TopGear Production team reply

[gar]

>I understand that Mr Jeremy Clarkson of the programme Topgear made it quite clear on one of his programmes 'that he would run a cyclist down who gets in his way.'

We believe that this assertion is the expression of an intention to Commit an offence namely Manslaughter, as per new laws 2005,
and even before.

Our allegation is (not speaking on behalf of CTC council,but a group of correspondent members) that the remarks he made are an intention
to commit an offence... Manslaughter, and the deliberate aspect of it was expressed clearly in his Topgear programme in recent months.
It is a serious allegation.
Yours sincerely,
Gareth Howell
DT27H

The Reply was as follows

Dear Mr Howell

Thank you for your recent email regarding 'Top Gear' on BBC TWO.

I understand you feel Jeremy Clarkson's comments regarding cyclists were offensive.

Jeremy Clarkson is a well known personality renowned not only for his great authority and deep understanding of the car world, but also as an entertainer. His sense of humour and often outrageously provocative opinions are not intended to be taken seriously. They are voiced in the spirit of challenging existing conventions.

For many people Jeremy represents the man you love to hate, or at least very least strongly disagree with. He uses irony and deliberate overstatement in order to challenge his audience at the same time as entertaining them, and one of his most notable trademarks is a declared aversion to the current trend for political correctness.

Please be assured that the BBC does not condone such activities as were suggested by Jeremy on this occasion, and had his comments been made with any degree of seriousness we would of course take issue with him.

Nevertheless, I recognise that you hold strong opinions on this issue and I understand that on this occasion you may continue to feel differently. Please be assured that this has been registered for the attention of the 'Top Gear' production team and Senior BBC Management. Your feedback is more than welcome and will help shape future programming decisions.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us with the strength of your concerns.
Regards

Lindsey O'Hare
BBC Information

you might care to comment on this reply by taking it line by line.

I know nothing about the man Clarkson or the programme.I am not interested in that kind of trivial television, nor in cars.

I am merely going by correspondents remarks here which seemed reasonable, and critical.

The reply is couched in "Public Insult speak" which I am fairly used to by now.

http://www.garethhowell.net/gareth.html

[Andy Tallis]

Is it true that if they mention one political party at election time they have to mention them all to avoid discriminating?
Going by that principle - when will the next programme showing cyclists threatening to assault/murder motorists be?

Clarkson is being wreckless and irresponsible with his comments about the environment and cyclists.
How can this man be an authority on the motor world when he said to a guest on top gear that her kids were "as safe as possible" in a Range Rover - a high vehicle prone to body roll. I refuse to believe a renault megane (full marks from NCAP) or a descent volvo wouldn't be safer.

[gar]

Hm.

[robin]

i think it all depends on how the cars are driven, any car can be safe or dangerous, but if you drive within the limits of any car then they are all much the same as one another. crashing cars and how safe they are is a different prospect entirely, there are lots of different senarios to consider then.

[chiefsub68]

You can also get your MP to support the Parliamentary Early Day Motion 954 of Nov 3, 2005:
MESSRS JEREMY CLARKSON AND MICHAEL O'LEARY
03.11.2005


Brake, Tom
That this House regrets the curious and misguided attitude that Messrs Jeremy Clarkson and Michael O'Leary hold in respect of the real and major threat posed by climate change; notes recent attempts by environmental campaigners to draw attention to Mr Clarkson's poor environmental record; invites Mr Clarkson and Mr O'Leary to submit evidence to any future Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into climate change; and offers to provide Messrs Clarkson and O'Leary with the guidance they need to become better global citizens and to embrace their social and environmental responsibilities.

[gar]

If it was early day Chiefsub then it's been voted on and forgotten by now.

He certainly seems to be doing far more than this
They are voiced in the spirit of challenging existing conventions.

One of the features of Tv guru work is that it is notoriously difficult to get of of programmes in which such comments are made unless you have been ready with your own Video machine.

Then you have all the evidence you need for
proceeding against such an individual for such remarks, which are claimed by the researcher to be "provocative".

To maintain audience ratings I shall encourage people to kill a cyclist...... if he crosses on red,
and I shall do so myself.

got the video?....... we'll take the proceedings

[gar]

I shall drop a line to Tom Brake above, a competent MP.

g

[Stilly]

I thought you should look at the reply I received from the BBC. Seems to be a standard message to me just change the names etc.

Dear Mr Stillwell

Thank you for contacting the BBC.

I note that you were offended by Jeremy Clarkson's comments about cyclists.

Jeremy Clarkson is a well known personality renowned not only for his great authority and deep understanding of the car world, but also as an entertainer. His sense of humour and often outrageously provocative opinions are not intended to be taken seriously. They are voiced in the spirit of challenging existing conventions.

For many people Jeremy represents the man you love to hate, or at least very least strongly disagree with. He uses irony and deliberate overstatement in order to challenge his audience at the same time as entertaining them, and one of his most notable trademarks is a declared aversion to the current trend for political correctness.

Please be assured that the BBC does not condone such activities as were suggested by Jeremy on this occasion, and had his comments been made with any degree of seriousness we would of course take issue with him.

Thank you again for taking the time to voice your concerns.

Regards

Jonathan Carberry
BBC Information

As I have said the BBC couldn't careless.

Stilly

[gar]

Couldn't carless or careless

Well well well!

Must have any number of complaints then.

Search for Topgear website which also has a
contact us procedure.

Politically correct..... antithesis.... criminally wrong perhaps??

not correct for the many(polloi) .... completely incorrect with one..... incite to one....manslaughter.

[chiefsub68]

EDMs are valuable. They're like a petition that an MP can raise to highlight an issue. Badger your MP into signing it now! The official definition is The early day motion (EDM) is a much-used device to publicise the views of individual Members of Parliament, and to demonstrate the extent of support among MPs for a particular cause or point of view. In parliamentary terms, the EDM virtually never has any direct consequence. Public interest in them, which is well known to Members, perhaps in itself, demonstrates their purpose. Even if an EDM does not attract wide national press coverage it may well receive attention locally or regionally.