With 18 months or so of hindsight, I still don't think Clarkson's sacking (although technically, it was a non-renewal of his contract) was motivated by some BBC conspiracy to get rid of him. Clarkson worked for the BBC for nearly 30 years, and he gave them plenty of opportunities to sack him during that time. But the BBC put up with Clarkson because, despite the occasional controversy, he was a very popular presenter, and popular presenters bring in the viewers. Even at the publicly-funded BBC, ratings are important.
The modern BBC is basically run by accountants, so when the BBC has a goldmine like Top Gear, which is sold around the world for millions, the accountants are going to love it, because under Clarkson, TG basically paid for itself. Which is to say that the BBC's outlay of licence-payers' money was more than recouped by international sales. Why would the BBC willingly slaughter a golden goose like that?
It's true that Danny Cohen, who was the BBC's ultra-PC controller of programmes at the time, was no fan of Clarkson, but Cohen also left the BBC under a cloud not long after Clarkson - and there were many in the BBC who were more happy to see the back of Cohen than Clarkson.
If there was a conspiracy against Clarkson, it was more likely at the Daily Mirror, which not only leaked the story about the "fracas" that ultimately led to the termination of Clarkson's contract (it was a full two weeks before the story appeared in the Mirror, so the BBC had obviously tried to keep a lid on it), but also the previous controversy about the (never broadcast) racist nursery rhyme footage that had put Clarkson in the last chance saloon. The Mirror has long has a vendetta against Clarkson for two reasons. Firstly, the Mirror is left-wing, whereas Clarkson is unashamedly right-wing and populist, and often says things that upsets their delicate sensibilities. Secondly, Clarkson has for a long time written for The Sun, the Mirror's biggest rival. So, the Mirror has always been unable to resist a good anti-Clarkson story.
Ultimately though, I still blame Clarkson himself, for ultimately giving his detractors - either at the BBC or in the left-leaning sector of the media - enough rope to hang him.
Make tea, not war. 🌈
reply
share