Jeremy Clarkson suspended over "fracas" with producer

So is any word in the English language. "Incident" carries lots of connotations, and is open to speculation.

Well, according to today papers, Clarkson was very drunk and very shouty, called the producer "a lazy Irish c***" and smacked him in the face so hard that he had a badly cut lip and needed to go to A+E as a result.

If that's true, then that's two criminal offences Clarkson could potentially be charged with, being drunk and disordedly in public and common assault. If the situation really did descend into such an act of mindless idiotic drunken violence, then Clarkson should be sacked forthwith. Anyone ordinary person would be arrested and charged, possibly sent to jail for this sort of thuggish behaviour.
A celebrity should not be treated any different.

It's entirely possible we may have seen the last of any new Top Gear content being produced, bar any of the stuff that's already in the can prior to the alleged incident. Like I said earlier, essentially Clarkson IS Top Gear, and if he does get sacked (or forced to resign) how long could the show really carry on with just Hammond and May?

Maybe they shouldn't, but they are. If this was the lead singer of a band getting drunk and then punching a member of stage crew during a show, (virtually) nobody would be calling for the sacking of the singer and the dissolution of the band. Far more likely is the person punched would be looking for a new job.

You say that, but several other countries make their own version of Top Gear without him. Not necessarily as good, but certainly it's Top Gear.

I'm specifically referring to the UK version. Without Clarkson at the helm of that, how much longer can it continue? The international versions of Top Gear can continue as normal, as they've never had Clarkson hosting, and many of their viewers have probably never even heard of him except where he may have appeared as a guest representing the UK version of the show.


(I'd imagine this whole situation would probably get a passing mention on at least one of the non-UK versions of TG.)

Tanner Foust is a presenter of the US version of TG, and featured in the rallycross remote segment recently ... but how many people here have actually heard of him or even know how he is, regardless of his recent guest appearance in that segment?

My point was simply that you can make Top Gear without Clarkson. I wasn't suggesting that the international versions should be affected by the current situation.

I suspect most of the international viewers have heard of Clarkson though, the UK version is shown around the world.

Changing the subject slightly I see Dave are using the incident to their advantage...

Dave were very quick with this. I saw it the day after it all happened. I quite like it. Nice that they can make a slide/bumper that quick

Make of this what you will.

OH MY GOD!! I can't go in to it at the moment but you CANNOT believe and won't guess what those idiots at the BBC have done! I am shocked.

— Perry McCarthy (@original_stig) March 14, 2015

Is this the end? Not only for Clarkson but for the show.

It's certainly not going to be the BBC saying 'All is forgiven Jeremy.'

I think his goose is well and truly cooked, but cue the money getting thrown about by the commercial broadcasters now...

So what on earth has happened in the last two hours then?

ITV News have just posted this article which has an interview with Perry McCarthy...

Interview here...