View Full Version : 188 complaints about top gear!
honestly.. where has the use of comedy gone:
eremy Clarkson has sparked fresh BBC controversy by joking about murdering prostitutes.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2008/Nov/Week1/15141545.jpg Clarkson made the joke on BBC's Top Gear programme
The Top Gear presenter (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Jeremy_Clarkson), 48, made the quip about lorry drivers killing sex workers on Sunday night's BBC2 show.
As he completed a lorry-driving task, he said: "This is a hard job and I'm not just saying that to win favour with lorry drivers, it's a hard job.
"Change gear, change gear, change gear, check mirror, murder a prostitute, change gear, change gear, murder. That's a lot of effort in a day."
His comments come after serial killer Steve Wright was convicted in February of murdering five prostitutes in Ipswich.
Wright was a former lorry driver, as well as pub landlord and forklift truck driver.
Clarkson's joke, made before the watershed, sparked 188 complaints to the BBC (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/BBC), out of what the corporation said was seven million viewers.
A BBC spokeswoman said: "The vast majority of Top Gear viewers have clear expectations of Jeremy Clarkson's long-established and frequently provocative on-screen persona.
"This particular reference was used to comically exaggerate and make ridiculous an unfair urban myth about the world of lorry driving, and was not intended to cause offence."
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Ofcom) said it had also been contacted by viewers angry at the remarks.
The Iceni Project, a charity which had helped some of the murdered prostitutes in Ipswich, criticised Clarkson.
The group's director Brian Tobin said: "I just think it was highly distasteful and insensitive.
"It is around the time of the anniversary of the girls' (Ipswich prostitutes) deaths and it's a very delicate time. I saw it on Top Gear. It made me cringe."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2008/Oct/Week4/15130479.jpg Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand
The remarks come after a prank carried out by Jonathan Ross (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Jonathan_Ross) and Russell Brand (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Russell_Brand) on Brand's Radio 2 show led to the controller of the station, Lesley Douglas, resigning.
Ross has been suspended for three months without pay and Brand also resigned over the incident, in which the pair left a message on Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs' answer machine claiming Brand had slept with his grand-daughter.
The new Clarkson controversy comes amid a call from ITV chairman Michael Grade for less bad language in broadcasting.
The former BBC chairman said there was a "pattern" in the prevalence of bad language and use of the "f-word" was "a little unrestrained".
He stopped short of pushing for a ban, but said: "Clearly not enough consideration is given to a very large section of the audience who perhaps don't want to hear that word or such words.
"You therefore have to know why you're using it and give it a little bit of extra consideration. It seems to me rather indiscriminate now."
He was speaking at a meeting of the Broadcasting Press Guild in London (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/London), where he also praised the BBC for its handling of the Ross-Brand scandal.
A bit tasteless. Typical Clarkson. Personally I cannot stand the man, but I honestly believe his macho sexism is exaggerated.
This is a poor taste joke, and cannot be compared the the phone message fiasco.
I agree with you, Trinity. Very tactless remark from a man whose celebrity status clearly has gone to his head.
This is what you expect from Clarkson, you don't see all the germany's complaining over all the joke he has made about them
Chloe O'brien
04-11-2008, 15:14
It had been viewed at any other time most people would not have bothered many viewers but because of the Brand/Ross it couldn't have come at a worse time. Again the part with Clarkston driving the truck wasn't live it had been recorded so why was it not editted out before it was aired. clarkeston has always been a sarcastic sod but he needs his knuckled rapped for this comment. Whoever who is responsible for editing programmes before they are aired should be held accountable. They have to ensure that everything is deemed acceptible. It's difficult when shows are going live you can't stop swearing or unacceptable behaviour but if any show is recorded previous then they to check through it and delete any comments that may be offensive.
A lot of joke are offensive to someone... you can't cut out all humour just cause it offends someone, then we will only have just factual programs....
Kirsty :]
04-11-2008, 15:31
A lot of joke are offensive to someone... you can't cut out all humour just cause it offends someone, then we will only have just factual programs....
The rate it's going though.... that's exactly what will happen :thumbsdow
I think the BBC should be very very careful about what they are allowing to be aired.... not saying what's been said is ok but doesn't it seem like the British public is now going to pick holes in whatever they can? :hmm:
No need to cut out all the humour, just the obvious offensive and insulting one, especially if it is recorded and can be cut. There is more care with the posts on this forum than there seems to be with radio and tv broadcasts.
The question is.. what is offensive and what is not???
Look at the gay kiss, that cause offense and then Masood apologising for breaking ramadam caused problem too...
.:SpIcYsPy:.
04-11-2008, 16:14
517 complaints now! :eek:
517 complaints now! :eek:
Only cause it was on the news.. same with Ross thing.. there was a handful until it went in newspaper and then everyone got on the high horse
Oh for gods sake, more complaining about stupid things!!! Drives me mad!!
Who is going to be next!
Its going to get to the point where the shows we watch for entertainment, shows which have a bit of humour will not have any anymore! Everyone will be watching what they say in case it offends a handful of people!
I dont see the fuss over this OR the russell brand thing! Im bored of the complaints and even more bored of the stupids twits who feel they have to jump on the bandwagon and complain when they havent even seen the programmmes!! Get a life ffs!
Kirsty :]
04-11-2008, 17:39
It's stupidly pathetic now, come on British public.. what are we more worried about? The fact that silly things that aren't thought about before stupidly being said, are being said. OR the fact that this whole credit crunch is actually slowly ruining our lives... I know which I'm more worried about!
A lot of joke are offensive to someone... you can't cut out all humour just cause it offends someone, then we will only have just factual programs....
I agree, I mean there isnt a lot of jokes that arent offensive!
Kirsty :]
04-11-2008, 18:35
Anddd! Laughing is actually a form of agression.. my biology teacher told me that lol, think about it.. everyone laughs to someone elses misfortune/expense.
Bad Wolf
04-11-2008, 19:29
ita a pigging joke!!!!! never mind the fact that when he actualy did the stunt he spoke out about the dangers of stupid driving:
Dramatic pictures of Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson deliberately smashing a truck into a wall have been released.
A Top Gear spokeswoman said the star was "quite badly injured" in the stunt, staged, she said, to "see how difficult it was to be a truck driver".
Mr Clarkson has said he emerged from the accident "in screaming agony", with bruises to his leg, back and finger, but has since made a good recovery.
Viewers can watch the high-speed smash on Sunday's episode of Top Gear.
In the programme, Mr Clarkson and his co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May were each given a series of tasks to complete as truck-drivers.
Mr Clarkson was instructed to drive a Renault Magnum lorry through a wall at 56mph - the vehicle's maximum legal speed - at a test track near Milton Keynes.
In a recent Sun newspaper column Mr Clarkson described the smash as his first serious road accident for 31 years.
He said he had decided that before being allowed on the road "everyone should be made to drive at high speed into a wall".
He added: "At the moment, teenagers see Bruce Willis driving his car into a helicopter and imagine that you can get out afterwards and still be well enough to punch a baddy in the face.
The presenter said he could not 'walk, talk or think' after the smash
"This isn't accurate. I emerged from my high speed head-on impact in what can only be described as screaming agony. I couldn't walk. I couldn't talk. I couldn't think."
His injuries included an index finger that looked like "a burst sausage" and heavy bruising to his shin and back.
He wrote: "Everyone should experience this before they are given a licence.
"It would let them know that crashes really really hurt and that it would be a good idea to not have one."
Bad Wolf
04-11-2008, 19:34
while im in rant mode:
has anyone else noticed that following the brand/ross/sachs thing his granddaughter seems to be making the most of it- she has sold stories about russell and his bedroom antics- bit more humiliation for grand-dad?????
has hired max ruddy clifford of kerry kraptona noteriety and is according to one tabloid apparently going in celebrity big bro!!!!:wall: :angry:
these people are a joke who phone up and complain about these kind of things.
alan carr is 100 times more offensive on the Friday Night Project, but becuase it's on channel 4 no one bats an eyelid.
while im in rant mode:
has anyone else noticed that following the brand/ross/sachs thing his granddaughter seems to be making the most of it- she has sold stories about russell and his bedroom antics- bit more humiliation for grand-dad?????
has hired max ruddy clifford of kerry kraptona noteriety and is according to one tabloid apparently going in celebrity big bro!!!!:wall: :angry:
oh dont get me started on that stupid bint!!!!!! And i was only thinking if she goe on celeb bb im switching off!!!! please say that it isnt true, oi was really looking forward to celeb bb this year :angry:
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has said it is not planning to investigate complaints about Jeremy Clarkson's joke linking truck drivers with prostitute murders.
About 500 viewers complained about the presenter's quip, featured in Sunday's episode of the BBC motoring show Top Gear.
He had said on the show: 'You've got to change... check mirror and murder a prostitute.'
His comments were an apparent reference to the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, who was a lorry driver, and Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright, who used to drive forklift trucks.
The news is likely to please BBC bosses who have defended both the presenter and the show.
As the number of complaints hit 517 by Tuesday morning, the BBC insisted the majority of viewers had 'taken the joke in the spirit in which it was meant'.
Behind the wheel of an HGV, Clarkson said: 'It really is a hard job and I'm not just saying that to gain favour with truck drivers.
'You've got to change gear, change gear, change gear, check mirror... murder a prostitute. Change gear, change gear, murder. That's a lot of effort in a day.'
From Daily Mail
Ruffed_lemur
05-11-2008, 18:30
A bit tasteless. Typical Clarkson. Personally I cannot stand the man, but I honestly believe his macho sexism is exaggerated.
This is a poor taste joke, and cannot be compared the the phone message fiasco.
I think Clarkson's "joke" is in very poor taste. Much worse than the Ross / Brand incident. Joking about murder is going too far IMO. Can't stand Clarkson.
StarsOfCCTV
05-11-2008, 21:56
It is? :confused: But he never left any answer machine messages. (And that, to be frank is the only reason there was ever any issue with the whole story.) If the whole fiasco with Jonathan and Russell wasn't going on, this would never have got picked on by the press!
Anyone who knows Jeremy Clarksons sense of humour would not complain nor would they watch/listen!
Everyone who seems to be complaining these days, are people that have heard about these things on the news and are basing their complaints on the media reports etc - go get a life ffs.
Personally, I find Jeremy Clarkson hilarious - poor taste on occasions, but he wasn't lying was he?! Nor was Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross when they said that RB had slept with the grand daughter who is now making an absolute mint out of the situation and calling for their reinstatement etc.
Enough already - if you don't like, don't watch or listen!
pookie1968uk
08-11-2008, 17:39
i watched top gear and found it really funny but im still glad there are people who will complain if they find something offensive. the boundaries are being pushed further and further all the time and i hope by people complaining about, for example, russell brand that it just helps peg back the standards a bit.
Did anyone else notice that Jeremy wasn't wearing a seat belt when he was driving the truck?
di marco
07-02-2009, 16:27
Jeremy Clarkson has watered down his apology to Gordon Brown, maintaining that the PM is "an idiot".
The Top Gear presenter branded Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot" while talking to Australian journalists about the global economic crisis. He later apologised in a statement, which read: "In the heat of the moment I made a remark about the Prime Minister's personal appearance for which, upon reflection, I apologise."
Clarkson has now told The Sun that he specifically apologised for making fun of the politician's appearance.
"I have nothing against the Scottish and of course I regret making any remark that might have upset the disabled. But the idiot bit - there is no chance I'll apologise for that," he said.
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