Jeremy Clarkson suspended over "fracas" with producer

I'm not sure it backed the DG into a corner - I think once it was established that the reports of what happened were broadly correct the BBC had little other option, regardless of what Cohen did or didn't do. There had to be some form of announcement to explain why Top Gear wasn't being shown.

On the Savile comparisons and leaks, I will agree with you - whoever was responsible for that (I haven't seen anything other than speculation to suggest it was Cohen, so I won't libel him!) should be experiencing some consequences of those actions.

In terms of how Top Gear goes forward, the biggest factor is whether Hammond and May renew their contracts. Replacing Clarkson is just about doable, replacing all three at once is going to be a big test.

My point is that the resulting situation has nothing to do with the Clarkson incident but is a clear example of a senior BBC executive briefing against the corporation. In any other organisation the matter would have been dealt with in strict confidence, this was not the case here. Whether Mr Clarkson crossed the line or not (the BBC decided he did) Cohen should not have done what is alleged and a full enquiry is needed. If, as many suspect, it proves he or his staff did brief the papers he should be sacked. Bringing the corporation into disrepute results in dismissal. The sooner the better.

You've still offered no proof Cohen did anything. As for handling things in "strict confidence" - Clarkson has been mouthing off about the incident and laughing it off on Twitter since the minute he was suspended. Anyone with any sense of remorse for their actions would have kept stum and shown their employers and the ongoing investigation some respect.

The only person to blame for Jeremy Clarkson being sacked is Jeremy Clarkson, and I'm so glad he has gone in this manor where it's not about interpretation or people getting offended for the sake of getting offended. The facts are very clear.

Try reading private eye

Danny Cohen's not a person I warm to, but in this instance it really wouldn't have made any difference
to the outcome if Nigel Farage was the BBC's Director of TV, Clarkson's behaviour was totally unacceptable, and I'm glad he received the same punishment, that any mere mortal (such as you and I) would have received.

Well, Clarkson has had enough warnings. There have been many incidents before. Maybe he will learn after being fired.

Top Gear in its current format couldn't last forever anyway. They were clearly running out of ideas. Still it was a great show and I do miss it.

I think the BBC made the right decision because if any employed worker punched a colleague, they would be fired. Its just how it works.

Benny Hill.

This is Your Life

Have I Got News For You could be interesting, providing he is still up for it.

I don't really understand why they've not suspended him from other BBC activity too in the short term - it especially doesn't look good on the BBC to let him on a show like Have I Got News for You which would make light of the situation. I'm not saying he should be forever banned from the BBC but I think a 3-6 month suspension would be fair.

Would that not break the law? since HIGNFY is made outwith the BBC.

I find it unpleasant that anyone is using the term 'glad' when talking about this. I'm sad, for a number of reasons:

That a major star had such an anger problem he launched a verbal and physical assault, especially against a junior. He's not the first, sadly probably won't be the last but such attitudes from 'talent' belong in the dark old days. Once it became clear what has happened the BBC had no choice.

That an individual who'd had a good working relationship with him for so long was subject to that assault and felt he'd been fired. That he's then ended up in the middle of a media storm through no fault of his own and now subject to some idiotic online abuse. His statement showed his charceter.

For all the rest of the team who have worked on the show and now face a very unsettled future because of the actions of one of its stars- whether you like it or not the production values on it were amongst the best on television.

For all the viewers who'll miss the show as it's been- because if it comes back it'll be very different, no matter who presents it. I count myself amongst them- no matter how stupid or obviously scripted it got there is little else on TV that was guaranteed to make me laugh as much as Top Gear has. I'd wait to watch an episode until I knew I could see it uninterrupted, it was a finely crafted treat to savour. Of course there were some bum notes and mistakes along the way, but it's hit rate was incredibly high. It stood out from just about everything else on TV. For any show it had a very good run, perhaps the ideas were drying up a little but this last series had been great.

Have to agree with those who've praised Lord Hall's statement. Very clear and to the point. Not something you'd have got from the most recent longstanding occupant of that role.