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Jeremy Clarkson suspended over "fracas" with producer

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DJ
DJGM
noggin posted:

DJGM posted:

At the very least they could've put out a recent repeat, a hastily compiled "Best Of" episode, or an edited version
of a Top Gear DVD. That might keep the international broadcasters that show the UK version of Top Gear happy!


Eh? The BBC couldn't have sold the international broadcasters that... You can't
pass off a repeat or a re-edit as part of an acquisition of a new series...



Given the circumstances, and the fact that no new shows are forthcoming as a result, what can they do?
BE
Ben Founding member
I read that they're offering material previously unseen internationally which I guess could be the stuff released on DVD?
NG
noggin Founding member
DJGM posted:
noggin posted:

DJGM posted:

At the very least they could've put out a recent repeat, a hastily compiled "Best Of" episode, or an edited version
of a Top Gear DVD. That might keep the international broadcasters that show the UK version of Top Gear happy!


Eh? The BBC couldn't have sold the international broadcasters that... You can't
pass off a repeat or a re-edit as part of an acquisition of a new series...



Given the circumstances, and the fact that no new shows are forthcoming as a result, what can they do?


Offer a refund probably. That's really the only course of action. For the BBC Worldwide channels they could schedule repeats - but that kind of defeats the point of the suspension.
JA
JAS84
^Which is why I was quite surprised to find that BBC Three's first programme yesterday was Top Gear. I thought it would be pulled. And tonight's schedule also starts with Top Gear.
MA
mark Founding member
Isn't the issue here that it's not appropriate for Jeremy Clarkson himself to continue working at the BBC while this matter is investigated, rather than anything more endemic at the show that would require it to be purged entirely from the schedules?
BA
Bail Moderator
Wow JAS84, are you saying he should be given the Savile treatment and removed from public consciousness and history entirely?
DO
dosxuk
JAS84 posted:
^Which is why I was quite surprised to find that BBC Three's first programme yesterday was Top Gear. I thought it would be pulled. And tonight's schedule also starts with Top Gear.


Why on earth are you surprised? The reason the last three episodes have been pulled is because they can't finish them while Clarkson is suspended. It's not because top gear itself is being punished.
bilky asko and London Lite gave kudos
BR
Brekkie
noggin posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
Square Eyes posted:

Is there any wonder ? Many think that the BBC's response has been ludicrous.

It's not though really. If a colleague of yours in your team accused you of punching them you too would probably be suspended. You certainly wouldn't be back working in that team the next day, you'd be out until it's sorted.

In this case no Clarkson means no show and as the rest of the series is yet to be finished then production has to cease until then too.

The other difference is that his job is very public facing and you can't have this hanging over him while he's appearing on the programme, it's not really fair on the programme as a whole


Precisely.

What other option did the BBC have? You can't have one rule for 'talent' and another rule for everyone else.

Would Huw Edwards be presenting the Ten O'Clock News tonight if he'd punched a floor manager yesterday? (I'm in no way suggesting that Huw would do that It's a totally hypothetical situation for the purposes of illustration.)

Difference is the 10 o'clock news wouldn't be pulled entirely.
NG
noggin Founding member
Brekkie posted:
noggin posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
Square Eyes posted:

Is there any wonder ? Many think that the BBC's response has been ludicrous.

It's not though really. If a colleague of yours in your team accused you of punching them you too would probably be suspended. You certainly wouldn't be back working in that team the next day, you'd be out until it's sorted.

In this case no Clarkson means no show and as the rest of the series is yet to be finished then production has to cease until then too.

The other difference is that his job is very public facing and you can't have this hanging over him while he's appearing on the programme, it's not really fair on the programme as a whole


Precisely.

What other option did the BBC have? You can't have one rule for 'talent' and another rule for everyone else.

Would Huw Edwards be presenting the Ten O'Clock News tonight if he'd punched a floor manager yesterday? (I'm in no way suggesting that Huw would do that It's a totally hypothetical situation for the purposes of illustration.)

Difference is the 10 o'clock news wouldn't be pulled entirely.


No - because there are other presenters who cover Huw's role, and he doesn't appear in every report. Neither are true of Clarkson.

However if Huw had been suspended, any other shows he had presented for the BBC would likely be pulled too.

(And no - I'm not in anyway suggesting Huw would be suspended. He's lovely)
RO
robertclark125
Some items will have been recorded in advance with Clarkson in them. If the BBC were to go and screen these episodes, they would have to either shoot new stuff without Clarkson, and thus also rewrite any scripts for the show, or, reshoot the stuff Clarkson has done in advance, with some one else.

The time it would take to do that means that it would be fairly difficult, to say the least, to have everything done and ready for this Sunday, and the next two Sundays. There is also the expense to be considered in doing this.

And let's not forget, Clarkson has only been suspended and not sacked. Therefore, could the BBC and the producers justify reshooting stuff without Clarkson, on a just in case scenario, when he may end up being cleared of any wrongdoing, or being reinstated?
JA
JAS84
dosxuk posted:
JAS84 posted:
^Which is why I was quite surprised to find that BBC Three's first programme yesterday was Top Gear. I thought it would be pulled. And tonight's schedule also starts with Top Gear.


Why on earth are you surprised? The reason the last three episodes have been pulled is because they can't finish them while Clarkson is suspended. It's not because top gear itself is being punished.

I just thought it hypocritical. Either he's banned or he's not. Isn't the mantra "innocent until proven guilty"? And by the way, if what I read in the morning paper is right, the producers hid it from their bosses for a few days - so it's going to end up with more than just Clarkson in trouble if that's true.
BR
Brekkie
What makes it even more bizarre is that it was Clarkson who reported himself to the BBC according to the Guardian.

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