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Do You Think Jeremy Clarkson Should Be Sacked As Presenter Of “Top Gear”?

This is the issue that seems to have divided the nation. Is it time for him to go?

Scott Bryan
by Scott Bryan

BuzzFeed Entertainment Editor, UK

Jeremy Clarkson has been involved in yet another scandal as presenter of Top Gear, this time "a fracas with a BBC producer”. Is it time for him to be sacked?

BBC / youtube.com

A long list of controversies in recent years suggests he might be out of luck: a supposed "final warning" after camera footage emerged of him apparently saying the n-word on camera; an inappropriate joke during the show's Burma special (above), which many considered a racial slur; complaints about stereotyping during the show's Indian special; complaints about a joke about lorry drivers being murderers; an apology after Clarkson called Gordon Brown "a one-eyed idiot". If the "fracas" ends up being a major incident, to cling on to Clarkson further could end up being a major PR headache for the BBC.

However, Clarkson's honest and mostly unapologetic views are very much part of his appeal.

Top Gear / BBC / youtube.com

Remember, Top Gear is such a worldwide hit abroad not because of the motoring show format – the franchise editions with different presenters are nowhere near as big – but because people want to watch him. And also consider that a petition to "Save Jeremy Clarkson" has already received 260,000 signatures in less than 24 hours. Would you get that level of instant support with the suspension of any other television presenter? Probably not.

And remember, Top Gear is huge for the BBC.

BBC Two / youtube.com

It is BBC Two's most popular show, and the show's "Patagonia Special",was one of the most popular programmes on iPlayer at Christmas. Guinness World Records says that Top Gear is the most watched factual programme in the world. To mess with the format by removing Clarkson could seriously harm one of Britain's most popular TV exports. You only need to watch BBC America to realise how big the show is. Sometimes you end up wondering whether it is the channel's only programme.