I think you think that, and opinion aside, and whatever anyone thinks about Clarkson, that's a sad endemic of British journalism.

Excellent, suddenly I like him that little bit more.

I may not agree with the gist of the Indy at times, but I've always thought of it as a quality publication, and enjoyed many of their articles.

However, a few months of following the Twitter and Facebook feed and I now view them alongside...well, the Beano, frankly. It's awful.

I hope they've mistakenly hired some social media 'guru' because if Indy journos are writing this stuff then things are worse than we think

Not that many others are much better, but the Indy is particularly laughable.

Clarkson is one of those who sometimes annoys me and sometimes I enjoy him. Most of the time I've enjoyed watching Top Gear, and the times I haven't have rarely been because of Clarkson (I'm not that interested in watching a supercar go round the track for instance). Most of the time he's annoyed me it's been either comments or his occasional newspaper articles he's done outside the Top Gear show.
On the show I've never really minded his laddish behaviour or the jokes. I think sometimes he does it a bit too often, when it's not needed.

I didn't like the nursery rhyme thing, I think that's him trying too hard and it just made him look like a childish idiot.

However, if he's assaulted someone, without serious provocation, then he has to be sacked. No ifs, no buts he's got to go.

If someone assaulted me at work merely over a workplace disagreement then I'd expect them to be sacked.
If that has happened I can't see how the BBC can do anything but sack him, or they're leaving themselves open to a constructive dismissal claim from the producer.

I aren't outraged by him.
If he came in my local and I didn't know of him I'd garner he was a bit of a tosspot within a fairly short period of time, I believe.
He's a type isn't he?



Always helps to like a bit of a jerk-off if you're a bit of a cock yourself.
I've found.

Spot on. However, rather than another spoiled, privileged, middle-aged white man abusing his advantage he will be tainted as the victim in this.

Can't ever see Clarkson adopting a 'victim' role! I enjoy Top Gear, and the humour. Though the "nursery rhyme" and the "slope on a bridge" were, like most of it, a script he was given to perform. Weirdly most people seem to think he comes up with this stuff, off the top of his head. The "slope" comment was just one more scripted "double entendre" he read out. What's weirder still is when he reads a script, then the Beeb have second thoughts and don't broadcast it, yet someone "leaks" it and dummies have a go at Clarkson, who was just doing his job.

I remember the brilliant "Mexican" script, it was bloody hilarious, and anyone who thinks it was to be taken seriously needs to get a life. Of course part of it was delivered by Richard Hammond, but then he's "nice" so nobody gets professionally outraged about that bit.

Anyone with a brain must surely realise that this is just a direct reference to a cartoon humour stereotype, and if you think it says or even is meant to suggest that yes, actually, all Mexicans are asleep staring at a cactus under a blanket etc., then you really need to give your head a wobble.

Clarkson chimed in. he said that here would be no complaints this time because


I laughed out loud at that one. Sheer genius. And no, I don't think the Mexican ambassador would be any more likely to be snoring than any other human, I don't even know who he is, and no doubt he is a hard worker etc etc., but seriously if he doesn't see the joke (he didn't"icon_wink.gif then he has a humour bypass.

The thing is, on a daily basis, the Twittersphere over, vast numbers of idiots, trolls and malicious arrseholes feel able and ready to post endless vile abuse all day long against just about anyone, yet the same people all get professionally outraged at clever not a bit malicious humour.

Whatever happened between Clarkson and the producer remains unclear but of course normal disciplinary procedures should apply to them same as anyone. However the public dropping of the remaining 3 Top gear episodes clearly shows that it is not about that incident, but a vendetta to find an excuse to drop Clarkson, by enemies of his and of the programme. As the screening of these episodes has absolutely no bearing on the incident.

Clarkson was warned in August that ''No one is bigger than the BBC''. Well clearly he is and the BBC have kind of admitted it by pulling Top Gear on Sunday.

Hmmmm. I reckon you nicked that perl of wisdom off Noel Edmunds



[urlhttp://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/mar/12/noel-edmonds-bbc-jeremy-clarkson-top-gear[/url

"I find BBC’s position extraordinary in that on the one hand they say that Clarkson is not bigger than the BBC but on other hand they pull the show which rather suggests he is."

His ego would never allow him to retire

Will his ego allow him to go to ITV/Sky on a significantly lower deal than he's on now? Would his ego allow him to start a Top Gear type show on another channel and end up failing?

I think it's far easier for his ego to point to his huge pile of money, stick two fingers up to the world and declare himself the winner.

He's on a win win whatever happens. If the BBC keep him on he'll carry on earning plenty, if they sack him he'll probably earn more elsewhere, if he retires I'm sure he's got enough wealth to keep him going until he pops his clogs. No wonder he's sat in beer gardens laughing his pants off.

Clarkson was sounded out about running for London Mayor some time ago. It really is a frightening prospect if he does decide to enter politics.

Seems like one of his co-stars was less than enthused about the petition:

James May ‏@MrJamesMay Mar 11

Save Clarkson? Save empty cardboard boxes and off-cuts of string. They're far more useful.

The programme he did on Brunel was superb - he is a very good TV journalist pity he is such a bell-end

the fact people are even bothered shows he is one of the best journalists around. If you don't like cars and want the world to be covered in rose petals then I can understand not liking him. As far as doing his job, HUGE tick in the box

Folk seem to want to make judgements based on scant information.
There's smacking someone and then there's handbags ... which was this?
Perhaps someone in the know could tell me.

Smacking someone and he should be toast.
A kerfuffle and perhaps not.

I like the program.
Three blokes dicking about with cars and being laddish ...it's funny.

Clarkson is quite clever from what I can see.
He seems quick-witted on the set of Top Gear when chatting with celeb drivers.

I can think of bigger dicks, far bigger.

I think some folk who hate the guy are jumping in.

The Sin Bin. Where there is a general loathing of anyone who is middle class and has a few quid. Regardless of where they started from, how hard they have worked, or how they made their money.

Ooh look, another apologist for the privileged. I know exactly where he came from. We are the same age & grew up about 2 miles apart. I never mentioned class, by most measures I suppose I would be judged middle class. Being spoiled & privileged is different & is important how you use & abuse that position.

His ability to do his job is irrelevant. If Wayne Rooney assaulted someone off the pitch I am sure David Cameron & various establishment toadies would be arguing for his absolution on the basis he is a great footballer. Even Clarkson would use his newspaper column to propose forgiveness.

Oh great, where's Standee?

I have a general loathing of anyone who appears to be "one of the lads", while conveniently omitting their private education. Stig wasn't named after Stig of the Dump, it was the name Repton schoolboys used for junior fags. He's as much a "man of the people" as Nigel Farage and equally as much a complete dick

Farage is a complete dick. Clarkson does a very good job of playing the part of one on TV and he's clearly acted like a massive dick in his private life.

But bitching about Clarkson's private education makes you an even bigger dick than both of them combined. Virtually no one else on this planet will have given a seconds thought to Clarkson's education.

I agree, trying to connect someone's behaviour with their type of education is hardly scientific.
I could be wrong.
Or put another way ... Why can't someone be one of the lads from any type of background?
What are the qualifications to be ...'one of the lads'?

Its possible that Clarkson is engineering his exit having milked Top Gear while he could. A few years ago as part of his contract he persuaded the BBC to hand over the major part of the rights to the Top Gear brand. A joint venture company was formed with the shares divided as Clarkson 60%, BBC 20%, Andy Wilman 20%. Having taken many millions in dividends over the years ( in excess of £15m ), Clarkson sold his shares to the BBC for £14m late last year so now has no financial interest in Top Gear apart from his presenters salary. Maybe he doesn't give a flying one now that he doesn't own it ?

He retained his royalties rights to previous shows and special DVD's etc (I believe), am sure the BBC will replace it with "Len McCluskey's rage on success", a series of lectures as to why having a few quid and making the most out of life is a BAD thing, we should all still be down t' pit and driving busses and be glad about it

[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10927053/Len-McCluskey-strikes-gold-with-140000-pay-deal.htmlUnless you are Len McCluskey[/url

I doubt his thoughts went beyond filling his rather copious belly.

Also, he must be finding it harder to get into most sporty cars because of his built-in airbag ....some might say gasbag.