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Jeremy Clarkson has been fired from Top Gear, the BBC confirmed Wednesday.
Clarkson’s contract “will not be renewed by the BBC, marking the end of his time as Top Gear presenter,” BBC director general Tony Hall said.
Clarkson was suspended on March 10 after allegedly verbally abusing and physically attacking Top Gear staffer Oisin Tymon in a hotel.
Clarkson was reportedly upset because hot food wasn’t provided for him after a day of filming.
No complaint was filed. Clarkson reported himself to BBC officials following the incident.
Clarkson is wildly popular with Top Gear fans. More than a million of them signed an online petition asking for his immediate reinstatement after news of his suspension broke two weeks ago.
Top Gear is the BBC’s most popular show and the network has plans to keep airing it without Clarkson.
Some media watchers are skeptical the show will be able to maintain its popularity in Clarkson’s absence.
Popular Mechanics writer Alex Nunez wrote: “Top Gear without Clarkson will be a debacle on the level of The Office after Steve Carell left,” and that there is “no word yet on whether James May and Richard Hammond will stay on (their contracts are also expiring).”
BBC officials spent Clarkson’s suspension period mulling over whether to reinstate the popular television host, or move on. In the end, Clarkson’s transgression proved too great for BBC officials to accept.
“A line has been crossed,” Hall said about Clarkson’s behavior, adding that he “cannot condone what has happened on this occasion.”
The Telegraph has reported that Netflix may be trying to secure Clarkson’s services for its rapidly growing streaming-video offering of original programming.
The bbc has made an enormous mistake with this decision! It has been my favorite show for years and now all I will watch is reruns. You have truly lost this viewer.
Dont be silly Jesseca, you didnt watch the program because of this guy….Iam gonna go out on a limb and say you like cars, thats why you watch it. if somebody at my job is a hard to work with asshole they get fired, he deserves what he gets. He seems to have forgotten he’s not the star of the show, the cars are!
James and Richard need to tell them see ya
Im shocked. This is about the dumbest business decision the BBC could make. I won’t watch without those 3.
Everyone who is offended by this should show their support for Clarkson by immediately quitting their own jobs. Anything less would not get any results.
Um…the best host in the world is not going to be on my favorite show? Well BBC, looks like your gonna loose another fan. Why don’t they just fine him out the ass as punishment?
Right decision, the man is an asshole. Give someone more deserving a shot.
He was an arrogant jerk and I am super stoked he is gone! I might even start watching the show now that the jerk is gone. Best thing that has happened to TV in years, glad to see the jerk packing his bags, and oh, did I mention he was a jerk too? He hates Americans and Americans have good reason to say bye to the jerk and be happy while doing it. This action that got him fired proves my point, he is an arrogant self serving jerk.
Disappointing, if Clarkson was replaceable and the “content of the show” were the real draw, the American version of the show should be just as popular. It’s not, and it never will be. It’s not because of the country it’s in. It’s the show’s personalities and lack of originality. I agree, fine him beyond ‘massive,’ but if letting him go is a must, this isn’t “trial and error.” It’s already been tried.
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