Jeremy Clarkson suspended

If Jezza is gone and the show continues, they should replace him in a Doctor Who regeneration. BBC can do that

so, did he really quit? like, with credible backing?

and if so, would BBC really drop its #1 show over it? even without him, the loss of fan base, id imagine it would still be a top 5 BBC show, surely thats worth continuing?

-J0N

jmthunderbirdturbo wrote: like, with credible backing?

It's all speculation at this point. The UK tabloids are experts at it.

neon4891 wrote: If Jezza is gone and the show continues, they should replace him in a Doctor Who regeneration.

Kind of like when the Black Stig was replaced by the White Stig.

jmthunderbirdturbo wrote: so, did he really quit? like, with credible backing? and if so, would BBC really drop its #1 show over it? even without him, the loss of fan base, id imagine it would still be a top 5 BBC show, surely thats worth continuing? -J0N

The story claiming he quit was from 1999, which was the last time he quit. Notice Jezza still had all of his hair and it was still brown.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31908080

The BBC's internal investigation into Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson's suspension from the programme following a "fracas" with a producer has begun.

The inquiry is being headed by Ken McQuarrie, the director of BBC Scotland.

Clarkson was suspended from Top Gear last week following an alleged altercation with producer Oisin Tymon.

Mr Tymon did not file a formal complaint and it is understood Clarkson reported the incident himself.

The row was said to have occurred because no hot food was laid on for the presenter following a day's filming in North Yorkshire.

Writing in his column in the Sun newspaper, Clarkson appeared to hint that he was close to quitting, calling himself a "dinosaur" and adding: "These big imposing creatures have no place in a world which has moved on."

An online petition to reinstate Clarkson has reached more than 900,000 signatures.

Media watchdog Ofcom said it had received more than 100 complaints about Top Gear being replaced with a Red Arrows documentary on Sunday, 15 March.

However, an Ofcom spokesman said it would take no action as it "can only assess a breach of the broadcasting code if a show has actually aired".

The critic AA Gill voiced his support for Clarkson in his Sunday Times column, calling the investigation into the row "preposterous and ponderous", and praised Clarkson as hard-working.

Top Gear is one of the BBC's most popular and profitable TV shows, with an estimated global audience of 350 million.

The remaining shows in the current series were pulled following the incident.

A lawyer for Mr Tymon said his client "intends to await the outcome of the BBC investigation and will make no comment until that investigation is complete".

No official date has been fixed for the investigation to present its findings.

Mr McQuarrie, the head of BBC Scotland, also carried out an investigation after Lord McAlpine was wrongly implicated in child sex abuse allegations by BBC Two's Newsnight in 2012.

Red Arrows documentary? I'd watch that.

Clarkson has been silent on twitter and May has been vague:

So; it's been a week, and still no answer. How exactly do you pronounce 'fracas'?

Otherwise, he's been musing about The Smiths.

gamby wrote: Clarkson has been silent on twitter and May has been vague: So; it's been a week, and still no answer. How exactly do you pronounce 'fracas'? Otherwise, he's been musing about The Smiths.

Uh, did you read the article I just posted? They just started the investigation and I suspect they've told everyone involved to STFU until it is done. They basically have to interview everyone and I mean, EVERYONE involved with the situation and that can take some time to coordinate.

Just be patient and wait for official results.

Appleseed wrote: Red Arrows documentary? I'd watch that.

Not sure if serious, but available on Youtube-- Red Arrows - Inside the Bubble

You might recognize the livery, though it is based on that used during the period of the car.

turboswede wrote:

gamby wrote: Clarkson has been silent on twitter and May has been vague: So; it's been a week, and still no answer. How exactly do you pronounce 'fracas'? Otherwise, he's been musing about The Smiths.

Uh, did you read the article I just posted? They just started the investigation and I suspect they've told everyone involved to STFU until it is done. They basically have to interview everyone and I mean, EVERYONE involved with the situation and that can take some time to coordinate. Just be patient and wait for official results.

I missed the line about "his client not commenting"

Meanwhile, a cheeky James May hashtagged a tweet #unemployed today.

No new info, but this was posted: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-31933041

Article said: A petition is calling on the BBC to hire Alan Partridge as the new presenter of Top Gear. The fictional broadcaster, played by Steve Coogan, is said to be the ideal person to step in for Jeremy Clarkson, who has been suspended following a "fracas" with a producer. The petition says Partridge has a diverse broadcasting career and a "noted passion for cars". A petition to reinstate Clarkson has received close to a million signatures. The campaign to have Partridge take on the role is some way behind, but has been backed by more than 15,000 people since the Change.org petition was started on Monday. Steve Coogan and Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear Steve Coogan is a self-confessed fan of Top Gear and has been on the show as a guest Lorn Macdonald, who started the campaign, said: "Alan has a strong track record for broadcast presenting, from his relaxed professionalism with guests on BBC chat show Knowing Me Knowing You to his effortless banter on his talk shows at Radio Norwich." The BBC has started an investigation into the alleged altercation between Clarkson and producer Oisin Tymon. The row is said to have occurred because no hot food was laid on for the presenter following a day's filming in North Yorkshire. Steve Coogan on Top Gear Steve Coogan tackled the Top Gear circuit in 2008 Top Gear has an estimated worldwide audience of 350 million people but Sunday's show was not broadcast, with a documentary about the Red Arrows shown instead. Coogan, who has played Partridge on TV, radio and film, has appeared on Top Gear in the past and described himself as a "huge fan". However, in 2011 he spoke out about about the behaviour of the "rich, middle-aged" presenters "laughing at poor Mexicans", during a review of a Mexican sports car.

Steve Coogan is awesome, I'd watch that.

Is it right to assume anything but the BBC reports on this 'fracas' will all be rampant speculation?

In reply to Rufledt:

You know that could work as a way to finish this season. I don't think you could ever replace JC long term and if they fire him (If he did hit the guy he just has to go, period), but as a stop gap to use up the material and sunk costs of this season, Coogan playing Partridge would be awesome, especialy if they played it straight and pretend the he's real, never mentioning Coogan even in the credits.

RX Reven' wrote: What about the shows phenomenal cinematography? As epic as the three cast members are, there’s a lot more to the show’s success than just them...all of those functions will need to move with them to maintain the continuity.

Definitely. The scenery and background shots from all over the planet are just incredible. It's one of the things which sets it apart from the US version. Those appear to all be shot in the US Southwest which is a nice place, don't get me wrong. It just doesn't have the same snap as, say, the TGUK Vietnam special did.

In reply to Curmudgeon:

Some of the best cinematography they've done was on the somber v12 vantage clip. The angles, the lighting, the sound, the car, all perfect

Cinematography is second to non, hard to pay for some of the work they do outside of feature films. It's not just the specials, but some of the reviews shot at the track have some amazing mood shots outside and inside. I will miss that if it's re-incarnated on a lower budget on a different network.

Stephen Fry might be a good pick... at least in the promos... he'd roughly fill the same volume of space.....

Fry is also a good actor, and has a good (wry) sense of humor....

http://uk.businessinsider.com/bbc-trying-to-pull-in-stephen-fry-to-replace-clarkson-2015-3

Jeremy just auctioned off a ride-along with himself on his "final lap" around Dunsfold:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/20/world/uk-bbc-jeremy-clarkson/index.html

He doesn't seem to be interested in coming back.

OK, my first comment since my misunderstanding a few million pages back.

I don't really understand the hitting = firing mentality honestly, although I'd never hit anyone based on work. Ever. I'm a pretty gentle dude. I am also not sure if that attitude transcends the US.

If I were a decision maker in this situation, and hittee didn't care or otherwise was made happy, I don't see how firing hitter makes sense. After all, it's sort of natural for guys to smack each other around a bit. Sure, if it's abusive, if hittee feels that he can't continue, won't work with hitter, etc anymore, there's no choice.

As far as replacement, I nominate John Force.

In reply to tuna55:

I tend to agree. And while I don't think any replacement for Jezza is going to produce the kind of chemistry they have now, if anyone could do it it would be John Force!

In reply to bravenrace:

Dude lost his major sponsorships and he'd probably actually move there and do it for the publicity it could bring the rest of the team.

What could possibly go wrong? (get it?)

Jesus! John Force? I pay to see that.

I think Force would give May heart palpitations and flat out scare Hammond to death, I'd pay to see that too

06HHR wrote: I think Force would give May heart palpitations and flat out scare Hammond to death, I'd pay to see that too

+1

If Force took over, they wouldn't be able to drift all those cars around their track because he'd remove all the corners.