Jeremy Clarkson Defended By Katie Hopkins: What Next For Top Gear Star?
It was reported in Inquisitr and across the media yesterday that Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended from presenting the BBC’s hit motoring show Top Gear after a fracas with a producer. This weeks episode of Top Gear will not be aired as planned on Sunday as it would have been impossible to remove Mr Clarkson from the pre-recorded sections of the show. The BBC announced Clarkson’s suspension in a statement yesterday.
“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.”
Lucy Manning a BBC correspondent shed some further light on the story this morning when she revealed that the remaining shows in the season of the show, presented by Jeremy Clarkson with Richard Hammond and James May, will not be shown. Manning revealed that Clarkson 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.”
“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.”
According to the Mail 54-year-old Clarkson “was punished by BBC bosses for allegedly attacking the show’s assistant producer Oisin Tymon, 36, in a row over his dinner.”
As was previously reported in Inquisitr Jeremy Clarkson is believed to be on a final warning from the BBC after a series of controversial incidents. Mr Clarkson is a decisive figure as is demonstrated by the reaction to his suspension. The Evening Standard report that 150,000 people have signed a petition demanding Clarkson’s reinstatement. Meanwhile the Telegraph claim that Clarkson is “determined to be the nations biggest oaf.” Business Insider goes further by claiming that the almost constant controversy surrounding Jeremy Clarkson has lead to him being one of the most despised men in Britain. They claim that “many Britons will smile at the idea of Clarkson’s career possibly being cut short.”
If Jeremy Clarkson is a controversial and divisive figure the same certainly holds true for former reality TV star and newspaper columnist Katie Hopkins. Ms Hopkins has outraged many people with a series of crass and insensitive remarks and she is widely despised as an internet troll. Just this week Inquisitr reported on an attack Hopkins made on Kelly Clarkson.
Hopkins leapt to Jeremy Clarkson’s defence last night as she took to Twitter to support the Top Gear star and attack the BBC.
It isn’t clear whether Jeremy Clarkson is grateful for Ms Hopkins support or not but, with her reputation as an internet troll, it is unlikely to be seen as helpful intervention. For his own part Jeremy Clarkson seems to be making light of the situation as he took to Twitter for an exchange with his co-hosts to suggest that the BBC could air some “war documentaries” in place of Top Gear.
@MrJamesMay @RichardHammond I did some pretty good war documentaries. They could screen one of those.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 10, 2015
At present it is unclear what the future holds for Jeremy Clarkson or indeed for Top Gear. It seems unlikely that the BBC will wish to retain Clarkson’s services but they will be desperate to keep a show that is one of the corporations biggest money spinners. Time will tell.
[Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images]
