Fans petition for Jeremy Clarkson ahead of BBC inquiry
Petitions, compensation, rumours of quitting, Live Top Gear Festival questions ...the Clarkson fallout continues.
- Published by David Knox
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The fallout from Jeremy Clarkson’s Top Gear suspension continues, with a string of stories on the ramifications involved.
Clarkson is understood to have told friends that he did not punch a producer, but that there had been some “handbags and pushing” over the incident.
An online petition to reinstate Clarkson has pulled in over 500,000 signatures in a matter of hours.
According to some articles, Clarkson is considering quitting the BBC, even if he is cleared of allegations he punched a producer.
His relationship with key BBC executives has reportedly sunk so low that he is considering quitting the corporation, even if he is cleared of the disciplinary charge against him, says one source.
“The last three episodes of this series have been pulled,” the source said. “Can I see him going back to film another BBC series? I don’t think so. But he’ll be fine. The other broadcasters will bite his arm off.”
Clarkson told reporters outside his London home: “I’ve been suspended, haven’t I? I’m just off to the jobcentre.” He added: “At least I’m going to be able to get to the Chelsea match tonight.”
On Twitter, Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May joked about what movies BBC might play in place of Top Gear: Where Eagles Dare was one suggestion.
BBC could also face compensation claims from foreign broadcasters if it does not meet contractual delivery of its episodes.
A spokesperson for BBC Worldwide said that it was working on “supplying international broadcast partners with alternative content,” understood to include two previously non-aired episodes.
Meanwhile a Live Top Gear Festival is due to take place in Sydney next month, but it is unclear how it will be affected by current events.
A spokesman said: “There are at present no plans to either cancel or postpone the Top Gear Festival in Australia. As things stand the event will go ahead as planned.”
Ken MacQuarrie, the head of BBC Scotland, is to chair the disciplinary panel that will assess claims that the Top Gear presenter punched producer Oisin Tymon last week.
A formal disciplinary letter, summoning Clarkson to appear at the hearing, which is expected to be held at a London hotel, is set to be posted tomorrow.
A senior BBC source said that the panel is not expected to reach a verdict before the weekend.
Source: Radio Times, News Corp
4 Responses
Clarkson’s contract is up at the end of this season, they done close to 200 episodes of the same stuff and Hammond and May look to be getting sick of the show, if not the money. Perhaps it’s a good time to quit before they are behind.
One report said that Clarkson asked for a meal after a shooting session and was supplied with a cheese platter leading to the argument and the alleged assault. The BBC has their processes, we will see what they find.
It is disturbing how the righteous butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-their-mouths brigade want Clarkson sacked based on only fragmented information about the ‘incident’. As the petition to Bring Back Clarkson charges towards one million, I’m proud to declare that I am one of the hundreds of thousands who have already signed. Guilty or not, he should not be subjected to a rabid witch-hunt.
Violence and assault is something this country and the UK has a problem with. If the reports are true that Clark assaulted his producer then he deserves what he gets. Just because Clarkson has some fame and stature doesn’t exempt him from thuggish behaviour . The BBC are only doing what many other responsible workplaces are doing – no tolerence on violence.
I just wish this shit had happened in about 3 weeks, I was looking forward to some of the stories remaining in the current series.
What ever happens Clarkson will be okay, the biggest looser will be the BBC. Some 50 million dollars a year. I do wonder if Hammon and May will follow him if another UK network offers him a show?
BTW love the BBC logo ‘Bring Back Clarkson’ LOL