Top Gear's 22nd series sees the boys rounding up 4,000 cows in Australia

[Blackleaf]

The 22nd series of Top Gear starts on BBC One on Sunday and it will see the lads cruising around Australia, Canada and Russia.

In October, Clarkson, Hammond and May headed to Australia's Northern Territory to film some of the new series. And now, in a Q&A session with fans called An Evening With Top Gear, which was recently broadcast on the show’s YouTube channel, the boys have sat down to speak about their time in Australia and give a sneak peek of their trip.

The trio came face-to-face with all of the elements from snakes, to cows to the boiling hot weather. But despite the gruelling environment, Jeremy said they had the time of their lives: ‘We genuinely loved the Northern Territory,’ the 54-year-old beamed.

‘It was a brilliant trip. We loved the Northern Territory,’ Richard agreed, but that’s not to say the stars weren't put through their paces.

Armed with a yellow Bentley Continental, a Nissan GTR and a BMW M6 grand coupe, the car fanatics were tasked to round up some 4,000 cows on a 3.2million acre farm as the cameras rolled.

‘When we’re looking for 4,000 cows we could have been in the equivalent of Southampton. We could have been in Harwich, or Banbury or Dover [in the UK]. It’s that big, that’s how big the farm is,’ Jeremy explained.

Doing his best Australian accent, he added: ‘I said to the farmer: How are we going to find them? He said: “Don’t worry, I’ll put them all in the paddock for you.”’

‘I said that’s very kind of you, how big is the paddock? He said: “39, 000 acres.”’ That’s a paddock?!’

The first episode of the new series is on at 8pm on BBC Two on Sunday 25 January in the UK and at 7am on Foxtel's BBC Knowledge in Australia on Monday 26 January.

Man Vs. Wild! Top Gear lads attempt to round up 4,000 cows as Jeremy Clarkson admits they 'genuinely loved' filming in the Northern Territory

By Bella Brennan For Daily Mail Australia
20 January 2015
Daily Mail

In October last year the famed cast of the hugely popular Top Gear series headed to the Northern Territory in Australia to film some of their 22nd series in the outback.

And now, in a Q&A session with fans called An Evening With Top Gear, which was recently broadcast on the show’s YouTube channel, hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have sat down to speak about their time in Australia and give a sneak peek of their trip.

The trio came face-to-face with all of the elements from snakes, to cows to the boiling hot weather. But despite the gruelling environment, Jeremy said they had the time of their lives: ‘We genuinely loved the Northern Territory,’ the 54-year-old beamed.

Big fans! Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, pictured here in the Northern Territory in October, have said in a chat called An Evening With Top Gear that they loved filming some of the 22nd series in the Australian outback

‘It was a brilliant trip. We loved the Northern Territory,’ Richard agreed, but that’s not to say the stars weren't put through their paces.

Armed with a yellow Bentley Continental, a Nissan GTR and a BMW M6 grand coupe, the car fanatics were tasked to round up some 4,000 cows on a 3.2million acre farm as the cameras rolled.

‘When we’re looking for 4,000 cows we could have been in the equivalent of Southampton. We could have been in Harwich, or Banbury or Dover [in the UK]. It’s that big, that’s how big the farm is,’ Jeremy explained.

Doing his best Australian accent, he added: ‘I said to the farmer: How are we going to find them? He said: “Don’t worry, I’ll put them all in the paddock for you.”’

Put through their paces: Armed with a yellow Bentley Continental, a Nissan GTR and a BMW M6 grand coupe, the car fanatics were tasked to round up some 4,000 cows on a 3.2 MILLION acre farm

Tough team! The trio came face-to-face with all of the elements from snakes, to cows to the boiling hot weather

‘I said that’s very kind of you, how big is the paddock? He said: “39, 000 acres.”’ That’s a paddock?!’

‘Australia needs a new unit of measurement because the acre is simply not big enough,’ Jeremy mused.

In the Q&A session, the Top Gear hosts also spoke about their struggle with the 11-hour time difference between England and Australia.

‘I did enjoy it, yes. Apart from the time difference thing when they imagine it’s eight o’clock in the morning, when we know [it’s not], because we invented the time in Britain,’ James joked.

No mean feat: ‘When we’re looking for 4,000 cows we could have been in the equivalent of Southampton. We could have been in Harwich, or Banbury or Dover [in the UK]. It’s that big,’ Jeremy explained

Happy to slum it: The show's hosts had no qualms camping in the outback

While the show has catapulted the hosts into a world of unimaginable wealth and success, the men were more than happy to rough it up, admitting they had no qualms swapping five-star accommodation for swags and tents.

‘It wasn’t luxurious but it wasn’t terrible,’ James said.

The first episode of the new series is on at 8pm on BBC Two on Sunday 25 January in the UK and at 7am on Foxtel's BBC Knowledge in Australia on Monday 26 January and will see the lads cruise around Australia, Canada and Russia.

Not long to go: Top Gear returns to the airwaves and will see the lads cruise around Australia, Canada and Russia

Aussie converts: ‘It was a brilliant trip. We loved the Northern Territory,’ Richard Hammond said of their trip


Watch An Evening With Top Gear - An exclusive preview of Series 22 -


LIVE STREAM: An Evening With Top Gear - An exclusive preview of Series 22 - #EveningWithTG - YouTube

Read more: Top Gear lads attempt to round up 4000 cows as Jeremy Clarkson admits they genuinely loved filming in the Northern Territory | Daily Mail Online
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It's back! The 22nd series of Top Gear started last night on BBC Two.

Episode 1

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are in Russia for an incredible race across the vast and very beautiful urban landscape of St Petersburg. May defends the honour of the car in a very small Renault, Hammond tries to prove that pedalling is faster by saddling up a bicycle, whilst Clarkson attempts to demonstrate that water is the quickest way across town, especially if you're in a hovercraft. To make matters more complicated, all three presenters are racing not only each other but also The Stig, who is silently making his way towards the finish line on public transport.

Also in this episode, Richard Hammond is at the test track to find out if the dramatic new Lamborghini Huracan is as flamboyant and fun as an Italian supercar should be.

Plus, another top celebrity guest tests their steely eyed driving skills as the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Watch it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0516rld/top-gear-series-22-episode-1

 

[petros]

No steers? That's odd.

 

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Episode 2

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May embark on a grand road trip across Australia's Northern Territory, a vast, empty wilderness that is six times the size of the UK but has a human population of just a quarter of a million.

Tasked with picking a fast, luxurious GT for the trip, Clarkson chooses a BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Hammond a Bentley Continental GT V8 and May a Nissan GT-R, as the trio set out on an adventure that takes in crocodile-infested rivers, a race around a vast open-cast mine, an encounter with the world's longest lorries and the majestic scenery of one of the world's least-inhabited landscapes.

Their dusty endeavour concludes with an unusual challenge involving a farm the size of the South East of England, their cars and 4,000 cows.

Also in this episode, British/Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland is the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Watch it here: BBC iPlayer - Top Gear - Series 22: Episode 2

No steers? That's odd.

I don't know. I haven't personally checked all 4000 or so of them. The genitalial situation of these Bovinae domesticated ungulates is not something which should concern one when one is enjoying the rather grand spectacle of intelligent hairless apes rounding up said unfortunate creatures with their self-propelled motor vehicles powered by the combustion of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum.

 

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Episode 3

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May conduct a valuable piece of consumer research with their attempts to improve and enhance the ambulance.

Starting with a belief that current ambulances, which are usually very big and based on a diesel van, are in need of a rethink, the presenters go their separate ways to focus on the one area they think could be improved. May focuses on passenger comfort, Hammond tries to improve response times by getting other drivers out of the way more effectively, while Clarkson confronts the same issue with the invention of what he calls 'the sports ambulance'.

Their three very different creations are then put to the test with a series of severe and often messy challenges, culminating in a fast reaction to a spectacular emergency.

Also in this episode, Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Watch it here: BBC iPlayer - Top Gear - Series 22: Episode 3

 

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Episode 4

Jeremy Clarkson tests the new BMW M4 at the track before switching to another BMW, the space-age, hybrid powered i8, for a revealing trip up the A1 to Whitby. When he gets there, and fuelled by a portion of fish and chips, Clarkson must decide which of the two he would rather take for the drive home.

Also in this programme, Richard Hammond marks the imminent "demise" of the legendary Land Rover Defender - probably the most versatile vehicle ever produced - with a heart stopping attempt to drive one straight up the side of Claerwen Dam. The climb leaves Hammond terrified!

Meanwhile, James May makes a rare trip to the Top Gear track to test the brand new, 500 horsepower Mercedes-AMG GT.

The stars in the Reasonably Priced Car are actress Margot Robbie and Hollywood superstar Will Smith.

Watch it here: BBC iPlayer - Top Gear - Series 22: Episode 4

 

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Episode 5

In this latest episode of the world's biggest car programme, Jeremy Clarkson and James May encounter artillery shells, corsets and classic hot hatchbacks as they take a nostalgic look at one of the world's most interesting and varied companies - Peugeot. Did you know it started in 1810 and, as well as making the already-mentioned items, also made pepper mills?

Meanwhile, Richard Hammond is at the test track to compare the crisp precision engineering of the new Porsche Cayman GTS with the thunderous all-American muscle of the latest Chevrolet Corvette.

Also in this show, James tests the sensational 950-horsepower LaFerrari hypercar hybrid on glorious Italian roads, and singer Olly Murs is the Star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Watch it here: BBC iPlayer - Top Gear - Series 22: Episode 5

 

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Episode 6

In this episode of the world's biggest car programme, Richard Hammond is dropped into the remote, frozen wastes of Middle-of-Nowhere, Canada to test a watch with a built-in emergency beacon.

Normally, activating the device would summon a vast international rescue crew, but in Hammond's case, the distress signal is sent directly to Jeremy "Yogi" Clarkson and James "Boo-Boo" May who are disorganised, disinterested and very many miles away.

Eventually, the pair get their hands on two American pickups they believe are suitable for the job - even though they are not normally fans of American cars - and set off on an epic adventure to find their colleague.

Also in this show, Clarkson is on the track in the new 471-horsepower Lexus RC F coupe.

American/British actress Gillian Anderson, star of The Fall and The X-Files, is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

Watch it here: BBC iPlayer - Top Gear - Series 22: Episode 6

 

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Episode 7

In this episode, James May is taken far outside his comfort zone as he straps into an insanely fast, highly tuned, 600-horsepower hatchback and is thrown into the lion's den of World Rallycross racing. As well as trying to fend off a pack of top-flight professional drivers, May's life is made harder by his "support crew": the distinctly unsupportive Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond.

Also in this show, Clarkson is at the track in the latest Jaguar F-type R and a sensational, modernised E-type called the Eagle Low Drag GT, while Hammond is in Spain to test the brand new version of the legendary Mazda MX-5.

Finally, Brit Pack acting star Nicholas Hoult tries his hand in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Watch it here:
BBC iPlayer - Top Gear - Series 22: Episode 7

 

[Blackleaf]

The Left-wing Establishment has finally got what it wanted and got Top Gear - the BBC and Britain's most successful television export - off the air, thus ruining it for 350 million people worldwide.

Jeremy Clarkson was yesterday suspended by the BBC after he allegedly punched a producer during a "fracas" whilst filming the latest episode in Newcastle (a large proportion of many Top Gear episodes is filmed just days before they are aired). It seems Clarkson was angry over the fact there was a lack of food available to him after a long day's filming (the view of me and others is that the producer was the irritating, Left-wing, Guardian-reading type, who probably thought he was better than Clarkson, kept patronising him and told him how to do his job).

As a result of Clarkson's suspension, the remaining episodes of the series have been dropped.

The BBC had announced Clarkson's suspension in a statement which said: "Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation.

"No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday. The BBC will be making no further comment at this time."

The Sun newspaper, in which Clarkson writes a regular column, quotes him as saying: "I'm having a nice cold pint and waiting for this to blow over." It also quotes a "source close to the star" denying Clarkson punched anyone.

An online petition calling for the BBC to "reinstate" Clarkson has been signed by almost 250,000 people.

It was started on Tuesday afternoon by political blogger Guido Fawkes.

Originally, the BBC stated that only this Sunday's episode has been pulled. There are rumours that Clarkson, who supposedly owns Top Gear, may have dropped the remaining episodes himself as a way of trying to punish the BBC and get them to come begging back to him.

For a few years now the Left-wing Establishment has been trying to get Top Gear off the air, despite it being a successful show for the BBC, pulling in 350 million viewers worldwide. The Left don't like Top Gear mainly because it's one of the few shows on British TV nowadays that are aimed at men and is also not deemed to be very "PC".

So it seems that, for the next few Sunday nights, the Establishment have got their wish. Gone is Top Gear at 9pm on BBC Two and it'll be replaced, I'm sure, by yet another women's show. Queue another cookery programme; another programme about sewing; or another series showing women giving birth.

Clarkson has exchanged suggestions on Twitter with Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May about films that could be aired in place of the Sunday's planned episode. Clarkson suggests Where Eagles Dare.

This isn't the firm time Clarkson has punched somebody. He punched Piers Morgan in March 2004 at the British Press Awards – hitting him on the temple and forehead.

And now Morgan, 49, has reignited the row, tweeting: "Speaking from experience, Mr Clarkson's best legal argument may be that his punches aren't real punches but glorified slaps."

The BBC will have to be careful. If it doesn't reinstate Clarkson soon it'll not be long before ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 ask Clarkson, May and Hammond to take Top Gear to their channel.


Jeremy Clarkson 'punch': Top Gear episodes to be dropped

11 March 2015
BBC News

Deep in thought: Clarkson stayed silent on his suspension from the BBC as he returned to his London home

The BBC is expected to scrap the remainder of the current Top Gear TV series after allegations that presenter Jeremy Clarkson punched a producer.

The broadcaster said Clarkson, 54, had been suspended after what it called a "fracas" and has confirmed Sunday's episode of Top Gear will not be shown.

It is understood the two final episodes in the series will also be dropped.

An online petition calling for the BBC to "reinstate" Clarkson has been signed by almost 250,000 people.

It was started on Tuesday afternoon by political blogger Guido Fawkes.

Clarkson has not issued a statement, but has been joking on Twitter about films that could replace Sunday's show.

The Sun newspaper, in which Clarkson writes a regular column, quotes him as saying: "I'm having a nice cold pint and waiting for this to blow over." It also quotes a "source close to the star" denying Clarkson punched anyone.

The BBC had announced Clarkson's suspension in a statement which said: "Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation.

"No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday. The BBC will be making no further comment at this time."

'Sorry Ed'

No broadcast: In this Sunday's episode, the hosts were set to take to the road and end up at a classic track day, while ex-footballer and current Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker (who tweeted the above) was to be the 'star in a reasonably priced car'

BBC News special correspondent Lucy Manning said sources had confirmed reports the presenter was suspended for "allegedly hitting a producer".

"The incident is believed to have happened last week, but was reported to the BBC on Monday and dealt with on Tuesday," she said.

"The next two episodes of Top Gear will not be broadcast and it's understood that a third programme, the final of the series, is unlikely to be transmitted."

The BBC had no comment to make on a report in the Daily Mirror that named the producer involved in the alleged incident.

Clarkson has exchanged suggestions on Twitter with Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May about films that could be aired in place of the Sunday's planned episode.

On Tuesday evening - in an apparent reference to an interview Ed Miliband's wife Justine had given to the BBC - Clarkson tweeted: "Sorry Ed. It seems I knocked your 'I'm a human' piece down the news agenda."

PR consultant Mark Borkowski has said the BBC faces "a difficult decision".

He told 5 live's Wake Up to Money that Clarkson's tweets suggested he "doesn't seem to be worried".

"A lot of TV executives around the world are looking at this fracas thinking 'would we like to get our hands on Jeremy Clarkson?'," he added.

Clarkson was spotted at a west London pub yesterday afternoon (second from left) as news of his suspension from the BBC emerged. He said: 'I'm having a nice cold pint and waiting for this to blow over'

James May engages in a bit of banter at the expense of his pal

Support: More than 300,000 Clarkson fans have signed a petition demanding the BBC reinstate him even though he allegedly punched another worker


SIGN THE PETITION HERE. 336,316 PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE: https://www.change.org/p/bbc-reinstate-jeremy-clarkson

Top Gear co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond acknowledged the incident on Twitter last night

Clarkson broke his silence following his suspension by responding to his co-stars' tweets. He appeared to make light of the fact the Top Gear episode scheduled to air on Sunday had been pulled from TV listings

'I'm available': DailyMail.com editor-at-large Piers Morgan tweeted his availability for Clarkson's role

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BBC News - Jeremy Clarkson 'punch': Top Gear episodes to be dropped

 

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'I'm off to the Job Centre', jokes Jeremy Clarkson as sources say he may QUIT the BBC - even if they clear him of food fight fracas - as 400,000 join fight to keep him on Top Gear

Fracas: Jeremy Clarkson allegedly 'smacked' Top Gear assistant producer Oisin Tymon, 36, who is from Ireland, because there was no catering while out on location

Jeremy Clarkson said today he was 'off to the Job Centre' after the BBC suspended him for allegedly punching a producer in a fight over food.

The 54-year-old millionaire is being investigated for allegedly 'smacking' Oisin Tymon, 36, in the face after being told there was no hot food after a day's filming in Newcastle.

More than 440,000 supporters have signed a petition demanding he is reinstated by the BBC while many more used the #BringBackClarkson and #jesuisClarkson hashtags to show support.

Co-presenter James May admitted today his friend was involved in a 'bit of a dust up' over dinner where a punch may have been thrown, but said the row was not 'serious'.

The BBC has decided Top Gear will not be aired on Sunday and the further two remaining episodes of this year's series may also be axed while he is investigated.

But Mr Clarkson, whose BBC contract expires this month, is considering quitting Top Gear even if he is cleared of punching Mr Tymon and moving to a rival, a friend said.

'The last three episodes of this series have been pulled,' a source told the Radio Times, adding: 'Can I see him going back to film another BBC series? I don't think so. But he'll be fine. The other broadcasters will bite his arm off.'

With his Top Gear career in the balance after the 'fracas', sources have told MailOnline that ITV may be preparing a £10million bid to lure him away, sparking a bidding war with Sky.

Top Gear: This Sunday's episode was set to feature the trio - Clarkson (centre) with Hammond (left) and May (right) - getting to grips with classic cars such as a Fiat 124 Spider, an MGB GT and a Peugeot 304 Cabriolet

Clarkson could walk out on Top Gear within days because his multi-million pound BBC contract runs out at the end of the month.

He and co-stars James May and Richard Hammond were understood to be days away from signing new three-year deals before he was suspended.

If Clarkson is sacked by the BBC or leaves, Chris Evans is the early favourite to replace him.

The corporation owns the rights to the Top Gear brand, which is valued at £50 million, and includes the show, DVD rights and live shows.

Sports car collector Chris Evans is the early favourite to replace Clarkson if he leaves the show. But would it be able to survive without "Mr Top Gear" himself?

After it cancelled the final three shows the BBC could face financial penalties from other broadcasters they have sold the show to for failing to deliver a full series.

Director general Tony Hall told Parliament's European Scrutiny Committee he had been 'involved' in Clarkson's case.

Asked about the BBC response to the allegations, he told MPs: 'I have been involved in that, I am involved in that.

'We have an inquiry taking place on that.'

Fans have rushed to sign the BBC bring back Clarkson petition, with 400,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

Leaving their reasons for signing the petition Veronique Favreau wrote: 'I pay my TV license to ensure that irreverent people can express themselves. If you become boarding and politically correct, you may disappear BBC'.

Chris Kookie said: 'Freedom of speech, freedom of expression!!! Je suis Clarkson' and Peter Maxwell wrote: 'I'm signing because Clarkson is a superb presenter and Top Gear is without doubt one the BBC's better programmes. The viewing figures support this'.

Former culture secretary Maria Miller has described Clarkson as a 'legend' and insisted the BBC had to improve the way it dealt with 'larger than life characters'.

'I think they need to sort this mess about quickly, and not be seen to be punishing the fans,' she told BBC Radio 4's World at One.

'It's a fantastic show and I really think the BBC has got an obligation to get this sorted.

'The BBC needs to be better at managing its talent ... there are other organisations that have to deal with larger than life characters.

'Perhaps the BBC needs to pull in some of those skills, perhaps look at our football teams. People like (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger are doing this day in and day out.'

Referring to Clarkson, Ms Miller said: 'He is, I think, a legend, not just in this country but around the world'.

Clarkson, who is said to be worth £30million, was pictured outside his west London home and drinking in his local pub yesterday and said: 'I'm having a nice cold pint and waiting for this to blow over'.

He is understood to have told friends that he did not punch Tymon, but that there had been some 'handbags and pushing' over the incident.

The millionaire star is said to 'smacked' Oisin Tymon, 36, and the BBC confirmed yesterday evening that the Top Gear host had been suspended pending an investigation.

Mr Tymon was not at the home he shares with his girlfriend in west London, with neighbours saying he left last night carrying luggage.

Top Gear co-host James May said this morning that his friend was involved in a 'bit of a dust up' over dinner.

But when asked if Clarkson was innocent of the allegations he punched producer Oisin Tymon, 36, he said: 'No, I think he has been involved in a bit if a dust up, but I don't think it's that serious.'

Last night Mr Clarkson retweeted a message from a fan that said: 'How can the BBC not show the remaining episodes of Top Gear, can't this be resolved without making the fans suffer'.

His daughter Emily also tweeted: 'Oh God, BBC please take him back... He's started cooking'.

Plea: Jeremy Clarkson's daughter has already asked the BBC to 'take him back' because he is at home cooking

The Top Gear crew spent several nights at the Simonside Hall Hotel in Hawes, North Yorkshire last week while they filmed the show but it is not clear if this is where the fracas happened

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Campaign: Posters declaring support for the TV presenter have been tweeted thousands of times

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Rumours: After the latest falling out with the BBC, Clarkson is rumoured to be ready to leave and join a rival

Read more: BBC producer hit in Top Gear Jeremy Clarkson 'fracas' identified | Daily Mail Online
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I suspected the ‘liberal’ fascists would eventually get Jeremy Clarkson

Rod Liddle
10 March 2015
364 comments

I read that Jeremy Clarkson had been suspended by the BBC for ‘a fracas’ with a producer. We don’t know what happened yet – but that hasn’t stopped my phone ringing with requests for interviews from Channel Four News (natch) and, yes, the BBC – the producers beside themselves with glee. And already one witless columnist – the staggeringly hopeless Deborah Orr in (where else?) the Guardian, who nobody has ever read voluntarily – demanding Clarkson resign. Before this imbecilic woman knows even the slightest about what has taken place. Strike one up for the usual ‘liberal’ fascism. What’s he done? Dunno – but sack the bastard anyway. Evil, stupid, people.

I don’t know Clarkson – I met him once, when I interviewed him. He was very likeable. I don’t often watch his show, because I don’t watch much TV. But this is incontestable – Top Gear is extraordinarily successful. Perhaps the most successful programme the BBC has produced in the last twenty years. A humungous, astonishing, success. And part of that is down to the fact that Clarkson is a very good presenter indeed; the best – alongside Attenborough and Humphrys – that the BBC has come up with in fifty years. And part of it is down to the fact that he doesn’t toe the usual PC line, demanded by shrill idiots like Orr – and indeed most of the rest of the BBC and Channel Four News. I don’t know what happened this time around. But I had the suspicion that they would get him, one of these days.


I suspected the 'liberal' fascists would eventually get Jeremy Clarkson » Spectator Blogs

 

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RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: Too white. Too male. And too damned British. No wonder the Beeb wants shot of Clarkson

By Richard Littlejohn
12 March 2015
Daily Mail

Has Desperate Dan finally got his man? BBC television chief Danny Cohen appears determined to go down in history as The Man Who Sacked Jeremy Clarkson.

If he succeeds he’ll be the toast of fashionable Shoreditch salons, a folk hero to the Guardianistas and all those who despise Top Gear for being too white, too male and, frankly, too damned British.

The Lilliputian Lefties who infest the BBC see Clarkson as an embarrassment — a racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic caveman, who shouldn’t be given house room by a ‘liberal’ publicly funded broadcaster.

Pressure: BBC television chief Danny Cohen (right) has pulled the remaining three episodes of Top Gear following the suspension of Jeremy Clarkson (pictured last night, left, watching Chelsea play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge) while an ‘investigation’ takes place

Certainly, Cohen has made no secret of his contempt for Clarkson and this week seized his chance to suspend him over a ‘fracas’ on location, during which the presenter is alleged to have punched producer Oisin Tymon.

Cohen has also pulled the remaining three episodes of the programme while an ‘investigation’ is carried out by the BBC’s human resources department.

What’s to investigate? My understanding is that the facts are not in dispute and Tymon hasn’t made an official complaint. Clarkson denies punching him, but admits there was ‘contact’ and has apologised profusely.

Outrage

Tymon is a long-standing and much-valued member of the Top Gear team and there is said to be no bad blood between him and the show’s star. Tempers were frayed after a difficult day’s filming, resulting in what James May calls a ‘dust-up’.

It’s the kind of thing which happens when people are living under pressure in each other’s pockets. Dressing room fisticuffs are not unknown among rock stars or on rugby tours. Normally what happens on tour stays on tour.

Because Clarkson is forced to live his life under a microscope, the incident inevitably came to Cohen’s attention, presenting him with an irresistible opportunity to dispose of his bête noire once and for all. (Can you still say bête noire at the BBC?)

Clarkson was already on a ‘final warning’ following a series of so-called ‘gaffes’, most of them confected.

He was forced by Cohen to make a grovelling public apology after being accused of using the N-word while reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny Meeny Miny Moe to compare two indistinguishable cars.

I watched the clip a dozen times and at best it was inconclusive. Halfway through the second line, he deliberately avoids dropping the N-bomb. More to the point, on Clarkson’s own instructions, it was never broadcast — precisely to avoid another bout of artificial outrage.

That didn’t stop someone at the BBC retrieving the footage from the cutting room floor and passing it to the Daily Mirror in an attempt to discredit him.

Top Gear presenter: The BBC suspended Clarkson (pictured outside his west London home yesterday, left) following a 'fracas' with assistant producer Oisin Tymon, 36, (right), during an alleged row over a 'cold platter'

Fracas: Clarkson, 54, allegedly 'smacked' Top Gear assistant producer Oisin Tymon, 36, (believed to be pictured far left on a trip to China) because there was no hot food available, only a 'cold platter', after filming

Instead of supporting Clarkson, Cohen deliberately humiliated him. I wondered at the time why he didn’t just tell Cohen to get lost and walk away? It’s not as if he needs the money and rival broadcasters would fall over each other to snap him up.

This is where I declare an interest. As regular readers are well aware, Jeremy is an old friend of mine. I’ve seen him rise from a young presenter on a niche motoring show to become one of the biggest television stars . . . in the wurrld.

Although he has more money than he could ever have imagined, his fortune could have been far larger had he accepted offers from the commercial sector.

When the rest of the Top Gear presenters jumped ship to Channel 5 fifteen years ago, Clarkson stayed put. His main concern was securing for his producer and old schoolfriend Andy Wilman a proper salary and a piece of the action.

Together, they reinvented the format, turning the show into a global phenomenon bringing in around £50 million a year for the BBC.

And make no mistake, this is Clarkson and Wilman’s triumph. BBC executives simply bask in the reflected glory. So you’d expect the show and its star presenter to be handled with more respect.

Despite his disdainful treatment by Cohen, Clarkson still wants to stay at the BBC — even though he gives every impression of hating it.

What he loves is the institution itself, the ‘Auntie’ we all grew up with. It gave him his first break in TV back in 1988.

What he hates is the cult of managerialism; the naked political posturing; unwanted interference from over-promoted non-entities, constantly carping, buck-passing and covering their own backsides.

He’s also fiercely loyal to his Top Gear team, who travel the world together. The reason he complied with Cohen’s order to apologise over the ridiculous N-word furore was because he felt an obligation towards his staff to keep the show going and them in work.

So it’s no surprise that he was appalled at the lack of backing from Cohen when the Top Gear crew were viciously attacked in Argentina recently and had to flee for their lives.

The only thing that seemed to bother the BBC bigwigs was whether Clarkson had set out to provoke the Argentinians by driving a car with a number-plate intended deliberately to remind them of Britain’s victory in the Falklands War.

Emotive: Clarkson watched Chelsea play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge last night after earlier joking that he was 'off to the Job Centre' following his suspension from the BBC. He appeared in lively spirits at the Chelsea cup match

Shrugging it off? Clarkson showed mixed emotions ahead of last night's Chelsea v Paris Saint Germain game

Pressures

Who knows? I haven’t asked, but I wouldn’t put it past him. Jeremy would admit he can be his own worst enemy. He shouldn’t take to Twitter after a few drinks and he was foolish to accept the advice of lawyers who told him to seek a super-injunction to cover up an extra-marital affair.

He’s capable of being gratuitously offensive, but so what? Funny how the Lefties at the BBC were quick to proclaim ‘Je Suis Charlie’ after a French magazine offended Muslims, but never declare themselves ‘Je Suis Jeremy’ whenever he upsets someone.

Clarkson doesn’t hide himself away, despite the controversy and constant attention from the public. He can’t use a toilet without someone shoving a mobile phone in his face or demanding to have their picture taken with him. And he has paid a physical and emotional price for his gruelling globe-trotting schedule.

Most poignantly, it cost him his marriage to Francie. Goodness knows what he’s going to do if he ever loses his looks.

So why does he do it? He’s nothing left to prove. Yet he ploughs on, writing weekly newspaper columns and touring in Top Gear Live arena shows as well the day job: Top Gear itself.

Michael Parkinson once told me that all the great stars he’d met had one thing in common. Talent, obviously. But primarily they worked harder than everyone else.

Clarkson combines enormous talent and hard work. Plus, he’s easily bored. The self-inflicted pressures upon him are enormous, so it’s no wonder that occasionally he can become consumed by madness.

Driving show: Clarkson (right) presents Top Gear with James May (left) and Richard Hammond (centre)

Valuable

But take away the madness and the genius might disappear, too. He has repaid the BBC in spades for his early break and is responsible for their most successful show ever. Yet the Director of Television treats him like a leper, while rolling out the red carpet for repulsive Russell Brand, who brought genuine disgrace on the BBC.

Cohen’s decision to pull the remaining Top Gear episodes will mean wasting hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of pounds of licence-payers’ money already spent on filmed sequences. It will also incur massive compensation claims from foreign broadcasters.

He couldn’t get away with that if he was a director of a commercial organisation, answerable to shareholders. And what about the millions of viewers being deprived of their favourite Sunday night show?

Cohen cares more about pandering to the political prejudices and petty jealousies of his Left-wing peer group in those Shoreditch salons. And that means securing his place in history as The Man Who Sacked Jeremy Clarkson.

For now, we shall just have to await the verdict of the BBC’s investigation. Let’s hope it doesn’t end in Jeremy being fired, although no one could blame him if he did decide to walk away.

If the viewers were ever to be asked who was most valuable to the BBC, Clarkson or the Director of Television, there would be only one winner. And it wouldn’t be Desperate Dan.

Read more: Jeremy Clarkson is too white, male and British for the BBC, writes Richard Littlejohn | Daily Mail Online
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[Blackleaf]

This is the programme that's on BBC Two at 8pm tonight in replace of Top Gear. I'm glad to say it's not yet another programme for the ladies, involving cooking, sewing, giving birth or a combination of the three.

Red Arrows: Inside the Bubble

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team - more commonly known as the Red Arrows - is based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and has taken part in more than 4,500 displays since 1965. This documentary offers an insight into the day-to-day work and lives of the 120-strong team of pilots and ground crew as they prepare to mark the unit's 50th display season, with celebrations reflecting how the Red Arrows remain the public face of the RAF, helping with recruitment and acting as ambassadors for the United Kingdom.


The petition to bring back Clarkson has a lot more signatories than the petition that wants Clarkson to be sacked. In fact, the petition that wants Clarkson to be brought back gained more signatories in one day than the petition to ban Page 3 received in total.

As I type, the petition to bring back Clarkson has 906,174 signatories, and it increases every few seconds. https://www.change.org/p/bbc-reinstate-jeremy-clarkson

Whereas the petition to sack Clarkson has a mere 7,040 signatures and it hasn't increased within the last few minutes. https://www.change.org/p/british-broadc ... y-clarkson

The petition wanting Clarkson back on Top Gear has almost 129 times as many signatories as the petition that wants Clarkson sacked. I think that says it all.

 

[Blackleaf]

Here it is. The final episode of Top Gear with Clarkson, Hammond and May as the hosts, which was aired last night on BBC Two. Clarkson has said the episode isn't very good because the lads didn't have a chance to finish it.

This episode of Top Gear features two films that were shot for the last series. In the first film, Jeremy, Richard and James immerse themselves in the lifestyle of the traditional classic car enthusiast. Armed with affordable classics including a Fiat 124 Spyder, a Peugeot 304 Cabriolet and an MGB GT, the trio set off on an adventure that includes brown beer, breakdowns and a hair-raising classic car show.

In the second film, Clarkson, Hammond and May try to become lifestyle leisure enthusiasts with the help of some incredibly cheap lifestyle leisure vehicles. Restricted to a maximum budget of £250, the trio buy three massive mileage SUVs - a Vauxhall Frontera, a Jeep Cherokee and a Mitsubishi Shogun - and then embark on a series of action-packed challenges that include battling with the Stig's 'Leisure Activity Cousin' and a race with terrifying consequences for the loser.

Watch it here: BBC iPlayer - Top Gear - Series 22: Episode 8

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Clarkson, Hammond and May are getting a new show on ITV, the BBC's main rival in the UK for number of viewers.

New Top Gear host Chris Evans to go head to head with Jeremy Clarkson as it emerges the former Top Gear host is planning to make his new series for ITV

Head to head: Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are said to have 'jumped at the chance' to do battle with Chris Evans in the ratings war after it emerged the trio are making a new programme for ITV to rival Top Gear

ITV bosses are planning to go head-to-head with the BBC by airing the new programme, featuring Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, in Top Gear's traditional time slot.

A source close to the ITV negotiations told Nigel Pauley for the Sunday People: 'The boys believe with the backing of ITV and a prime-time slot they can easily match, and probably beat, their BBC2 viewing figures.

'The thought of making a show for the BBC's main rival (ITV) is very appealing for them.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z3eNTxk4gN


I'm sure the new show will be Clarkson, Hammond and May Top Gear in all but name.