This time it's for reportedly punching assistant producer Oisin Tymon.
The BBC have reportedly suspended Jeremy Clarkson while the incident is investigated.
As I write this blog post 300,000 people have signed a petition supporting Jeremy Clarkson, asking the BBC to reinstate the presenter.
The online petition was set up by political blogger Guido Fawkes. Hahaha! I'm laughing at the name of the blogger, not the fact there's an online petition to Save Jezza!
I've spent quite a while online today reading about what the BBC are calling a 'fracas' and what has reportedly been confirmed as Jeremy Clarkson, 54, punching Oisin Tymon, 36, in the face.
From what I've read it all seems like Marmite, there doesn't seem to be any grey areas as far as the general public are concerned.
There are people who have voiced their opinion that Jeremy Clarkson is the best thing since sliced bread, that violence is funny, and that Top Gear wouldn't be Top Gear without him.
And there are people who have said Jeremy Clarkson must be sacked, and that violence is not O.K.
I realise that Top Gear is a serious money-maker for the BBC.
It's syndicated World wide, is incredibly popular, and that jeremy Clarkson is also much loved by a lot of people, and considered by many to be excellent at his job; presenting Top Gear.
I don't agree that without Jeremy Clarkson there'd be no Top Gear.
Yes, initially the programme would be different without him, and people don't always like change, but after a while, presuming the beeb gets the right presenter Jezza could be replaced.
Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond all bring a certain something to Top Gear, but if any of them left the show, their replacement would soon become as popular.
Things change, maybe it's time for a change at Top Gear?
Maybe Jeremy Clarkson will be offered a great new deal with ITV or Sky, as has been reported in the news.
Who knows?
But if Jeremy Clarkson does lose his job presenting Top Gear, then I think Vicky Butler-Henderson would make an excellent replacement.
I am in no way a hater of Jeremy Clarkson.
I have always enjoyed his presenting style, it's refreshing to hear somewhere say what they think without constantly checking themselves in the ever-increasing PC World we live in - but...........
But, as far as punching a colleague is concerned, that's taking things too far. Way too far.
According to the news the reason Jeremy Clarkson punched Oisin Tymon in the face was because he was hungry.
Seriously?!
Jezza punched a colleague in the face because he was hungry.
What a Prima Donna!
The media reports say that Jeremy Clarkson had been busy filming, it was late, he was hungry, there was no food for him to eat; a catering problem, and so he punched Oisin Tymon.
I often feel grumpy when I'm tired and hungry, but I've never punched a colleague in the face.
Doodle of Jeremy Clarkson - not sure about his hair. Haha!
As soon as I read the news about Jezza thumping his colleague, I immediately saw in my mind, how I thought the whole thing would play out. It went something like this, but necessarily in this order...........
- Jeremy Clarkson would be 'told-off' by the BBC
- BBC employees involved in Top Gear would be told to keep schtum - or else
- Jeremy Clarkson apologises - or not - depending if he feels like saying sorry
- The BBC play-down the whole thing, saying something like, 'it was a simple misunderstanding...'
- Oisin Tymon is 'encouraged' to make light of the assault, understanding that to take it any further would damage his career.
- In the not-too-distant future Jeremy Clarkson gets a pay rise to keep him sweet
My ramblings may sound as though I'm not a fan of Top Gear, or Jeremy Clarkson, but that's not true at all.
Both Mr.R and I liked to read the weekly columns written by Jeremy Clarkson for the Sunday Times.
And we enjoyed watching Top Gear for many many years.
Top Gear was our favourite TV programme.
Was! Yep, I said 'was', we used to really enjoy watching Jeremy Clarkson and his fellow presenters James May, and Richard Hammond, having fun, travelling the World, and messing about with cars.
But that was then and this is now - now we don't watch Top Gear.
We didn't stop watching because of any of the previous headline making things said by outspoken Jezza - we just went off the motoring show.
Some of the things Jeremy Clarkson has said which reportedly caused offence include -
Calling lorry drivers serial killers.
Saying Mexican food is 'sick with cheese on it.'
And as The Telegraph helpfully reminded us, 'Allegedly claiming that staff at Hyundai - a South Korean car company - had all eaten dog, and that a particular car's designer had probably eaten a spaniel for lunch.'
You can see more so-called faux pas made by Jeremy Clarkson in The Telegraph
As this is a developing news story here's some more from just before I published this blog post -
- BBC faces multimillion-pound bill from Jeremy Clarkson's suspension - The Guardian
- Jeremy Clarkson suspended: Top Gear presenter 'considering leaving BBC anyway' even if he's cleared - The Independent
- Jeremy Clarkson suspended: Top Gear presenter 'may quit BBC even if he is cleared over fracas with producer' - The Telegraph
Obviously not everyone is going to agree about what should happen, if anything, to Jeremy Clarkson after this, some want him sacked, some want him saved.
I think he should be sacked.
As far as I'm concerned workplace violence is unacceptable.
I mean it's not as if Jezza was fighting for his life, from what I've read it wasn't self-defence.
From what I've read, it was an unprovoked act of aggression, and definitely not something that Oisin Tymon should be expected to put up with.
Doodle of Top Gear Logo - excuse wonky lines. Hehe!
For example, Matthew Wright spoke about it this morning on The Wright Stuff.
He seemed to think similarly to me, that what Jeremy Clarkson has done is out-of-order.
But two of the panel guests, Lowri Turner, and Terry Christian seemed to think it's funny, with Terry making several jokes about it, and Lowri saying that she understands how long working hours, hunger etc. meant Jezza lashed out, and that it was acceptable.
I think that says a lot about the kind of people Lowri Turner and Terry Christian are - but that's changing the subject too much, so I'll say no more.
The fact that 300,000 people have gone online to Change.org to sign the petition; BBC Bring Back Clarkson - makes me very sad.
Presumably that means 300,000 people think it's perfectly alright to punch another person in the face, that there's been no wrongdoing, and that the perpetrator should not lose their job.
What does it say about the UK (assuming that's where the majority of the signatures are from) that we condone violence?
Nothing good - that's what.
And it's news like this that shine the spotlight on what a violent country we are, and how violence is being viewed as less and less serious, and more the norm.
Sad times.
I'm sure the BBC are closely monitoring what's being said about Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear, in all of the social media networks, and no doubt they're in serious talks with their legal team etc. They'll want to make sure they don't do anything to damage such a lucrative relationship; Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear, Worldwide syndication etc.
Who know's what will happen?
I guess it's just a matter of time before all will be revealed.
But whatever happens to Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson, I hope Oisin Tymon is not forgotten, after all he is the victim, he was seriously assaulted.
Jeremy Clarkson is not a victim - he doesn't deserve any sympathy, and he's most definitely not getting any from me.
Right, well, that's just about it for now -
Except to say, I'm not writing this as a PC obsessed hater of Top Gear or the BBC.
As I've already said, I was a serious fan of Top Gear, and I've had many a laugh at the non-PC ramblings of Jeremy Clarkson, but speaking your mind, and physical violence are two very different things.
If the BBC do what they have a history of doing; covering things up, I doubt any of this will affect Jeremy Clarkson in a negative way.
And knowing how us Brits love an 'underdog', it'll probably be spun to make Jezza appear as the poor victim.
Do you watch Top Gear?
Are you a fan of Jeremy Clarkson?
Do you think Jeremy Clarkson should keep or lose his job?
No comments:
Post a Comment