tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post474620451486119151..comments2024-02-06T16:17:25.826+00:00Comments on THE GRĂNMARK BLOG: Jeremy Clarkson: congratulations to the BBC on getting one of its two right-wing presenters off the screen in the run-up to the electionScott Gronmarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-88284064046453666002015-03-13T13:25:59.162+00:002015-03-13T13:25:59.162+00:00Seems he lost his temper and behaved like a knob t...Seems he lost his temper and behaved like a knob towards his producer. Realising he had "gone to far" he reported himself to management. There may have been some pushing, but it doesn't sound like there was any actual punching. Unpleasant behaviour, especially as it was directed at an underling. Excessive, given that there was plenty of cold food on offer and that he could have his steak and chips if he hadn't delayed boarding the helicopter waiting to whisk him to the hotel because he was drinking a a pub. <br /><br />Clarkson should have been asked to apologise to the producer face to face, shaken his hand, and promised never to do it again. But it hardly sounds a crime so serious it warranted taking what will probably be the last three episodes of a much-loved and insanely profitable TV programnme off the air. If ITV management had done it, they'd have had to answer to their shareholders. Who does BBC management answer to? After all, we are the shareholders, and vast numbers of us want the programme back, as is evidenced by the number of signatures on the petition started by by the excellent Guido Fawkes website. <br /><br />I like to imagine I'm reasonably manly, Riley - but I've never been remotely blokey. I can't stand rugby, I drive a Golf rather than a Zonda, I cannot stand all-male gatherings, I loathe pubs, and I love poetry. It's not Clarkson's boorishness I admire so much as the way he has created a programme whose attitude to the limp-wristed, left-liberal claptrap we're force-fed these days is "Give it a bloody rest". I imagine I'd find the company of any of the three Top Gear presenters rather wearing fairly quickly (and vice-versa, no doubt) - but there's no real harm in them, they can be funny, I suspect we share many values (though by no means all), and it's just nice to have a televisual haven where, for an hour a week a few times a year, people like me can vicariously enjoy three people not being politically correct. I'm with John Jones on this - I suspect many licence-fee payers are sick of being constantly lectured by people who evidently feel that all traditional attitudes are wrong - even historical drama these days seems to consist of modern liberals wagging their fingers disapprovingly at our ancestors. <br /><br />Where we evidently all agree is the amusement to be gained from watching the BBC tie itself in knots over such an incredibly footling issue. Having gone ridiculoulsy overboard in reaction to previous Clarkson transgressions, they've left themselves with little wiggle room. I suspect BBC Director of TV, Danny Cohen - classic left-liberal - wants rid of Clarkson in any case, and that Clarkson's bored with the BBC and would be happy to jump ship to Sky or ITV, both of whom would probably allow him to punch the living daylights out of staff members whenever the fancy took him, just as long as he agreed to work for them. Scott Gronmarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118026157459333174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-32888286658583254952015-03-12T21:04:43.464+00:002015-03-12T21:04:43.464+00:00Hmm....not sure about this one. Just because you&#...Hmm....not sure about this one. Just because you're on the right side of the argument most of the time, not a raging Lefty and once smacked Piers Morgan doesn't give you impunity from serial offences under section 5(b) of the Being An Arse Act 1988. Welcome back Riley. I think you've got it about right. Mind you, after extra time in BBC v Clarkson, I hope he wins on penalties.ex-KCSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-41100415495175111002015-03-12T13:53:12.109+00:002015-03-12T13:53:12.109+00:00He may be a blokey bloke,but as we all know one me...He may be a blokey bloke,but as we all know one mere hint of the worst crime in the world bar none,ie racism- even if its just a swift uninvited thought that crosses one's brow and is noticed by the men with arm bands watching all the BBC monitors for just this scenario,then its good night Irene. john jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2215553202978284468.post-88641439188445751782015-03-12T13:18:37.433+00:002015-03-12T13:18:37.433+00:00Whilst I have to acknowledge your assessment of Cl...Whilst I have to acknowledge your assessment of Clarkson's right-wing credentials and his enormous box office power I just find him an irritating, bloke-ish oaf and I loathe the programme. However, I do read his newspaper columns once in a while and he does write very well.<br />It brings me great joy to think of the hand-wringing and mental somersaults that the BBC executives must be going through as the thousands of Twitterers add their voice. What a marvellous pantomime.Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07191599030795096843noreply@blogger.com