‘Top Gear’ Host Jeremy Clarkson Sacked by BBC
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LONDON — British broadcaster the BBC has sacked Jeremy Clarkson, presenter of its hit auto-show “Top Gear.”
The move follows an investigation into allegations that Clarkson hit the show’s producer Oisin Tymon.
In
a statement, Tony Hall, the BBC director-general, said: “It is with
great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will
not be renewing his contract. It is not a decision I have taken lightly.
I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and
after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon.”
Hall said
that the BBC was publishing MacQuarrie’s report into the incident (see
below) due to the “genuine” public interest in the issue. He added: “I
take no pleasure in doing so. I am only making them public so people can
better understand the background. I know how popular the program is and
I also know that this decision will divide opinion. The main facts are
not disputed by those involved.”
Hall said that he wanted to make three points: “First — The BBC is a
broad church. Our strength in many ways lies in that diversity. We need
distinctive and different voices but they cannot come at any price.
Common to all at the BBC have to be standards of decency and respect. I
cannot condone what has happened on this occasion. A member of staff —
who is a completely innocent party — took himself to Accident and
Emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and
prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature. 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.”
“Second – This has obviously been difficult for
everyone involved but in particular for Oisin. I want to make clear that
no blame attaches to him for this incident. He has behaved with huge
integrity throughout. As a senior producer at the BBC he will continue
to have an important role within the organisation in the future.”
“Third
– Obviously none of us wanted to find ourselves in this position. 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.’ Jeremy is a huge talent. He may
be leaving the BBC but I am sure he will continue to entertain,
challenge and amuse audiences for many years to come.”
“The BBC
must now look to renew ‘Top Gear’ for 2016. This will be a big challenge
and there is no point in pretending otherwise. I have asked Kim
Shillinglaw to look at how best we might take this forward over the
coming months. I have also asked her to look at how we put out the last
programs in the current (season).”
Credit: Variety.com