I am not a hater in fact quite the opposite However I am happy that the BBC have realised that the old Fossil and well known Biker Hater is well past his sell by date. I used to like Top Gear when it had cars a normal person could afford. For a long time we have been funding this playboy lifestyle and turning a blind eye to inappropriate behaviour a Thing Old Beeb is used too. I had the misfortune to meet Him once with an open mind yet was instantly aware I did not. There are numerous reasons bikers should dislike Him and no its not part of his act. Its about time Bikers had a proper TV show for us so come on Hammond and May leave the cars and get on your bikes..leave Clarkson to chat shows and quizzes. Rant over ...and to all Peace
I can see your point, a couple of us were discussing this on another thread. The thing is many of the executives at the BBC think Clarkson is Top Gear and that is why they have put up with some of antics so far, but far from the Beeb funding his playboy lifestyle the program is a massive overseas earner for the BBC. The BBC need to show a bit of courage, finish the current series off with the other two presenters and proceed without him but currently they are showing they believe the show can not work without him.
On a personal note Jeremy has pissed me off twice really , firstly for having a go at bikers & expressing his dislike for bikes (which is usually enough for me to instantly dislike anyone) & secondly , for slating public sector workers when they were trying to save their pensions (as I'm on of them & we pay for a lot for our pensions which the government have basically stolen from us - so F**k you Clarkson) - (the only other way he could really piss me off is if he declared a hatred for dogs) , but aside from all of that , I do acknowledge that he has a talent for presenting & I can see why he makes the programme so watchable & popular - I have been subjected to several episodes whilst on refs breaks at work & although I wouldn't choose to watch a programme about cars normally , it can be entertaining watching three blokes driving old Capri's across a desert or something. I guess the BBC are aware of the worldwide appeal of the programme & also that it would sink like a brick if the little bloke & the hippy type chap were left to run it without Jezza (I hope he hates being called that btw) (and if I ever meet him I'm going to say "aren't you that bloke Jeremy Kyle " lol) - anyway , unfortunately , I think he's popular enough to let it sink & start his own show , probably called 'Clarkson's world of cars' or something
For me it's very simple Clarkson and the program makers are arrogant and disrespectful of other countries cultures and laws. They bring dishonour to Britain which I cannot tolerate. It may be worth noting that at one time (not sure if it's still true) Clarkson owned the rights to the Top Gear name, but I have an idea that the BBC bought him out, but you never know what was included in that negotiation? Clarkson for life?
I'm amazed the petition to reinstate him was near 1 million signatures the last I heard. Surely some kind of mistake? Personally I can't stand the bloke. He manages a good job of being pig ignorant yet very clever at the same time (not unlike Boris). I haven't watched Top Gear for years and every time I see even a clip of that studio audience I want to give up. Is this how far we've sunk? Then again I am in a minority and it has the world's largest TV audience for a factual show (factual?) and the BBC are unlikely to get rid of him as he makes them so much money. The way of the world...
The public's response or the management will have nothing to do with whether he is re-instated or not. It will be the people who run all of television nowadays.....the accountants
Thanks for that you have said what many feel . He has never been entertaining to me and i find him a bore with his old world views, racism, small minded shock tactics, chauvinism e.t.c. My big problem is that a national TV station can stand by the political incorrectnes . In a day and age when we need to come together and show compassion for all minorities and to stop Hate crimes it is time for a change indeed. I am a musician and if people don't like what I do they dont applaud, we have been guilty of applauding this act too long time for second act.. peace
The best way is for them to give Bikers a decent program relating to our low effect on the environment and friendly way in which most conduct themselves.
For me, looking at the bigger picture, this affair with Top Gear and the yob Clarkson is just another symptom of the huge decline of the BBC. Once a beacon of truth and quality reporting, now looks like tabloid journalism at it's very worst. I think it really started when there was a confrontation years ago between the BBC and the government of the day, and the outcome was the sacking of Greg Dyke. Ever since then, the Beeb has appeared more as a puppet or loudspeaker for the government and the quality of journalism, investigation and even English is appalling. Do you remember when the once-independent Beeb, supported by the license payers and gave out quality? I can but it is fading from my mind. Nowadays the BBC seems to operate like any other commercial operation, so let it be judged like and take away the mantel of respectability that the BBC name confers. What should we call it instead? "Jeremy says.........................................."
To be honest I watch very little TV yet I do agree whole hearted with you they have lost touch with time and pander to the old boy network still. Scrap the License and let them fight it out with the rest. I live in the Google/ youtube world where adverts are common place yet I don't pay so all good. Music and art are my passion and thats all around me...oh and of course My Bike ... respect and peace
I sort of liked him a while ago for speaking his mind when other were afraid to but now I don't like him,is disrespectful to others and thinks his opinion is right. A bloke I work with had a run in with him,went to his house by mistake(delivery next door) and was told to f**k off. P.S. I know where he lives and we're going to ride past his house sometime to "express our freedom of speech".
I agree, he should be sacked, a final warning should mean exactly that, anyone else, in any other job would have been straight out of the door, no questions asked! Clarkson fell off my radar, when he decreed "all bikers should be shot in the face!" As for having public sector workers executed in front of their families, what a disgusting thing to say on national tv, bet Hammond has a differant view after they scooped what was left of him out of that rocket car thing a couple of years ago. As for having a show for bikers, well yes i'd love that, but in order for it to be Top Gear like, it would need people tearing around a track, pulling wheelies, doing stoppies, and generally messing around on high end exotica, ie Kawasaki h2r, ducati supeleggera, confederate wraiths, the new Brough etc, after all that's all Top gear is, highly paid stars, ragging vehicles that only the top 1% of the population, and lotto winners could afford, in other words, having a jolly goodtime at the licence payers expense, so much for it being "factual." Don't think for ten seconds that the youth of today isn't influenced by what he says on top gear, because when it comes to cars, they are. As a driving instructor, i've had these 17yr old nut jobs behind the wheel, and trying to get over what clarkson et al say and do on top gear does not apply on Britain's overcrowded roads, has at times been, well, most frustrating!
Thanks you for your added comment. A lot of people feel the same. All a Bike show needs to be is what we do as bikers talk bikes and be a friendly community, have presenters that are answerable for what they say, all they need is a camera and go to meets and dealers thats the show right there. Suzy Perry, Damon Hill, Ross Noble, Murray walker even Hamond and May if they can get the operation to detach their tongues from Clarkson ass. Peace
Henry Cole's show seems to have slipped under the radar. I know he's not everyone's favourite presenter but I quite warmed to him in the end. http://www.itvmedia.co.uk/the-motorbike-show No idea when the next series is though.
Yea saw that, I missed the opportunity to meet hime when he passed my way with Guy Martin to film something they were doing. I think his personality doesn't suit a bigger show though..
I've followed this thread for a few days now and I've decided to add my opinion (for good or for bad).... If only to add a counter argument for the good of Clarkson, because everyone else so far seems to be against the guy...(even people who apparently don't watch the show or even TV much ???) Personally, I think the guy is witty and sarcastic ..... everything he says, is designed to provoke a response which is his brilliance....If you take him literally then you're an ape yourself. Clarkson is an "ape" or "orang-utan" according to his "biker" mates Hammond and May on Top Gear ......and Clarkson plays on that fact ... he speaks his mind ......however he's an entertainer, therefore everything he says should be taken with a pinch of salt (as he puts an exaggerated twist to it)....... have you read any of his books?? As for hating bikers .... his best mates (Hammond and May) are well known for their passion for bikes ....(and you can't tell me that Clarkson didn't have a say on their appointment as presenters?? as he owned some of the rights until 2012)....so he can't hate bikers that much?? Top Gear is an "entertainment/chat" show with flash cars/guests and facts about those cars and guests (hence factual) as for affordable ... well if you want 0-60 in 3 secs on a budget....buy a bike!!!!! .... oh you did To be honest Clarkson is my relief from all of the PC bullshit... As for a May/Hammond bike show?? fair enough, May could do the classics from Triumph and BSA and Hammond can do the latest superbike section then even throw in a few celebrity bikers with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise?? .... I've ridden bikes for all of my adult life and can see that a show like that would sink quicker than the Titanic.... "Us bikers" are a very small minority of the TV viewing public and are hated by many of them....That's why "Berry on Bikes" on the old Top Gear never took off. Top Gear needs some new fresh presenters to take it forward, as was discussed between my wife and I a couple of weeks ago..... however this isn't the way to do it BBC
What would the world be if there was only one narrow minded opinion and we surrounded ourselves with people who only agreed with us? Hmmm, ahh Top gear.... Seriously though I don't care what happens with Clarkson, it was the show i was a fan of in early days as stated in my first post,thank you for your constructive post .
We are trying to find it on the map? Slap him centurion. And Throw him to the floor sir? Yes centurion throw him to the floor.
