The BBC has announced it will not be renewing Jeremy “Muhammad” Clarkson’s contract at the BBC after concluding that the now former Top Gear presenter had “crossed the line” when he attacked the programme’s Producer over cold steak and chips during the making of a recent episode.
The BBC Director General, Lord Hall, announced the decision today “…For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.”
Lord Hall recognised Clarkson’s contribution to broadcasting, adding: “This decision should in no way detract from the extraordinary contribution that Jeremy Clarkson has made to the BBC. I have always personally been a great fan of his work and Top Gear.”
The Top Gear Producer who was at the end of Clarkson physical and verbal attack also made a statement, Mr Tymon said the BBC had conducted a “thorough and swift investigation into this very regrettable incident”. I’ve worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love,” he added.
Mr Tymon concluded “Over that time Jeremy and I had a positive and successful working relationship, making some landmark projects together. He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way.”
Top Gear is the worlds most watched factual TV show and has an estimated worldwide audience of 350 million, this has enabled the programme to become hot property for worldwide TV syndication rights earning the BBC a reputed £50 million per year.
Clarkson revived what was a dead TV format, there have been other shows since Top Gear was re-launched but none are as memorable because the show thrives on Clarkson’s naturally dangerous and edgy delivery and charismatic persona.
With Clarkson gone the show will go on but it has lost the spark that Clarkson injected. Along with co-host, Hammond and May, the trio were together different personalities that somehow worked on screen.
Don’t be surprised to see James May leave, Hammond may well stay on and become the elder statesman with two younger foes at his side just as he was when he first appeared on the show. Or he might opt to leave and join Clarkson and May both of whose destination is still unknown.
As for Clarkson he won’t be short of new offers, Top Gear has made him exceedingly wealthy and he could retire now if he wanted to.
But it seems he was hoping that at the last minute the BBC might change its mind, it didn’t and as a result brought to an end a successful era that finished on a low.
