Clarkson suspended from Top Gear, new episode postponed

[JulesMaximus]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...32/breaking-clarkson-suspended-from-top-gear/

Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended after a "fracas" with a BBC producer, The Independent reports. This Sunday's episode of the show will not be broadcast while the BBC investigates.

The BBC released the following short statement on the sudden turn of events:

Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation. No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday. The BBC will be making no further comment at this time.
​

Clarkson, no stranger to controversy, was on "final warning" from the BBC after numerous accusations of racist remarks. BBC director of television Danny Cohen ordered a full-scale internal investigation into the show last year, in response to allegations of racism and other offensive events on the show.

The Independent reports that Top Gear staff have been questioned over whether "a culture existed where people were afraid to speak out." The show's bosses feared that the BBC would cancel the series after Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May were run down by an Argentinian mob over an allegedly offensive license plate believed to be a joke about the country's defeat in the Falklands War.

In the wake of the Argentinian controversy, Top Gear producers reportedly dialed back some of the show's more ridiculous stunts, a move which allegedly led to a drop in ratings.

The Guinness Book of World Records calls Top Gear "the world's most widely-watched factual television program." Clarkson was paid nearly $22 million for his work on Top Gear in 2012, after BBC Worldwide took full control of the show's production.

 

[slag]

Top Gear is one of the few shows our entire family can watch and like. Sure, many if not all of the stories are staged, but they are funny. It's rare that the entire family , boys age 7, 11, and 14 , my wife and I as well, will all sit down to watch a show and we all like it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Top Gear is one of the few shows our entire family can watch and like. Sure, many if not all of the stories are staged, but they are funny. It's rare that the entire family , boys age 7, 11, and 14 , my wife and I as well, will all sit down to watch a show and we all like it.

My wife doesn't watch it with me. My son watches it sometimes. I think it is brilliant.

Wheeler Dealers is another of my favorites.

 

[Harrod]

They would be stupid to screw up a show like this, it's a license to print money for the BBC.

 

[jlee]

I just heard about this. Hopefully they sort something out - I have huge doubts that they'd be able to keep Top Gear going as well with different people.

 

[Drako]

He was on double secret probation. :|

 

[ghost recon88]

Wait $22 million for the 2012 season?

 

[slugg]

I don't want Top Gear to end. But let's pretend it does. It'll end on a high note!

Annnnddd do you really think Clarkson will stop there? I'm sure he'll have plenty of offers going his way for something new. And he'll take one, because he'll have an itch to be the awesome bafoon that he is. And it will be glorious.

 

[smackababy]

I hope Clarkson bopped that guy in the nose! I mean, he is pretty much the reason the show is great anyway. They want to let him walk, go ahead. Might as well bring in the American Top Gear guys and let the show continue as a farce and play Benny Hill music.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Position for Jay Leno in the UK? Would it work?

 

[Aikouka]

Might as well bring in the American Top Gear guys and let the show continue as a farce and play Benny Hill music.

Well, Tanner Faust was on last week's episode... sort of.

 

[AdamK47]

Top what? Never heard of it.

 

[jlee]

Heh wow: http://jalopnik.com/jeremy-clarkson-threw-a-punch-at-producer-two-more-epi-1690624321

 

[Kelvrick]

Heh wow: http://jalopnik.com/jeremy-clarkson-threw-a-punch-at-producer-two-more-epi-1690624321

With the shit they pull on each other during the challenges, I'm surprised the hosts never throw a punch at each other.

 

[PottedMeat]

In March 2004, at the British Press Awards, Clarkson punched Morgan three times in a clash over The Mirror's coverage of his private life, and accusations that Clarkson did not write for his column in The Sun himself.

producer = piers morgan looking for a rematch after being canned by CNN

 

[maddogchen]

i guess this is going to be the last season? I think they are really tired of this show after Argentina and now this....

 

[GTaudiophile]

I love JC's love of cars, power, exhaust, etc. AS WELL as his no-PC-brashnish but he is a selfish twit to put the show at risk.

 

[tamm]

Oh well there goes Sunday nights.

If you want ratings you need controversy. No JC then No ratings ala no top gear.

Not apologizing for his rudeness but you have to hand it to him, without this apeness their is no show.

 

[Kadarin]

Though to be honest, if he punched Piers Morgan, he's officially my hero. Piers Morgan deserves to be punched more than a few times.

 

[Muadib]

As much as I've loved Clarkson, if he's racist he should go.

 

[MagickMan]

F*** the BBC, time for Clarkson to produce his own show and give them the finger.

 

[Kadarin]

F*** the BBC, time for Clarkson to produce his own show and give them the finger.

And he should take Hammond and May with him.

 

[Demo24]

Sigh. To be honest I always kind of expected this iteration would end with clarkson dying since he's fat and smokes like a chimney. Wouldn't be surprised if this is the end of it on the bbc and clarkson goes elsewhere with a similar program.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

if find the 3 presenters' other works to be more enjoyable than top gear itself.

 

[Kaido]

"Gee, how can we market our car show with all of these other car shows out?"

"Add some personal drama & talk it about it every chance you get!"

Clarkson will milk the "this is your last chance, Clarkson - love, BBC" bit until he retires or gets a job somewhere else. There's a chance he really is a bozo, but he seems like a pretty smart guy, and anyone that famous obviously has a good PR firm spicing things up. But it's a fun story to talk about :awe: