Jeremy Clarkson has been sacked, canned, booted and/or corporately deleted. BBC Director-General, Tony Hall just posted a official statement about not renewing Jeremy Clarkson’s contract. For the few of you who don’t know, Jeremy Clarkson is one of the hosts of BBC’s Top Gear, one of the most successful shows on television – anywhere.
This ends a (part of) long battle between Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC. Rather than dip into the details from an outsider’s perspective, or to speculate on what’s truly going on, I am posting the official BBC statement below. It’s never The Fast Lane Car’s position to do harm regarding a fellow journalist. Any journalist.
Still, what a sad set of events. As a capitalist, opportunist and journalist, why not take advantage of the situation in the most constructive way? Please read my contractual offer to Jeremy Clarkson:
The Fast Lane Car, The Fast Lane Truck and TFLclassics would like to offer a one year contract to Mr. Jeremy Clarkson. This contract is non-biding and non-committal as I am making this offer without the expressed consent from the management. I’m also slightly impaired after ingesting too much cough syrup. Despite this, I think my terms are attractive and he would be crazy not to (at the very least) consider this offer.
TFLcar/TFLtruck will/may supply and/or offer the following to Mr.Jeremy Clarkson (MJC):
- One pack of Chesterfields or two packs of Lucky Strikes Daily – or whatever cigarette MJC damn well wants.
- Cigarette lighting services (no more than 60 seconds between lip contact of the cigarette before fire, in some form, is offered). Or, lighting can be from whatever source MJC damn well wants.
- MJC may punch one host or one producer daily. MJC has the option to punch a host repeatedly (3-7 times) if offers 1,2, 4,5 and 6 are mishandled. MJC may have other forms of combat available to him as he damn well chooses. This includes (but is not limited to). Boxing, Kung Fu, fencing and blunderbuss – if a crewmember really pisses him off.
- A 10%-off discount card (or the cash equivalent) for one of several local gentlemen’s clubs will be offered weekly. Or, to what ever “type” of club MJC damn well wishes to attend.
- During production, all foods will be “fast” as in “fast food.” This will mitigate delays of food delivery. MJC may opt for any food MJC damn well wishes to consume.
- No filming will ever happen in the state of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi or in the ancient township of Worsley, unless MJC damn well wants to.
I know, it’s a hell of an offer – right? I will add a tasty incentive of $100 signing bonus AND a ride in the TFLtruck/TLcar project 1968 Ford Bronco.
Here’s another incentive: reviewing cars with Roman and I? Well, it’s bound to make you look slimmer and (slightly) less old on camera – especially with my chunky, ape-like build!
All kidding aside, I am sorry to see this happen. All of us at TFL truly enjoy Top Gear UK. They entertain, inspire and make this industry far more exciting than it actually is. Jeremy Clarkson is a massive presence and much of what Top Gear UK has become was based on his input.
He’s many things to many people, both good and bad. There are things many will agree on: he’s funny, witty and he has balls.
Keep in mind: he was a proper journalist first and, for many of you, I suggest digging up his written reviews. He’s funnier on paper and still manages to convey great consumer insight. His older stuff and Sunday Times articles entertain to say the least.
I think I can summarize what many of us at team TFL think: Mr. Clarkson, you’re too good to stop now.
The official BBC release follows:
BBC Director-General’s statement regarding Jeremy Clarkson
Date: 25.03.2015 Last updated: 25.03.2015 at 14.00
Category: BBC Two; Factual; Corporate
Tony Hall, the BBC Director-General, has today released the following statement regarding Jeremy Clarkson.
It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract. It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon.
I am grateful to Ken MacQuarrie for the thorough way he has conducted an investigation of the incident on 4th March. Given the obvious and very genuine public interest in this I am publishing the findings of his report. I take no pleasure in doing so. I am only making them public so people can better understand the background. I know how popular the programme is and I also know that this decision will divide opinion. The main facts are not disputed by those involved.
I want to make three points.
First – The BBC is a broad church. Our strength in many ways lies in that diversity. We need distinctive and different voices but they cannot come at any price. Common to all at the BBC have to be standards of decency and respect. I cannot condone what has happened on this occasion. A member of staff – who is a completely innocent party – took himself to Accident and Emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature. 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.
Second – This has obviously been difficult for everyone involved but in particular for Oisin. I want to make clear that no blame attaches to him for this incident. He has behaved with huge integrity throughout. As a senior producer at the BBC he will continue to have an important role within the organisation in the future.
Third – Obviously none of us wanted to find ourselves in this position. 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. Jeremy is a huge talent. He may be leaving the BBC but I am sure he will continue to entertain, challenge and amuse audiences for many years to come.
The BBC must now look to renew Top Gear for 2016. This will be a big challenge and there is no point in pretending otherwise. I have asked Kim Shillinglaw to look at how best we might take this forward over the coming months. I have also asked her to look at how we put out the last programmes in the current series.
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Nuts.
