Posted by Andy Wilman at 10:00AM on Tuesday 15 April, 2008 25 Comments
I read in the papers at the weekend that Jeremy had unleashed a full Sweary Mary moment at a kid who'd taken a picture of him asleep on holiday, without asking.
Now, because he was on holiday, the BBC said it was a private matter on which it couldn't comment, and as a BBC employee, I come under that directive. So I thought I'd just do a quick blog here about how the new series is going.
The new series is going fine. I can't think of anything else to say really, so if you don't mind, I'll just take a few moments to talk about my tourettsey mate.
When I read that story at the weekend I thought, 'You silly sod, why can't you just walk off?' But then I would, because nobody photographs me. Nobody photographs me buying a paper, picking my nose, putting money in a meter, lighting a fag, standing upright, parking a car, walking, opening a pub door, closing a pub door - all the amazing things that famous people do.
Ah well, that's the price of fame, says just about everybody. That's part of his contract with the Devil: he has money and can get a table in The Ivy, so he should put up with the rest.
I completely agree with that - as long as we're talking about celebs who go out of their way to be seen. But you'd have a bloody big struggle to put Clarkson in that category. Can you remember when you last saw him coming out of a paparazzi-frequented club, on a red carpet at a big do, or generally in any situation designed to put him on the Heat radar? I'm buggered if I can.
Yes, he's famous, but I can tell you he does nothing to stoke the fire. He doesn't go to premieres, he doesn't employ a Max Clifford to put him in the papers, I can't get him to do interviews, and if I wanted to get him to an awards ceremony, I'd have to break out that gear they use to move Hannibal Lecter around.
What he does is have friends round for dinner, go to friends' houses for dinner, download shit prog rock for his iPod, or maybe get a bit pissed and fall asleep in front of the Grand Prix. His life is almost as boring as mine.
He asked me to come up for a Saturday night out, a few weeks' back, and we ended up in a local's barn, drinking beer in plastic glasses and watching a wedding band tackle Gimme Some Lovin'. Believe me, Kate Moss wouldn't have re-arranged her diary.
Ah well, say his critics, Jeremy should remember that the little lad he swore at put him where he is. Well actually, he didn't. Hard work put him where he is. In between the boring bits of his life, Clarkson grafts like a pit pony, harder than anyone I know. He does it because he's tasked to make a good job of his TV work, and of his writing, his name's on the bottom, so it's up to him to do it.
Top Gear is a good show and it does well, and we all love the ratings, the praise, the way people embrace it; but trust me, if the motivation to keep it up there was how much fame the presenters could get out of it, we'd be dead in a month. What it takes is lots of nose to the grindstone, and as I say, he shovels more of that in than anyone. Then, when work's done, he takes his stomach on holiday and falls asleep on a sunbed, where some kid takes a picture of him.
Ah, but if he doesn't like it, why does he go to Barbados? Why doesn't he go somewhere with a private beach? Well, he's been going to that same place with his family for about the past 15 years, which is basically quite a lot longer than Nokia's three-million pixel mobile phone camera has been around.
So should he rethink his holiday plans now that everyone is a digital David Bailey? Seems a bit harsh to me. I think it would be a lot easier if parents taught their kids some manners with their cameras. Here's a tip: before you take a picture, try the old fashioned art of asking. You might get a yes, you might get a no, but at least everyone keeps their dignity.
Now I wouldn't expect many people to read this and take sides with me or Jeremy. Fair dos; we're big lads, we can take care of ourselves. I just want you to know there is another side.
25 Comments for "Top Gear new series update"
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I haven't seen the story, or know what he said/did, but I think the kid should count himself lucky his phone is still in a place he can reach it, if you know what I mean.
I totally agree with you, Andy. I'm an amateur photographer and, to be perfectly honest, don't like the whole behaviour thing that camera phones have spawned. Doesn't matter if we are talking about a public person or not. When that person is doing something in their private time, that's how it should remain, private. Always ask before taking a picture of anyone, anywhere.
About the TV show, I can't hardly wait for the new series to come on.
It's not in my public interest to know that Jeremy looks even fatter than I do in shorts on the beach, and neither does it enrich my life to see a bloke I appreciate harrassed on his hols. It's not big or clever. Keep up the good work, Andy.
The kid should have asked and deserved what he got, and that's as the parent of two small children!
I agree. Now, could you please another page or so about the new series? :-)
Actually Andy, I'd think you'd be surprised at how many would take sides with Jeremy. The child involved could have used some manners and asked. Perhaps if a few more people shouted at ill-mannered children, then there'd be a lot more respect for everyone. (Wanders off into the distance grumbling about old-fashioned values.)
I agree, JC should be asked if he minded a photo, just out of respect. He isn't the typical celeb that makes money by doing nothing more then appearing at an opening of any envelope.
It's good to hear that the new series is coming along nicely.
At the end of the day, he's chosen a public career and whether he likes it or not that makes him a role model. I'd like to see JC try that with my one of mine...
If any child of mine treated any person in that way (famous or not), forget the unfortunate target of the camera, I'd be unleashing verbal brimstone and instilling a swift lesson in manners myself.
I have been a fan of Clarkson for many years, but I would never consider taking a photo of him if I saw him on a beach somewhere... especially if he was asleep.
All the kid had to do was nudge Clarkson awake and ask him nicely if he minded posing for a photograph. The result would be much better - Clarkson would be in a better mood and the kid would get a much better picture. All it takes is a little decency on the kid's part. And anyone who disagrees is wrong.
Well said, Andy. At the end of the day, everyone has a right to a private life, no matter how much television exposure they get, and if someone I'd never met photographed me on a sun lounger on holiday without asking, then they'd pretty much get the same treatment from me.
Well said, Andy. At the end of the day, everyone has a right to a private life, no matter how much television exposure they get, and if someone I'd never met photographed me on a sun lounger on holiday without asking, then they'd pretty much get the same treatment from me.
I am surprised Jeremy didn't walk the kid over to his parents and give them what for, or just take some photos of them as they tried to relax. Let them know how it feels to be harassed when on holiday.
As a non-celeb I'm happy to say that I scream at children all the time. It does them good.
JC should not have had to reprimand the nipper about having his privacy invaded whilst on his hols as the kid's parents should have already given him a clip 'round the ear.
I don't see why the child should be upset in any way with Clarkson. He didn't even ask and not only did he take a photo, he got to be on the end of a trademark Clarkson rant, without being hampered by the watershed! I'm green with envy.
Ahhh, but if it was Vicki Butler-Henderson on the beach instead of big JC, you'd want to take a picture, wouldn't you?
If only there was no market for such pictures and the kid could then just show his mates at school that he 'met' JC on holiday.
All the kid did was take a picture of Clarkson to prove to his mates back home that he'd actually seen his hero. He wasn't taking it to sell to the papers, nor was the photo incriminating. Fair enough on pointing out that JC doesn't go after publicity like most celebrities, but this seems somewhat irrelevant, to be quite honest.
I'm from the US and have not heard that story. I have, however, become rather attached to those three blokes and do feel that privacy is a precious thing. We should help preserve it. Good job, Jeremy!
On another note - I am SO happy to know that Top Gear is still going on. Here we are about a year or so behind and I am loving it.
I would love to have Jeremy swear at me.
My girlfriend asked for a picture with Jeremy at the MPH show a couple of years ago. Even though he looked knackered and probably had better things to do, he said yes. He was even nice about it. I'm sure he didn't want to be, but he was. That kid should try having some manners, he might have been surprised at the outcome.
A couple of deep breaths and a polite 'Please leave me alone, I'm on holiday with my family' might have been more appropriate, JC. Still love the show, though.