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Top Gear: can BBC find a star in a more reasonably priced car? Top Gear: can BBC find a star in a more reasonably priced car?
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The BBC has begun the task of filling a £50m Jeremy Clarkson-shaped hole at the heart of its schedules at the end of a bruising week that saw the enforced departure of its star presenter.The BBC has begun the task of filling a £50m Jeremy Clarkson-shaped hole at the heart of its schedules at the end of a bruising week that saw the enforced departure of its star presenter.
Clarkson, whose contract was not renewed by the BBC after an “unprovoked attack” left a colleague bleeding and seeking hospital treatment, was said by colleagues to be “robust” and considering a break from TV following the events of the past few weeks.Clarkson, whose contract was not renewed by the BBC after an “unprovoked attack” left a colleague bleeding and seeking hospital treatment, was said by colleagues to be “robust” and considering a break from TV following the events of the past few weeks.
The affair has left the BBC facing further questions about its ability to manage its most important and best-paid talent, and what to do with Top Gear, the top-rating show on BBC2 that is its most valuable global hit.The affair has left the BBC facing further questions about its ability to manage its most important and best-paid talent, and what to do with Top Gear, the top-rating show on BBC2 that is its most valuable global hit.
Oisin Tymon, the Top Gear producer who was left with a bleeding lip as a result of Clarkson’s 30-second attack at a North Yorkshire hotel earlier this month, said on Friday that he would not be pressing charges and said via his lawyer that all “parties should now be allowed to move on”. Oisin Tymon, the Top Gear producer who was left with a bleeding lip as a result of Clarkson’s 30-second attack at a North Yorkshire hotel this month, said on Friday that he would not be pressing charges and added via his lawyer that all “parties should now be allowed to move on”.
North Yorkshire police said they would take Tymon’s statement into account but their investigation into the incident is ongoing. North Yorkshire police said they would take Tymon’s statement into account but they are investigating the incident.
There remains the possibility of legal action by Clarkson around the circumstances of his departure and, potentially, around future earnings from the Top Gear brand with which the presenter is inextricably linked and did so much to build. Clarkson’s lawyer declined to comment on Friday. There remains the possibility of legal action by Clarkson over the circumstances of his departure and, potentially, regarding future earnings from the Top Gear brand with which the presenter is inextricably linked and did so much to build. Clarkson’s lawyer declined to comment on Friday.
The BBC’s director general, Tony Hall, was not exaggerating when he said the task of rebuilding Top Gear without Clarkson would be a “big challenge and there is no point in pretending otherwise”.The BBC’s director general, Tony Hall, was not exaggerating when he said the task of rebuilding Top Gear without Clarkson would be a “big challenge and there is no point in pretending otherwise”.
Holding on to the programme’s executive producer Andy Wilman along with – if possible – his co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond, would appear to be crucial to that task. Holding on to the programme’s executive producer, Andy Wilman, along with – if possible – Clarkson’s co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond, would appear to be crucial to that task.
Wilman is Clarkson’s right-hand man, with whom he remade Top Gear more than a decade ago. The pair are described by one industry executive as the “Lennon and McCartney of male factual entertainment television”.Wilman is Clarkson’s right-hand man, with whom he remade Top Gear more than a decade ago. The pair are described by one industry executive as the “Lennon and McCartney of male factual entertainment television”.
But May has already hinted he might follow Clarkson out the door – “The three of us are a package,” he told reporters – and the situation is complicated by all three presenters’ contracts with the BBC expiring at the same time. But May has already hinted he might follow Clarkson out the door – “The three of us are a package,” he said – and the situation is complicated by all three presenters’ contracts with the BBC expiring at the same time.
The importance of having a strong executive to stand up to and understand talent cannot be overratedThe importance of having a strong executive to stand up to and understand talent cannot be overrated
David Elstein, a former senior executive at BSkyB and Channel 5, said of Clarkson: “He is a talented person who has done something ridiculously stupid.David Elstein, a former senior executive at BSkyB and Channel 5, said of Clarkson: “He is a talented person who has done something ridiculously stupid.
“They haven’t actually sacked him, they have just not renewed his contract, and this elaborate quasi-judicial process was for me wholly inappropriate when you are dealing with a freelance contributor.“They haven’t actually sacked him, they have just not renewed his contract, and this elaborate quasi-judicial process was for me wholly inappropriate when you are dealing with a freelance contributor.
“Top Gear can change direction – it has changed presenters many time before – but it is careless to have all three presenters come to the end of their contracts at the same time. I can’t think of any commercial broadcaster that would do something as elementary as that.”“Top Gear can change direction – it has changed presenters many time before – but it is careless to have all three presenters come to the end of their contracts at the same time. I can’t think of any commercial broadcaster that would do something as elementary as that.”
Some within the BBC have privately voiced their disquiet about how the corporation handled Clarkson, following a string of controversies which culminated in the presenter being given a final warning last year after he appeared to mumble the N-word in a Top Gear outtake.Some within the BBC have privately voiced their disquiet about how the corporation handled Clarkson, following a string of controversies which culminated in the presenter being given a final warning last year after he appeared to mumble the N-word in a Top Gear outtake.
The incident prompted the BBC’s director of television, Danny Cohen, to commission a report into the culture on the BBC2 programme in a bid to stem the seemingly frequent tide of rows and complaints about the show. He also wanted to take disciplinary action against Clarkson in the wake of the N-word row, but was overruled by Hall. The incident prompted the BBC’s director of television, Danny Cohen, to commission a report into the culture on the BBC2 programme in a bid to stem the seeming tide of rows and complaints about the show. He also wanted to take disciplinary action against Clarkson in the wake of the N-word row, but was overruled by Hall.
One BBC source said the corporation should have put an experienced executive producer to work on the show alongside Wilman and the presenting team. It echoes a similar criticism levelled at the BBC seven years ago, after the “Sachsgate” row involving Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross.One BBC source said the corporation should have put an experienced executive producer to work on the show alongside Wilman and the presenting team. It echoes a similar criticism levelled at the BBC seven years ago, after the “Sachsgate” row involving Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross.
Clarkson said in an interview last December that his fitness levels were “atrocious” and he could only write with the help of alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine. “The amount you drink when you’re writing, that’s the thing that worries me,” Clarkson said.Clarkson said in an interview last December that his fitness levels were “atrocious” and he could only write with the help of alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine. “The amount you drink when you’re writing, that’s the thing that worries me,” Clarkson said.
The most recent series of Top Gear was extended by four episodes to 12, a decision the BBC’s creative director Alan Yentob said last week “was the decision of the team [but] in retrospect … it probably wasn’t the right decision”. The most recent series of Top Gear was extended by four episodes to 12, a decision the BBC’s creative director Alan Yentob said last week “was the decision of the team” but in retrospect “it probably wasn’t the right decision”.
“They knew what he was like, they should have put someone in on the show,” said the BBC source. “He made all that money for them and the BBC turned their back on him. The importance of having a strong executive to stand up to and understand talent cannot be overrated.” “They knew what he was like. They should have put someone in on the show,” said the BBC source. “He made all that money for them and the BBC turned their back on him. The importance of having a strong executive to stand up to and understand talent cannot be overrated.”
Nor can the challenge of reinventing Top Gear, now in the hands of Cohen and the controller of BBC2, Kim Shillinglaw.Nor can the challenge of reinventing Top Gear, now in the hands of Cohen and the controller of BBC2, Kim Shillinglaw.
Top Gear reaches viewers that other parts of the BBC cannot reach. It is that rarest of vehicles, a hugely popular male-skewed factual entertainment show popular in homes that do not readily tune into other BBC programmes and services.Top Gear reaches viewers that other parts of the BBC cannot reach. It is that rarest of vehicles, a hugely popular male-skewed factual entertainment show popular in homes that do not readily tune into other BBC programmes and services.
Popular among the C2DE audience that the BBC has been accused of ignoring in favour of the so-called “metropolitan elite”, the BBC’s reach among this demographic has fallen faster in recent years than upmarket ABC1s. The show is popular among the C2DE audience that the BBC has been accused of ignoring in favour of the so-called metropolitan elite. The BBC’s reach among this demographic has fallen faster in recent years than upmarket ABC1s.
The amount of time C2DE adults spent watching BBC television in an average week fell 40 minutes in the four years to 2013-14, to just under 11 hours a week.The amount of time C2DE adults spent watching BBC television in an average week fell 40 minutes in the four years to 2013-14, to just under 11 hours a week.
But Top Gear was not just popular with male viewers: more than a third of its typical audience of around 6 million viewers a week were women, a significant contribution to the show’s success. But Top Gear was not just popular with male viewers: more than a third of its typical audience of about 6 million viewers a week were women, a significant contribution to the show’s success.
The fallout from Clarkson’s exit is already being felt. There was speculation that elements of Top Gear – such as the show’s masked racing driver The Stig – were due to feature in a BBC1 gameshow pilot The Getaway Car. The BBC said it was “too early to say” if they would be included. The fallout from Clarkson’s exit is already being felt. There was speculation that elements of Top Gear – such as the show’s masked racing driver, The Stig – were due to feature in a BBC1 gameshow pilot The Getaway Car. The BBC said it was “too early to say” if they would be included.
BBC2 satire W1A, which has a habit of interpreting real-life events at the corporation, was hastily re-recorded to update a joke about Clarkson and “damage limitation” in its first episode due to air next month.BBC2 satire W1A, which has a habit of interpreting real-life events at the corporation, was hastily re-recorded to update a joke about Clarkson and “damage limitation” in its first episode due to air next month.
Vicki Butler-Henderson, a former Top Gear presenter who worked with Clarkson, and a potential future presenter of the show, said he was a key part of its success and an “integral part of the show”. She said: “I’m genuinely sad he’s not going to be on it.”Vicki Butler-Henderson, a former Top Gear presenter who worked with Clarkson, and a potential future presenter of the show, said he was a key part of its success and an “integral part of the show”. She said: “I’m genuinely sad he’s not going to be on it.”
The most watched factual TV programme in the world, with an estimated global audience of 350 million viewers, Top Gear generates £50m a year for the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide. It is a reinvention the BBC can ill afford to get wrong.The most watched factual TV programme in the world, with an estimated global audience of 350 million viewers, Top Gear generates £50m a year for the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide. It is a reinvention the BBC can ill afford to get wrong.