Top Gear

[Casscat]

For what's it's worth I must begin by laying my card (not hat ) on the table: I think JC is a bit of a t1t anyway so I am starting from a less than sympathetic standpoint. Taking only what we understand to be the 'facts' as shared to date:

- JC & crew were expected back at their hotel for dinner after filming;
- Instead a decision was taken to hit the pub and get trolleyed;
- Upon (very late) arrival at the small provincial hotel they were staying in the chef had, not unreasonably, been sent home it having been assumed that the *celebrities* had made other arrangements;
- Food was available, but not 'cooked to order and delivered on a silver platter' food.
- JC freaks out, blames not someone from the hotel but his producer, rants insanely in front of crew and hotel guests for many minutes, spits dummy the length of Great Britain, probably uses the words "do you know who I AM" and finally physically assaults producer occasioning actual bodily harm (a split lip, and probably perforated eardrums given the preceding rant).

The fact is JC was on company business. He was working even though off set. His accommodation and meals were paid for by the Beeb, and therefore by British licence fee payers. He attacked a colleague. That is by itself grounds for instant dismissal anywhere on earth other than, it would seem, the 'creative' sphere. If I physically attacked a colleague I'd be frogmarched off the premises, end of. JC was also on a final warning based on earlier transgressions. For a man who cannot control either his ego or his temper he was on borrowed time.

I did read that Clarkson had opined that he was under stress and that his specialist had said that a lump on his tongue was 'probably' cancer so that was on his mind. Sorry but I don't buy it. Medics never say it is 'probably' cancer, they simply say that they must conduct tests to make sure that it isn't cancer. Many hundreds of people are delivered of that kind of message in this country every day. I would think that very few of them go out and lamp someone as a result.

I do not doubt that JC and his coterie will go on to market their brand of near-geriatric ladishness on another channel and will probably grow several sets of additional gonads so powerful will be their testosterone, but for me you cannot and should not fireproof people just because of ratings and in that I support the BBC's decision.

[newtimber]

What if it was Clarkson who got the punch you can bet your boots he woulf be looking for the guy to be sacked. He would probably bring charges against the person.

Yes it was right for him to be sacked. Yes it was wrong what he did.

But there are no winners.

The poor producer probably won't be producing Top Gear any more as it now has no presenters and I understand the other creative input has left also. Maybe he'd have preferred it if he'd been left to think it over and decide for himself what he wanted the outcome to be. Often, this is best.

[Ladyaga]

ooooh Bessie
Now back to the barn!!

[annedab]

For what's it's worth I must begin by laying my card (not hat ) on the table: I think JC is a bit of a t1t anyway so I am starting from a less than sympathetic standpoint. Taking only what we understand to be the 'facts' as shared to date:

- JC & crew were expected back at their hotel for dinner after filming;
- Instead a decision was taken to hit the pub and get trolleyed;
- Upon (very late) arrival at the small provincial hotel they were staying in the chef had, not unreasonably, been sent home it having been assumed that the *celebrities* had made other arrangements;
- Food was available, but not 'cooked to order and delivered on a silver platter' food.
- JC freaks out, blames not someone from the hotel but his producer, rants insanely in front of crew and hotel guests for many minutes, spits dummy the length of Great Britain, probably uses the words "do you know who I AM" and finally physically assaults producer occasioning actual bodily harm (a split lip, and probably perforated eardrums given the preceding rant).

The fact is JC was on company business. He was working even though off set. His accommodation and meals were paid for by the Beeb, and therefore by British licence fee payers. He attacked a colleague. That is by itself grounds for instant dismissal anywhere on earth other than, it would seem, the 'creative' sphere. If I physically attacked a colleague I'd be frogmarched off the premises, end of. JC was also on a final warning based on earlier transgressions. For a man who cannot control either his ego or his temper he was on borrowed time.

I did read that Clarkson had opined that he was under stress and that his specialist had said that a lump on his tongue was 'probably' cancer so that was on his mind. Sorry but I don't buy it. Medics never say it is 'probably' cancer, they simply say that they must conduct tests to make sure that it isn't cancer. Many hundreds of people are delivered of that kind of message in this country every day. I would think that very few of them go out and lamp someone as a result.

I do not doubt that JC and his coterie will go on to market their brand of near-geriatric ladishness on another channel and will probably grow several sets of additional gonads so powerful will be their testosterone, but for me you cannot and should not fireproof people just because of ratings and in that I support the BBC's decision.

Yep, this.