into this very regrettable incident".
"I've worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love," he continued.
"Over that time Jeremy and I had a positive and successful working relationship, making some landmark projects together. He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way."
North Yorkshire police have asked to see the BBC's internal report, saying it will be "assessed appropriately and action will be taken... where necessary".
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".


Jeremy Clarkson took a slightly dull and failing car programme and turned it in to the biggest factual TV show in the World.
But this sacking has nothing to do with style, opinions, popularity - or even his language on the show.
It's about what stars are allowed to get away with off screen, a topic that's been top of the agenda for the BBC in recent months.
The corporation has had to overhaul all of its policies and attitudes towards bullying and harassment, and a long verbal tirade and a physical assault would have crossed the line for any member of staff.
Clarkson may be popular with the audience, and the BBC really did not want to lose him, but this was a star who admitted he was on his final warning and a corporation that was under intense scrutiny over what its top talent can and cannot get away with.

Top Gear, which is one of BBC Two's most popular programmes, will continue without Clarkson, who will now become the subject of a bidding war by other broadcasters.
The magazine show is one of the BBC's biggest properties, with overseas sales worth an estimated £50m a year for the corporation's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.

[Sandstone Addiction]

One of my favs...

[Rob L]

The bloke is an arse. But he does generate huge revenues (to the tunes of millions) for the BBC, which is publicly funded here in the UK...it costs me a mandatory £145 (about $220) per annum to receive this drivel.

A lot of the revenues from overseas sales of BBC programs come from the likes of north and south America (surprisingly!).

I don't like him at all. James May is a small aircraft hobby pilot like me, so I prefer him. He did a very good few TV programs about trains and Spitfires and so on.

The Wankster needs shooting like the small nerd he is.

Forgive me if I speak my mind too much.

Rob.

[Tystevens]

I love the program, although Clarkson is my least favorite presenter of the three. If they can continue without him, or replace him with someone else, I'd love to watch the show.

But I'm afraid that Clarkson is responsible for much of the behind-the-scenes stuff that makes the show so great. I've tried hard to watch the other iterations of Top Gear (ie, Top Gear USA), and they are just missing something. I hope that the show can survive his loss, and that Clarkson wasn't who made the show great in the first place.

[Sandstone Addiction]

The bloke is an arse. But he does generate huge revenues (to the tunes of millions) for the BBC, which is publicly funded here in the UK...it costs me a mandatory £145 (about $220) per annum to receive this drivel.

A lot of the revenues from overseas sales of BBC programs come from the likes of north and south America (surprisingly!).

I don't like him at all. James May is a small aircraft hobby pilot like me, so I prefer him. He did a very good few TV programs about trains and Spitfires and so on.

The Wankster needs shooting like the small nerd he is.

Forgive me if I speak my mind too much.

Rob.

You forgot The Stig--you probably hate him too?

[Rob L]

You forgot The Stig--you probably hate him too?

I don't watch Top Gear at all, so although I know about the Stig, I don't have an opinion.

The whole point about Top Gear is that it generates revenue; it's not at all to do with cars...it's a Game Show / Soap Opera and a Car Show all wrapped into one. It's like Dallas but without the Stetsons and the boobs.

You have to admire it, even if you don't like it. And I don't even watch it!

[Sandstone Addiction]

Another one of my faves--brilliant.

[BruteForce]

And on that bombshell!