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| BBC: Clarkson mounted unprovoked attack on Top Gear producer - live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.33pm GMT14:33 | |
| Producer says incident 'very regrettable' | |
| Here is the statement from Oisin Tymon in full: | |
| I respect Lord Hall’s detailed findings and I am grateful to the BBC for their thorough and swift investigation into this very regrettable incident, against a background of intense media interest and speculation. | |
| I’ve worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love. | |
| 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. | |
| His lawyer Paul Daniels said it was “an important reminder that UK law protects all staff who face bullying, discrimination or violence at work, and all employers are required to protect their staff from such behaviour”. | |
| 2.26pm GMT14:26 | |
| Oisin Tymon, the producer who Clarkson was found to have verbally and physically assaulted, has released a statement in which he says he had a “positive and satisfactory” relationship with Clarkson for many years, describing the former Top Gear presenter as a “unique talent”. | |
| He thanked the BBC for conducting the inquiry swiftly. | |
| Updated at 2.26pm GMT | |
| 2.14pm GMT14:14 | |
| Findings of inquiry: 'unprovoked physical and verbal attack' | |
| Here are some of the other facts established by the inquiry: | |
| Clarkson did not dispute that Tymon was the victim of an unprovoked physical and verbal attack, nor did any witness, said Ken MacQuarrie, the BBC Scotland controller, who carried out the inquiry. | |
| Updated at 2.33pm GMT | |
| 2.12pm GMT14:12 | |
| Ken MacQuarrie, who carried out the inquiry said that he established that: | |
| On 4 March 2015 Oisin Tymon was subject to an unprovoked physical and verbal attack by Jeremy Clarkson. During the physical attack Oisin Tymon was struck, resulting in swelling and bleeding to his lip. The verbal abuse was sustained over a longer period, both at the time of the physical attack and subsequently. | |
| 2.08pm GMT14:08 | |
| BBC DG says distinctive voices 'cannot come at any price' | |
| BBC director-general Tony Hall said: | |
| Please find below a statement from BBC Director-General, Tony Hall and investigation findings from Ken MacQuarrie. | |
| 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. | |
| I am grateful to Ken MacQuarrie for the thorough way he has conducted an investigation of the incident on 4th March. Given the obvious and very genuine public interest in this I am publishing the findings of his report. 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 programme is and I also know that this decision will divide opinion. The main facts are not disputed by those involved. | |
| Hall also said the BBC need: “distinctive and different voices but they cannot come at any price” | |
| He said Oisin Tymon “will continue to have an important role within the organisation in the future”. | |
| He added: | |
| 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. | |
| Hall has asked Kim Shillinglaw, controller of BBC 2 and BBC 4, to look at how to renew Top Gear and how it puts out the last programmes in the current series. | |
| Updated at 2.29pm GMT | |
| 2.04pm GMT14:04 | |
| BBC director-general Tony Hall has said with it is “with great regret” he has told Clarkson he will not be renewing his contract. | |
| He has said no blame is attached to producer Oisin Tymon, who went to A&E after the incident. | |
| Hall says he was always a fan of Clarkson. | |
| BBC investigation finds Clarkson carried out physical & verbal attack on producer. Oisin Tymon was struck caused swelling & bleeding to lip. | |
| Updated at 2.09pm GMT | |
| 2.01pm GMT14:01 | |
| Confirmation of Clarkson's exit | |
| It’s official: the BBC have dropped Clarkson. | |
| Updated at 2.01pm GMT | |
| 1.52pm GMT13:52 | 1.52pm GMT13:52 |
| No comment. | No comment. |
| Please spare a though for the journalists who started a Clarkson live blog at 7am and are now staring at their screens, rocking and weeping | Please spare a though for the journalists who started a Clarkson live blog at 7am and are now staring at their screens, rocking and weeping |
| 1.48pm GMT13:48 | 1.48pm GMT13:48 |
| Expect a lot of articles in a similar vein to Brendan O’Neill’s for the Telegraph over the next few days. Here’s a taste: | Expect a lot of articles in a similar vein to Brendan O’Neill’s for the Telegraph over the next few days. Here’s a taste: |
| It’s further evidence of the Beeb’s self-emasculation, its sheepish, apologetic jettisoning of anything that might rile right-thinking viewers or make Hampstead-dwelling licence fee-payers choke on their Ovaltine. | It’s further evidence of the Beeb’s self-emasculation, its sheepish, apologetic jettisoning of anything that might rile right-thinking viewers or make Hampstead-dwelling licence fee-payers choke on their Ovaltine. |
| With the elbowing aside of JC, we are witnessing not simply the sacking of an employee over a scuffle, but the willingness of a scandal-stung, crisis-ridden BBC to ditch anything that has the whiff of controversy and to bend its knee to the bland, larks-free worldview of the right-on. | With the elbowing aside of JC, we are witnessing not simply the sacking of an employee over a scuffle, but the willingness of a scandal-stung, crisis-ridden BBC to ditch anything that has the whiff of controversy and to bend its knee to the bland, larks-free worldview of the right-on. |
| 1.07pm GMT13:07 | 1.07pm GMT13:07 |
| The Telegraph is running an online poll asking people if they would watch Top Gear without Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. So far, 90% say “No”. | The Telegraph is running an online poll asking people if they would watch Top Gear without Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. So far, 90% say “No”. |
| 12.33pm GMT12:33 | 12.33pm GMT12:33 |
| Ladbrokes still has Chris Evans as favourite to replace Clarkson despite the Radio Two presenter describing reports that he had been lined up for the show as “absolute nonsense”. | Ladbrokes still has Chris Evans as favourite to replace Clarkson despite the Radio Two presenter describing reports that he had been lined up for the show as “absolute nonsense”. |
| He is 2/5. | He is 2/5. |
| Behind him are: | Behind him are: |
| Ladbrokes also has odds on what Clarkson will do next: | Ladbrokes also has odds on what Clarkson will do next: |
| But Coral and Betway have Kidd as the favourite (3-1 and 2-1 respectively). With Coral, Coogan is next and then Evans, while those positions are reversed with Betway. | But Coral and Betway have Kidd as the favourite (3-1 and 2-1 respectively). With Coral, Coogan is next and then Evans, while those positions are reversed with Betway. |
| Updated at 12.38pm GMT | Updated at 12.38pm GMT |
| 12.24pm GMT12:24 | 12.24pm GMT12:24 |
| Analyst Liberum says that if Top Gear moved to ITV, there could be “several potential benefits” to the channel: | Analyst Liberum says that if Top Gear moved to ITV, there could be “several potential benefits” to the channel: |
| A Top Gear style show could help in three ways for ITV: (1) audience share with such a popular programme (and with the added benefit of hitting the BBC’s audience share); (2) advertising - given the Top Gear demographic, it is likely to be relatively attractive to advertisers (motors being the obvious category) and (3) Worldwide sales - press reports suggested Top Gear earns £50m pa for the BBC globally: while it is unclear on what would happen with the Top Gear brand, a Clarkson-fronted motor show is likely to replicate this success. | A Top Gear style show could help in three ways for ITV: (1) audience share with such a popular programme (and with the added benefit of hitting the BBC’s audience share); (2) advertising - given the Top Gear demographic, it is likely to be relatively attractive to advertisers (motors being the obvious category) and (3) Worldwide sales - press reports suggested Top Gear earns £50m pa for the BBC globally: while it is unclear on what would happen with the Top Gear brand, a Clarkson-fronted motor show is likely to replicate this success. |
| Although the note says there is uncertainty as to whether Clarkson could use the Top Gear brand, the BBC bought him out out of Bedder 6, the company set up to control the commercial rights to the show. So unless some secret clause was included in the deal, he would not be able to take the show elsewhere. | Although the note says there is uncertainty as to whether Clarkson could use the Top Gear brand, the BBC bought him out out of Bedder 6, the company set up to control the commercial rights to the show. So unless some secret clause was included in the deal, he would not be able to take the show elsewhere. |
| 12.13pm GMT12:13 | 12.13pm GMT12:13 |
| John Plunkett writes that Top Gear and Clarkson are valuable to the BBC and not just for the obvious reasons: | John Plunkett writes that Top Gear and Clarkson are valuable to the BBC and not just for the obvious reasons: |
| Top Gear is so valuable to the BBC not just because it is watched by more than 5 million viewers on BBC2 and generates more than £50m a year worldwide for its commercial arm, but also because of the sort of people who watch it. | Top Gear is so valuable to the BBC not just because it is watched by more than 5 million viewers on BBC2 and generates more than £50m a year worldwide for its commercial arm, but also because of the sort of people who watch it. |
| Daily Mail columnist Stephen Glover suggested BBC executives didn’t like Clarkson because he is “insufferably right-wing, politically incorrect and in favour of terrible things such as capitalism”. | Daily Mail columnist Stephen Glover suggested BBC executives didn’t like Clarkson because he is “insufferably right-wing, politically incorrect and in favour of terrible things such as capitalism”. |
| That might be true of some of them, but it is precisely those attributes that also make Clarkson so valuable to the BBC, bringing a legion of viewers to the corporation who are not natural supporters of the licence fee. | That might be true of some of them, but it is precisely those attributes that also make Clarkson so valuable to the BBC, bringing a legion of viewers to the corporation who are not natural supporters of the licence fee. |
| It helps explain why Tony Hall stuck by Clarkson last year after the N-word controversy, overruling director of television Danny Cohen who wanted to discipline him. | It helps explain why Tony Hall stuck by Clarkson last year after the N-word controversy, overruling director of television Danny Cohen who wanted to discipline him. |
| 12.09pm GMT12:09 | 12.09pm GMT12:09 |
| Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch suggests Clarkson could help the Tories out of a spot of bother: | Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch suggests Clarkson could help the Tories out of a spot of bother: |
| Isn't there a marginal seat where J. Clarkson could make the difference? Cough Dudley North cough | Isn't there a marginal seat where J. Clarkson could make the difference? Cough Dudley North cough |
| Given that the Conservative’s last candidate for Dudley North, which has seen significant support for the BNP in recent times, resigned over allegations that he plotted with the EDL, it might not be the best way to assuage tensions in the area. | Given that the Conservative’s last candidate for Dudley North, which has seen significant support for the BNP in recent times, resigned over allegations that he plotted with the EDL, it might not be the best way to assuage tensions in the area. |
| 11.58am GMT11:58 | 11.58am GMT11:58 |
| Rupert Myers has written about what we’ll miss (or not) about Jeremy Clarkson. | Rupert Myers has written about what we’ll miss (or not) about Jeremy Clarkson. |
| In the will miss column are: | In the will miss column are: |
| And the things that won’t be missed: | And the things that won’t be missed: |
| So that’s a 5-5 score draw which means ...I’m not sure but Myers concludes: | So that’s a 5-5 score draw which means ...I’m not sure but Myers concludes: |
| Clarkson’s supporters will never have suffered violence at the hands of a workplace superior. There is perhaps no greater indication of a person’s character than how they treat people who work for them. Talent is no excuse for violence. | Clarkson’s supporters will never have suffered violence at the hands of a workplace superior. There is perhaps no greater indication of a person’s character than how they treat people who work for them. Talent is no excuse for violence. |
| 11.41am GMT11:41 | 11.41am GMT11:41 |
| The Telegraph reported that the cause of the fracas was the Top Gear presenter’s anger that he could not have steak and chips. | The Telegraph reported that the cause of the fracas was the Top Gear presenter’s anger that he could not have steak and chips. |
| The outburst came after Clarkson, who is one of the BBC’s best paid stars, was informed he could not have steak and chips after a day’s filming because the hotel where they were staying had stop serving hot food. | The outburst came after Clarkson, who is one of the BBC’s best paid stars, was informed he could not have steak and chips after a day’s filming because the hotel where they were staying had stop serving hot food. |
| 11.30am GMT11:30 | 11.30am GMT11:30 |
| So is this the end of Top Gear? Not according to my colleague John Plunkett. | So is this the end of Top Gear? Not according to my colleague John Plunkett. |
| He writes: | He writes: |
| The question now for the BBC is what happens to the other Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond and James May. | The question now for the BBC is what happens to the other Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond and James May. |
| The Top Gear trio’s contracts run out next week. Negotiations for new deals with May and Hammond have been put on hold during the investigation. | The Top Gear trio’s contracts run out next week. Negotiations for new deals with May and Hammond have been put on hold during the investigation. |
| The BBC will look to “reconstruct” the motoring show without Clarkson. May and Hammond both have presenting commitments on the BBC outside of Top Gear. | The BBC will look to “reconstruct” the motoring show without Clarkson. May and Hammond both have presenting commitments on the BBC outside of Top Gear. |
| Negotiations for new deals with May and Hammond have been put on hold during the investigation. | Negotiations for new deals with May and Hammond have been put on hold during the investigation. |
| Reports that the BBC has lined up Chris Evans to take over from Clarkson are believed to be incorrect. | Reports that the BBC has lined up Chris Evans to take over from Clarkson are believed to be incorrect. |
| The Radio 2 breakfast DJ, who has a huge car collection, told listeners today: “This is not true. Not only is it’s not true – it’s absolute nonsense.” | The Radio 2 breakfast DJ, who has a huge car collection, told listeners today: “This is not true. Not only is it’s not true – it’s absolute nonsense.” |
| As well as Evans, others who have been linked to the job include Jodie Kidd, Stephen Fry, Rowan Atkinson and even Alan Partridge. | As well as Evans, others who have been linked to the job include Jodie Kidd, Stephen Fry, Rowan Atkinson and even Alan Partridge. |
| Updated at 11.31am GMT | Updated at 11.31am GMT |
| 11.20am GMT11:20 | 11.20am GMT11:20 |
| The BBC’s decision comes in the face of a high-profile campaign to back Clarkson which included the support of David Cameron and his daughter Nancy. Cameron joked to the BBC that his daughter had threatened to go hunger strike unless the BBC restored Clarkson to the show. | The BBC’s decision comes in the face of a high-profile campaign to back Clarkson which included the support of David Cameron and his daughter Nancy. Cameron joked to the BBC that his daughter had threatened to go hunger strike unless the BBC restored Clarkson to the show. |
| Rupert Murdoch also tweeted in support of Clarkson last night: | Rupert Murdoch also tweeted in support of Clarkson last night: |
| How stupid can BBC be in firing Jeremy Clarkson? Funny man with great expertise and huge following. | How stupid can BBC be in firing Jeremy Clarkson? Funny man with great expertise and huge following. |
| A petition to reinstate Clarkson was delivered to the BBC headquarters in a tank on Friday. The Bring Back Clarkson petition, which calls for the “Freedom to Fracas” has been signed by more than one million people. | A petition to reinstate Clarkson was delivered to the BBC headquarters in a tank on Friday. The Bring Back Clarkson petition, which calls for the “Freedom to Fracas” has been signed by more than one million people. |
| 11.09am GMT11:09 | 11.09am GMT11:09 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Welcome to our live coverage of the BBC’s decision not to renew the contract of the controversial Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson. | Welcome to our live coverage of the BBC’s decision not to renew the contract of the controversial Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson. |
| Clarkson has presented his last edition of the popular show after a BBC internal inquiry into the front man’s alleged punch up with producer Oisin Tymon, the Guardian has confirmed, although we are still awaiting the official verdict. | Clarkson has presented his last edition of the popular show after a BBC internal inquiry into the front man’s alleged punch up with producer Oisin Tymon, the Guardian has confirmed, although we are still awaiting the official verdict. |
| Here’s an excerpt from our news story: | Here’s an excerpt from our news story: |
| BBC director general Tony Hall is expected to confirm on Wednesday that Jeremy Clarkson’s contract will not be renewed after the Top Gear presenter was involved in a 30-second physical assault on a producer. | BBC director general Tony Hall is expected to confirm on Wednesday that Jeremy Clarkson’s contract will not be renewed after the Top Gear presenter was involved in a 30-second physical assault on a producer. |
| Hall is understood to have come to the conclusion that he has “little alternative” but to end Clarkson’s BBC career, 16 days after he was suspended following a “fracas” with a member of the Top Gear production team. | Hall is understood to have come to the conclusion that he has “little alternative” but to end Clarkson’s BBC career, 16 days after he was suspended following a “fracas” with a member of the Top Gear production team. |
| A BBC investigation led by BBC Scotland boss Ken MacQuarrie is thought to have found that Clarkson engaged Oisin Tymon in a 30-second physical assault after a 20-minute verbal tirade. | A BBC investigation led by BBC Scotland boss Ken MacQuarrie is thought to have found that Clarkson engaged Oisin Tymon in a 30-second physical assault after a 20-minute verbal tirade. |
| It appears Clarkson has not been told the news yet: | It appears Clarkson has not been told the news yet: |
| Just to keep everyone up to date, I haven't heard a thing. | Just to keep everyone up to date, I haven't heard a thing. |
| Clarkson had been left in limbo for the last two weeks after he was suspended for what the corporation originally described as a “fracas”. He had been due to take part in four live Top Gear shows in Norway this week, but it was announced on Sunday they had been postponed. | Clarkson had been left in limbo for the last two weeks after he was suspended for what the corporation originally described as a “fracas”. He had been due to take part in four live Top Gear shows in Norway this week, but it was announced on Sunday they had been postponed. |
| Clarkson had appeared to have been expecting the sack by delivering a foul-mouthed rant against his BBC bosses at a charity event last week. | Clarkson had appeared to have been expecting the sack by delivering a foul-mouthed rant against his BBC bosses at a charity event last week. |
| “The BBC have fucked themselves ... It was a great show and they fucked it up.” Clarkson told the gala. | “The BBC have fucked themselves ... It was a great show and they fucked it up.” Clarkson told the gala. |
| He added: “I didn’t foresee my sacking but I would like to do one last lap.” | He added: “I didn’t foresee my sacking but I would like to do one last lap.” |
| Updated at 11.20am GMT | Updated at 11.20am GMT |