Un-official GTPlanet BBC Topgear UK ThreadTV

[buickgnx88]

I propose a new web series: Jezza, May, and the Hamster attempt to assemble IKEA furniture.

 

[frivoloushobby]

Yeah, I think the BBC got it right. If I punched a co-worker because one grown man didn't prepare another grown man's meal I certainly wouldn't have a job. I loved the show but Clarkson really turned into his own worst enemy. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out with Hammond and May. Heck, maybe the trio will strike up a deal with Netflix. I find it highly unlikely that none of us will ever see Clarkson on t.v. again.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Maybe the Discovery Channel can scoop them up. To replace 5th Gear. Bring back Tiff and dump the Stig.

The Discovery Channel at the moment is on a "more shows for women" kick, so probably not.

 

[Lewis_Hamilton_]

Combine that with his history of racial slurs and it's safe to assume Clarkson's not such a great guy

This may turn out to be an unpopular post, but has Clarkson ever truly been proven to be a racist? I know of 3 supposed incidents. One word, 'slope' which I and others never realised was even a racial slur, but I'm not excusing him for it. Secondly about the N-word, I thought it had been told that he never actually said the word, and watching the clip can't hear him saying it. For the third one, about Mexicans, actually came from Hammond.

Like I've said before, I'm not trying to justify any actions or defend him, but it's a frequent thing to see people using whatever they can to tarnish the image of someone they dislike or have an agenda against.

 

[SCER]

This may turn out to be an unpopular post, but has Clarkson ever truly been proven to be a racist? I know of 3 supposed incidents. One word, 'slope' which I and others never realised was even a racial slur, but I'm not excusing him for it. Secondly about the N-word, I thought it had been told that he never actually said the word, and watching the clip can't hear him saying it. For the third one, about Mexicans, actually came from Hammond.

Like I've said before, I'm not trying to justify any actions or defend him, but it's a frequent thing to see people using whatever they can to tarnish the image of someone they dislike or have an agenda against.

You can't really 'prove' someone a racist, but as they say, 'there's no smoke without fire'. I haven't looked into any of the allegations beyond news reports and newspaper articles, but the fact that he's been linked to a number of incidents of a discriminatory nature, combined with this latest tirade of verbal abuse, lead me to conclude that he's, if not a racist, probably a bit of a bastard, and that's enough for me.

 

[MatskiMonk]

This may turn out to be an unpopular post, but has Clarkson ever truly been proven to be a racist? I know of 3 supposed incidents. One word, 'slope' which I and others never realised was even a racial slur, but I'm not excusing him for it. Secondly about the N-word, I thought it had been told that he never actually said the word, for the third one, about Mexicans, actually came from Hammond.

I'd second that. He's not a young guy, and was raised in an era where different things were acceptable, I think he plays on that to a degree but those incidents, blindingly trivial as far as I'm concerned, didn't seem to contain any malice or incitement of racial hatred at all. I too had never heard Slope used as a derogatory term, and the N-word incident had to be analysed by an expert to determine if he'd actually said it at all. Honestly I hear worse walking past the local school, and far worse is broadcast on television.

As for the sustained assault, 30 secs of physical assault resulting in a swollen bloody lip (must have been a hell of a jab to warrant going to A & E for that!), and a drunken rant. Apparently Oisin was under the impression he'd lost his job, and therefore could have rightfully told Clarkson to F off, and left.

Anyway, I'm not really defending Jeremy here in spite of what he's done, gross misconduct, which he reported himself, is still gross misconduct. I think that the BBC could have made a case to keep him on, and that would have been down to them. Jeremys punishment could have been a purely legal one handled by the police, which would have been pretty indisputable, and would have gone on his criminal record, but wouldn't necessarily have had the effect of letting millions and millions of fans around the world down.

 

[daan]

Considering all three of them have done other presenting duties on BBC, it's most likely a year ban on doing any similar duties on, at a minimum, other British-based TV networks.

While they were under contracts, yes. As they now don't have contracts, the BBC can't stop them from doing anything.

Further, as BBC owns the Top Gear concept, even after the non-compete clause expires, they probably wouldn't be able to do a copy/paste version.

The BBC owns the Top Gear name. It doesn't own the rights on making a magazine TV show about cars.

 

[Lewis_Hamilton_]

You can't really 'prove' someone a racist, but as they say, 'there's no smoke without fire'. I haven't looked into any of the allegations beyond news reports and newspaper articles, but the fact that he's been linked to a number of incidents of a discriminatory nature, combined with this latest tirade of verbal abuse, lead me to conclude that he's probably a bit of a bastard, and that's enough for me.

But that's making assumptions and trusting the tabloid media as fact and not it's doing usual sensationalism, a guilty until proven innocent way of thinking. Surely you should seek proof to justify your feelings.

 

[SCER]

I'd second that. He's not a young guy, and was raised in an era where different things were acceptable, I think he plays on that to a degree but those incidents, blindingly trivial as far as I'm concerned, didn't seem to contain any malice or incitement of racial hatred at all. I too had never heard Slope used as a derogatory term, and the N-word incident had to be analysed by an expert to determine if he'd actually said it at all. Honestly I hear worse walking past the local school, and far worse is broadcast on television.

I don't think he's been accused of 'inciting racial hatred' as much as being a bit of an idiot.

But that's making assumptions and trusting the tabloid media as fact and not it's doing usual sensationalism, a guilty until proven innocent way of thinking. Surely you should seek proof to justify your feelings.

You've misunderstood me, I'm not saying each article is bang on, I'm saying that most people who are linked to cases of racial abuse three times, have probably been racially abusive. Not to mention the fact that he writes for the Daily Mail, a right wing newspaper that regularly offends vast swathes of the population with it's militantly non-PC agenda.

 

[Eggstor]

While they were under contracts, yes. As they now don't have contracts, the BBC can't stop them from doing anything.


The BBC owns the Top Gear name. It doesn't own the rights on making a magazine TV show about cars.

It may well be different in Great Britain, but non-compete clauses can and do extend beyond the life of the main part of the contract in the US.

As for the magazine, it wouldn't be the first time Wikipedia is wrong as it says BBC Worldwide owns the magazine. Then again, since it isn't printed on this side of the Atlantic, that's all I have to go on.

Edit - I misread the second part. BBC would have grounds to sue if Clarkson and company made a "Gop Tear", with their likelyhood of success hinging on how close to the 2002-2015 version of Top Gear it is.

 

[Dennisch]

The Discovery Channel at the moment is on a "more shows for women" kick, so probably not.

Isn't that where TLC is for?

 

[CodeRedR51]

It was starting to circle the drain anyway IMO. While some overseas audiences *cough*America*cough* seem to love the blatantly scripted humour, I just wanted to see them review cars. Even if it wasn't a particularly serious review (e.g. Fiesta vs Corvette in a shopping centre) it would still be better than the Ambulance 'challenge' or the India special.

Scripted or not, it's still a hell of a lot better than most of the crap we get on cable. Hence why I don't pay for cable, the few goods shows I want to watch (Walking Dead for example) I can just download off the net.

Isn't that where TLC is for?

I don't know, haven't really watched any TV in a while.

 

[daan]

As for the magazine, it wouldn't be the first time Wikipedia is wrong as it says BBC Worldwide owns the magazine. Then again, since it isn't printed on this side of the Atlantic, that's all I have to go on.

I'm not talking about the printed magazine. The Top Gear format, with different news stories and articles is a magazine format TV show. Anyone can make a magazine format TV show without the need to get the BBC's permission.

 

[craigatm]

The abuse Oisin Tymon (the guy who Jezza punched) is recieving, is sickening. It's already been reported that Oisin kept his mouth shut over the entire incident, until Jeremy himself turned himself in to BBC management. Too many people are letting their emotions get the better of them, without knowing the full story.

Yet what concerns me more is they think Oisin reported Jeremy, and believe that he is the one in the wrong. It's that playground mentality of suck-up to the bullies, and blame the victims. They're sheep. You'd hope people would have grown out of such stupidity right now! Yet it's worse than ever...

 

[Tired Tyres]

Needless to say, anyone that verbally abuses a junior staff member for a prolonged period of time and then punches them in the face giving them a bleeding lip shouldn't really keep their job. Combine that with his history of racial slurs and it's safe to assume Clarkson's not such a great guy. Good riddance.

As for the show, it's becoming increasingly tacky and scripted and the trio are looking increasingly undignified so if it's permanently cancelled I wont miss it much.

I must say, I'm slightly confused as to why anyone wants to see a man with a long history of assault and racial slurs return to their TV screens. Is the love of Top Gear so great that people are willing to overlook the fact that he's probably a pretty terrible person?

I believe it's called vive la difference. Do you want everybody to turn into an identical two brain cell PC fascist - intolerant of everything not covered by the PC practical joke and terrified of upsetting anybody?

 

[Swagger897]

See, the thing I can't get out of my mind is "will he actually put forth the effort to make/appear on a new show?" That's my... uh... query I have towards this. I know it wasn't much but the article from Piers spoke a bit about how Clarkson's life is currently not in the best light.
Is Clarkson like those of comedians whose expressions we see on television drastically different in reality? I'm punching myself in the mouth right now (not really but...) for me about to say "Will this end up like Robin Williams?"
Not as in suicide, I don't think Jeremy is that desperate, but I'm not sure what he will do...


I do know one thing, if he would go on NBCSN and commentate with Steve Matchett and Hobo, (yes, I know his F1 views aren't the best) that would be... better than excellent.

 

[Vic Reign93]

The abuse Oisin Tymon (the guy who Jezza punched) is recieving, is sickening. It's already been reported that Oisin kept his mouth shut over the entire incident, until Jeremy himself turned himself in to BBC management. Too many people are letting their emotions get the better of them, without knowing the full story.

Yet what concerns me more is they think Oisin reported Jeremy, and believe that he is the one in the wrong. It's that playground mentality of suck-up to the bullies, and blame the victims. They're sheep. You'd hope people would have grown out of such stupidity right now! Yet it's worse than ever...

Oh wow, can't say I'm surprised.

No really, I saw this coming from a mile away.

This is the negative side to fans, I'm pretty sure if Clarkson shot someone in the middle of Mardi gras, they'll defend him.

 

[Bram Turismo]

I don't think Jeremy is that desperate, but I'm not sure what he will do...

With all the money he has earned on Top Gear, I wouldn't even know where to start...

 

[SCER]

I believe it's called vive la difference. Do you want everybody to turn into an identical two brain cell PC fascist - intolerant of everything not covered by the PC practical joke and terrified of upsetting anybody?

Not assaulting and verbally abusing people = fascism.

👍

 

[InSight]

I believe it's called vive la difference. Do you want everybody to turn into an identical two brain cell PC fascist - intolerant of everything not covered by the PC practical joke and terrified of upsetting anybody?

That's why Clarkson is so popular. The only person on BBC who dares to stand for Britain while others are just yapping the PC agenda. Buthurt "minorities" will always say he's racist and whatnot, and BBC will always bow down and apologise. But where does it stop?

 

[Famine]

Not to mention the fact that he writes for the Daily Mail, a right wing newspaper that regularly offends vast swathes of the population with it's militantly non-PC agenda.

The Daily Mail isn't right wing - in fact it's quite difficult to say which wing it's on as one minute it's damning public services and the next it's criticising them being cut or replaced. They are a fascist rag though, but then since they were founded by people who became Nazi sympathisers (Lord Rothermere) and endorsed fascists like Oswald Mosley and his blackshirts I imagine that's well known.

Aaaand in any case Clarkson doesn't write for them. He has a motoring column in The Times and an op-ed column in the Sun.

 

[Swagger897]

Aaaand in any case Clarkson doesn't write for them. He has a motoring column in The Times and an op-ed column in the Sun.

lol...
details guys... get them right the first time..

 

[C-ZETA]

He has a motoring column in The Times and an op-ed column in the Sun.

Also an opinion column in The Times, which form several of his books along with the motoring columns.

 

[SCER]

Aaaand in any case Clarkson doesn't write for them. He has a motoring column in The Times and an op-ed column in the Sun.

More the fool I am, no idea where I read that it was the Daily Mail. In my defence, The Sun's a pretty rubbish paper too.

 

[Downhill Dino]

So who does the Ferrari/McLaren/Porsche battle now?

 

[Vic Reign93]

So who does the Ferrari/McLaren/Porsche battle now?

Honestly? Absolutely no idea.

The offer might be still on the table, but it won't be Top Gear as we know it doing it.

A more realistic view is it won't happen this year if at all, I'll file it under "Ulitimate What Ifs" right next to HypnoDisc v Razer from Robot Wars.

 

[SCER]

Honestly? Absolutely no idea.

The offer might be still on the table, but it won't be Top Gear as we know it doing it.

A more realistic view is it won't happen this year if at all, I'll file it under "Ulitimate What Ifs" right next to HypnoDisc v Razer from Robot Wars.

Ah, the memories

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Heard the news earlier, sad but no surprise, will very interesting to see what happens next...

 

[Kurei]

^ Likewise, knowing the gearheads & TG fanbase, I'm sure Clarkson will be fine, I'm honestly more worried for the BBC, losing part of the best thing they had for many.

Though, here's what I imagine The Internet will take and/or remember from this:
-"Clarkson will never die"
-"Oisin's a 🤬"
-"BBC shot themselves in the foot"
-"Time to check out those DVDs"

 

[bremics]

I think they should have waited the 3 weeks before suspending and sacking him, saving themselves millions of dollars in the process.

Didn't one of those sites say BBC is losing a billion pounds because of cancellation fees or something?