to wonder whether Jeremy Clarkson engineered his own demise at the BBC?

[grovel]

He did not have to report the "fracas" to his superiors but he chose to. Maybe, just maybe, he did not want to renew his contract next week but did not want to be seen to be walking away from a much-loved show. So he forces the BBC 's hand. He's now free to make other shows of his choosing, he's caused some mischief to the BBC and his fans will follow him elsewhere.

I admit it is odd. And what he's been saying in his column and other media, hinting massively that he's done with it.

I must admit I had wondered that myself.

Also James May and Richard Hammond have backed him all the way, maybe it was a pact that would get all 3 out without looking bad?

It's a heck of a coincidence.

And whatever is said about the bloke, he's not stupid.

Ooh didn't even think of this. Sounds plausible.

I heard he reported it himself because of people involved at the time gave him a hard time over it.
He says he will sue if he gets sacked. Well good luck with that because hitting someone IS a sackable offence under gross misconduct.

The BBC must be in a right panic as everyone's contract are up i.e. The Hamster and Captain Slow they could end up losing all 3! I bet SKY and ITV are rubbing their hands together with glee.

DH has been saying this from the start, if he's ever proved right he will be unbearably smug. I don't think it's that unlikely clarkson wanted out and engineered a situation where the beeb had no choice but to let him go, he clearly like to be in control and doesn't care who he offends.

My husband and I have been thinking along these lines as well. I guess we'll see if they start a new project together.

My DH has been saying this from the start too.

I thought his threats to sue we're regarding the comments from someone at the BBC regarding him and Savile, not that he'd sue if he was fired

It wouldn't surprise me at all. Clarkson is many things but he's not unintelligent. He knew aiming a punch at someone would get him sacked.

Hopefully all three will go elsewhere together for more money. A winner for everyone except the BBC.

Songofsixpence

Yes, you are right - but there was also talk of suing for unfair dismissal.

I wondered whether there was something odd going on when I read what Noel Edmonds had to say about it all. He talked about the incident from the perspective of a "brand management" failure on the part of the BBC, and it really made me think.

The fact is that Top Gear is a show that makes millions upon millions every year and is sold in 214 territories. It is the BBC's highest revenue show, and one of their top five global brands. The hundred million+ revenue of Worldwide depends on Top Gear and other shows like Doctor Who and Sherlock: TG alone has a global audience of something like 350 million.

Considering this, from a brand protection point of view, the public should never have heard about the Clarkson fracas at all. It is a massive PR failure and should never have hit the papers ... in the same way that appalling behaviour from actors on high revenue US shows, the extraordinary demands of some Hollywood stars or the truth about certain popstars is kept very quiet, even when something truly horrendous has occurred and keeps occurring. I mean, look how long CBS tried to keep Charlie Sheen on the payroll for Two and a Half Men!

So either BBC management is so peculiar that it would destroy their most profitable show just because they don't like a presenter, jeopardising revenue and jobs in the process, or something else is going on.

It wouldn't surprise me if they've been offered a better deal on SKY and decided to quit with the most publicity possible.

The only thing that makes me doubt this, despite how suspiciously convenient it all might look is that the internal investigator wrote "Over the subsequent days, Jeremy Clarkson made a number of attempts to apologise to Oisin Tymon by way of text, email and in person."

If he was trying to engineer it all, surely one token attempt at an apology would be enough. I'm sure I read a quote from his Desert Island Discs interview in which he said he often behaved badly and then massively regretted it afterwards.

This is not to say I don't think he should have been sacked or that he didn't behave appallingly, just that I wonder how much of his persona is calculated and how much is lack of self-control.

The only thing that makes me doubt this, despite how suspiciously convenient it all might look is that the internal investigator wrote "Over the subsequent days, Jeremy Clarkson made a number of attempts to apologise to Oisin Tymon by way of text, email and in person.

That is a good point. But, I think both things could be true. He could have engineered it, but still felt bad that this guy got caught in the crossfire, so to speak.

he has had a long old list of things going wrong. I don't think that the BBC had much choice really. I bet he will pop up on other channel in a few months time - new show, new format, more money. Only JC is the winner in this! ( I feel for the poor bloke he hit though.,)

He could have engineered it and still felt bad for smacking someone in the face. I think it's too suspicious - all their contracts are up for renewal and Hammond and May have said they won't continue without him.

Both DH and I agree with this. JC sold his rights to Top Gear a while ago so it seems a bit off, timing wise, that a "fracas" happened so conveniently close to the end of his contract.

It's seemed for a while that he's tired of the BBC and going in an infamous shitstorm would do his image no harm at all, especially given the spewings on Twitter etc from his fans. I imagine the Ross / Brand thing has proven to some people within the BBC that there is a way back if you play things properly.

I've always thought that it was carefully planned to give maximum publicity and to take up a more lucrative contract.

I think he's scum in every sense of the word.

The whole thing has saddened me. People defending gross misconduct because the person is famous and now death threats to the victim!
It's only a tv show!

I'd say that the leak and following media storm is a serious own goal for the BBC as the first us public should have known about it was today's announcement. But then we know they are the leakiest of buckets at the best of times.

I can see Clarkson deciding it was a convenient way out though and I bet May and Hammond will follow suit.

Lastly, according to the report the BBC this blew up over the fact that there was no hot meal on offer following a day's filming in Yorkshire. Given they tend to film in remote spots that are freezing at this time of year I can't say I'd be too chuffed about not having a hot dinner either, although I would stop short of punching the person responsible in the mouth.

Here's a thing - i don't care :)