Top Gear is in Some Top Trouble

Rachel_Sandford

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It seems Jeremy Clarkson has been at it again. The host of the popular TV show, Top Gear, and one of the highest paid BBC stars, taking in £2.14million last year, once again finds himself in the hot seat.

The December 28 special of the popular car show featured Clarkson's trip to India. On the show, Clarkson was filmed without his trousers, alongside some offensive banners, and making offensive jokes as he drove around in a Jaguar fitted with a toilet seat on its boot; Clarkson is heard saying “This is perfect for India because everyone who comes here gets the trots.”

According to the High Commission of India, they received 188 complaints about the episode, saying it lacked cultural sensitivity. An Indian diplomat wrote to the BBC saying: “People are very upset because you cannot run down a whole society, history, culture and sensitivities. India is a developing country, we have very many issues to address, all that is fine but it is not fine to broadcast this toilet humour... There are many parts of the programme that people have complained about. It's not only Indians, it's also our British friends - it goes much beyond.”

Raja Sekhar, spokesperson from the High Commission of India explained that this was not the show they expected. When producers wrote to them, they described what would be a “light-hearted road trip,” with the key aspects being “beautiful scenery, busy city scenes, local charm and colour', emphasising India's 'local car culture.” Unfortunately, the show was, as the consulate describes, “in breach of this agreement.”

In a statement, Sekhar “conveyed his disappointment” and said: “We were very actively helping out facilitating the visit but they ran down the whole society, culture and people. It's really disgusting. We have a very close relationship with and respect for the BBC. The BBC is probably more admired in India than in England so we feel a bit let down.”



This isn't the first time Clarkson has gotten himself and the show in trouble. Top Gear's April 2011 road trip to Mexico also received plenty of complaints as Clarkson and his co-hosts insulted the Mexican people with their comments, saying they were “lazy, feckless, flatulent” and that they would get no complaints because the Mexican ambassador would be sleeping.

However, after Ambassador Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza complained and asked the BBC to apologize, Ofcom seemingly defended the show when they explained that it is known for its “outspoken humour.”

Even off camera, Clarkson is known to shoot his mouth off. In the past few months, he's been noted saying that workers who go on strike should be shot, the Morcambe Bay tragedy was like synchronized swimming, and that Kent is full of immigrants from a refugee camp.

BBC has admitted to receiving 23 complaints regarding Top Gear's special, but according to the High Commission of India, they are yet to receive a reply to their complaint, but a BBC spokesperson said they would respond “in due course.”
 

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So, Delhi belly is a thing of the past ?
 

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2cvbloke

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Ah, the free world, the free press, and free expression, it doesn't exist any more, you can't speak your mind, express your opinions, and wander about without your trousers, just incase someone takes offence to it... :-doh!

With advanced call centres and IT businesses pestering us brits for our money, car industries that used to be jobs for the brits, and loads of cash flowing into the country through government handouts from us brits, time they developed a sense of flippin' humour, after all, they claim to be a "developing" country, until then, us brits will keep taking the P155 until we get our stuff back... :rolleyes:

Oh, and developing a sense of hygiene wouldn't go amiss, so they don't give visitors to the country the squits... O-Ha
 

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Lots more calls for 'Clarkson for PM?'
 

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Personally, I turned it off halfway through. Not because I found it offensive but it wasn't funny or entertaining. You know Clarkson is going to be outrageous, outspoken and silly and anyone who expects him not to be is delusional. It's just I'm fed up and bored with the schoolboy humour these 'specials' have descended to. Time for a revamp and a return to 'Top Gear' being a motoring programme I think.
 

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I shared your view, Pete (Albeit I did watch the whole programme) - It has become formulaic and too contrived and they need to think again. Less is more and all that.

Nevertheless, I thought it (predictably) puerile but not offensive.

One cannot fart in public without fear of an ASBO or a stiff letter to the Telegraph, these days.
 

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sonnetpete said:
Time for a revamp and a return to 'Top Gear' being a motoring programme I think.
Hear, hear :-handclap

I've long since ceased to watch Top Gear and dearly bemoan the passing of a proper motoring programme. Personally I think that the name is so besmirched with "Laddism" that nothing less than total removal will suffice. Time to revive Wheelbase perhaps?
 

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pgh13

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I'd agree with that. It can be amusing in small doses but after a while I fand it irritating, so I'm not a regular viewer, although I did see that one but then, 13 y o grandson was visiting
 

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PaulR said:
...I've long since ceased to watch Top Gear and dearly bemoan the passing of a proper motoring programme. Personally I think that the name is so besmirched with "Laddism" that nothing less than total removal will suffice....

Perhaps removal of Clarkson would suffice??......though I find Richard Hammond quite grating too (I don't think I can forgive him for presenting 'Wipeout' which has me reaching for the remote quicker than a Bugatti Veyron). James May is the only one who seemingly has an interest in engineering and I find his other programmes (and style of presenting) quite engaging.
 

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Maybe.

I agree with you about Hammond and, perhaps unfortunately, May is tarred with the same brush. I find myself avoiding his programmes as well although it's only Eastenders and Top Gear which have me pushing the ABE (anything but Eastenders) button for another channel lest even a second of my existance is tarnished by sharing my hearing and sight with them.
 

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If they fired Clarkson (literally) I might start watching Top Gear again.
 

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I disagree with all of you. Jeremy Clarkson is great. Top Gear used to be as boring as hell, but now it is funny and worth watching. Take Jeremy out, and it will be crap like it was before. Top gear without Clarkson, woud not be Top Gear!
 

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Albez said:
If they fired Clarkson (literally) I might start watching Top Gear again.
I'd watch that programme!
 

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I personally cannot stand that Jeremy Clarkson. The thing is, millions of people thing he is great and funny, but for me his simply an obnoxious smug middle aged dick. He is so in love with himself and his supposed wittiness that he probably would bear his own child if he could manage to impregnate himself (which surely he is trying every day for the last 20 years). And it seems to me that it is getting worse and worse with him, because millions of people think he is witty so he is encouraged to go on and on and on. Last time I watched it for 5 minutes I hated myself afterwords.

Anybody who has ever met me knows I love comedy, satire, funny stuff, I haven't got anything against rude stuff or outspoken comedy - and I love anything related to motors from as early as I remember myself. But Top Gear? Naaaah I rather watch North Korean state TV than this. I just cannot bear to hear this guy. It is one of those programs you will watch in 20 years and get really embarrassed that you watched it.

Rant over.

P.S. Jeremy Clarkson, if you are by any chance reading this: Shut up, will ya?!?
 

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T_G said:
....for me his simply an obnoxious smug middle aged dick.

I couldn't have put it better....
 

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2cvbloke said:
Ah, the free world, the free press, and free expression, it doesn't exist any more, you can't speak your mind, express your opinions, and wander about without your trousers, just incase someone takes offence to it... :-doh!

With advanced call centres and IT businesses pestering us brits for our money, car industries that used to be jobs for the brits, and loads of cash flowing into the country through government handouts from us brits, time they developed a sense of flippin' humour, after all, they claim to be a "developing" country, until then, us brits will keep taking the P155 until we get our stuff back... :rolleyes:

Oh, and developing a sense of hygiene wouldn't go amiss, so they don't give visitors to the country the squits... O-Ha

I was hoping they would visit one of these call centers to cause a bit of mayhem and maybe score one for the uk, a bit like dom jolly did on his drinking program that was running a while back but alas they didnt
 

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PaulR said:
...pushing the ABE (anything but Eastenders) button for another channel..

Oh no, not something else for AS to moan about VU+ not providing in their image....
 

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What's wrong with being middle aged? Lol

Yeah he's a dick,and he's smug, and obnoxious, but not always. It's entertainment at the end of the day, and not to be taken seriously.

Perhaps he's like marmite, you either love him or hate him.
 

sonnetpete

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Robbo said:
What's wrong with being middle aged? Lol

Yeah he a dick,and he's smug, and obnoxious, but not always. It's entertainment at the end of the day, and not to be taken seriously.

Perhaps he's like marmite, you either love him or hate him.

Nothing wrong with being middle-aged, I was once until I became a grumpy old man.

I long since stopped taking him seriously, though intrinsically I have no problem with him being a smug, egotistical, opinionated, obnoxious dick. As to him (& the programme) being 'entertaining', well sorry but I don't find it entertaining anymore.

Oh........and I hate marmite.
 

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Well, it's a very popular programme, and not just in the UK, obviously it's formula works for many, but not for all.

I hate mr bean/ rowen atkinson, but I bet there's some people who like him, lol.
 
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