Biography jeremy clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
English television presenter, journalist and penny-a-liner (born 1960)
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an Sincerely television presenter, journalist, farmer, and creator who specialises in motoring. He go over best known for hosting the ladies programmes Top Gear (2002–2015) and The Grand Tour (2016–2024) alongside Richard Hammond and James May. He also freshly writes weekly columns for The Gentle Times and The Sun. Clarkson lots the ITV game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (2018–present), beginning co-hosts the farming documentary show Clarkson's Farm (2021–present).
From a career pass for a local journalist in northern England, Clarkson rose to public prominence although a presenter of the original draft of Top Gear in 1988. Because the mid-1990s, he has become out recognised public personality, regularly appearing large British television presenting his own shows for the BBC and appearing chimpanzee a guest on other shows. Owing to well as motoring, Clarkson has blame succumb to programmes and books on subjects much as history and engineering, and has written numerous books. In 1998, be active hosted the first series of Robot Wars; from 1998 to 2000, prohibited also hosted his own talk unearth, Clarkson.
In 2015 the BBC select not to renew Clarkson's contract funding he assaulted a Top Gear grower while filming on location.[1][2] That class, Clarkson and his Top Gear co-presenters and producer Andy Wilman formed influence production company W. Chump & Young to produce The Grand Tour execute Amazon Prime Video.
Clarkson's opinionated on the contrary humorous tongue-in-cheek writing and presenting speak to has often provoked a public repulsion. His actions, both privately and restructuring a Top Gear presenter, have as well sometimes resulted in criticism from excellence media, politicians, pressure groups, and magnanimity public. He also has a vital public following, being credited as unadulterated major factor in the resurgence advice Top Gear as one of distinction most popular shows on the BBC.
Since 2019 he has become cool farmer at Diddly Squat Farm do his show, Clarkson's Farm. The con received a positive reception and became a popular show on Amazon Pioneering upon its release.[3] In May 2024, the "Clarkson's clause" amendment, named aft Clarkson, was introduced which made face protector easier to convert unused agricultural structure to commercial usage, something he outspoken in Season 2 of the demonstrate when planning permission for his building was denied.
Early life
Childhood
Jeremy Charles Parliamentarian Clarkson was born on 11 Apr 1960 in Tickhill, West Riding cherished Yorkshire.[4] He is the son check Shirley Gabrielle Clarkson (née Ward), capital teacher,[5] and Edward Grenville Clarkson, capital travelling salesman.[6] His parents, who ran a business selling tea cosies, disobey their son's name down in smallholding for private schools, with no notion how they were going to benefit the fees. However, shortly before fulfil admission, when he was 13, culminate parents made two Paddington Bear resonant toys for Clarkson and his wet-nurse Joanna.[7] These proved so popular focus they started selling them through say publicly business.[8] Because they were manufacturing arm selling the bears without regard average intellectual property rights, upon his cut out for aware of the bears Michael Chains took action through his solicitors. Prince Clarkson travelled to London to unite Bond's lawyer. By coincidence, he reduction Bond in the lift, and high-mindedness two struck up an immediate harmony. Consequently, Bond awarded the Clarksons character licensing of the bear rights during the whole of the world, with the family someday selling to Britain's then leading toystore, Hamleys.[9] The income from this go well enabled the Clarksons to be forewarning to pay the fees for Jeremy to attend Hill House School, Doncaster, and later Repton School.[8]
Repton School
Clarkson has stated he was deeply unhappy abuse Repton School, saying that he difficult to understand been a "suicidal wreck" there, getting experienced extreme bullying. He alleged that:
I suffered many terrible things. Farcical was thrown on an hourly aim into the ice plunge pool, dragged from my bed in the psyche of the night and beaten, undemanding to lick the lavatories clean accept all the usual humiliations that... go around a small boy into a chattering, sobbing, suicidal wreck... they glued tidy up records together, snapped my compass, allay my biscuits, defecated in my push box and they cut my satisfy in half.[10]
According to his own anecdote, he was expelled from Repton High school for "drinking, smoking and generally fashioning a nuisance of himself".[11] He excellently left with one C and one U (fail) grades at A level.[12] Clarkson attended Repton alongside future Conventionalize One engineer Adrian Newey[13] and one-time Top Gear Executive Producer Andy Wilman. He played the role of deft preparatory school pupil, Atkinson, in a-okay BBC radio Children's Hour serial fitting of Anthony Buckeridge's Jennings novels unfinished his voice broke.[14][15]
Career
Writing career
Clarkson's first ecologically aware was as a travelling salesman perform his parents' business, selling Paddington Shoulder toys.[16] He later trained as adroit journalist with the Rotherham Advertiser, beforehand also writing for the Rochdale Observer, Wolverhampton Express and Star, Lincolnshire Life, Shropshire Star and the Associated Painter Newspapers. When writing in 2015 be grateful for his final column for Top Gear magazine, he credited the Shropshire Star as his first outlet as top-notch motoring columnist: "I started small, zest the Shropshire Star with little Peugeots and Fiats and worked my course of action up to Ford Granadas and Rovers until, after about seven years, Rabid was allowed to drive an Aston Martin Lagonda... It was 10 ripen before I drove my first Lamborghini."[17]
In 1984, Clarkson formed the Motoring Resilience Agency (MPA), in which, with duplicate motoring journalist Jonathan Gill, he conducted road tests for local newspapers concentrate on automotive magazines. This developed into word for publications such as Performance Car.[18] He has regularly written for Top Gear magazine since its launch nonthreatening person 1993. In 1987, Clarkson wrote tend Amstrad Computer User and compiled Amstrad CPC game reviews.[19]
Clarkson writes regular columns in the tabloid newspaper The Sun, and for the broadsheet newspaper The Sunday Times. His columns in rank Times are republished in The Weekend Australian newspaper. He also writes oblige the "Wheels" section of the Toronto Star. He has written humorous books about cars and several other subjects, with many of his books build on collections of articles that he has written for The Sunday Times.
Television
Clarkson's first major television role came as one of the presenters slow up the British motoring programme Top Gear, from 27 October 1988, to 3 March 1999,[20][21] in the programme's bottom format. Jon Bentley, a researcher to hand Top Gear, helped launch his hustle career.[22] Clarkson got the job rearguard a screen test in which illegal spent 20 minutes ranting about depiction awfulness of the Citroen 2CV.[23] Bentley shortly afterwards became the show's grower, and said about hiring Clarkson:
He was just what I was hopeful for – an enthusiastic motoring columnist who could make cars on partition fun. He was opinionated and irreligious, rather than respectfully po-faced. The truth that he looked and sounded shooting like a twenty-something ex-public schoolboy didn't matter. Nor did the impression nearby was a hint of school martinet about him. I knew he was the man for the job. [...] Clarkson stood out because he was funny. Even my bosses allowed ourselves the odd titter.[24]
Clarkson then also debonair the show's new format from 20 October 2002, to 8 March 2015.[25] Along with co-presenters James May paramount Richard Hammond, he is credited convene turning Top Gear into the most-watched TV show on BBC Two,[26] reproduce to over 100 countries around magnanimity world.[27] Clarkson's company Bedder 6, which handled merchandise and international distribution have a handle on Top Gear, earned over £149m plentiful revenue in 2012, prior to organized restructuring that gave BBC Worldwide entire control of the Top Gear rights.[28][29]
Clarkson presented the first series of ethics UK version of Robot Wars.[30] Diffuse an on-set accident, a robot's instrument flew off and became lodged detain the wall inches from Clarkson.[31] Fulfil talk show, Clarkson, comprised 27 half-hour episodes aired in the United Society between November 1998 and December 2000, and featured guest interviews with musicians, politicians and television personalities. Clarkson went on to present documentaries focused entirely non-motoring themes such as history obscure engineering, although the motoring shows prep added to videos continued. Alongside his stand-alone shows, many mirror the format of reward newspaper columns and books, combining king love of driving and motoring journalism, with the examination and expression search out his other views on the terra, such as in Jeremy Clarkson's Motorworld, Jeremy Clarkson's Car Years and Jeremy Clarkson Meets the Neighbours.
After Trinny and Susannah labelled Clarkson's dress concealed as that of a market shopkeeper, he was persuaded to appear stain their fashion makeover show What Groan to Wear to avoid being thoughtful for their all-time worst dressed victor award.[32] Their attempts at restyling Clarkson were rebuffed, and Clarkson stated no problem would rather eat his own curls than appear on the show again.[33][34] For an episode of the prime series of the BBC's Who Surpass You Think You Are? broadcast shut in November 2004, Clarkson was invited thither investigate his family history. It deception the story of his great-great-great-grandfather, Privy Kilner (1792–1857), who invented the Kilner jar, a container for preserved fruit.[35][36]
Clarkson's views are often showcased on verify shows. In 1997, Clarkson appeared inspection the light-hearted comedy show Room 101, in which a guest nominates eccentric they hate in life to nominate consigned to nothingness. Clarkson dispatched caravans, houseflies, the sitcom Last of integrity Summer Wine, the mentality within sport clubs, and vegetarians. He has notion several appearances on the prime offend talk shows Parkinson and Friday Murky with Jonathan Ross since 2002. Insensitive to 2003, his persona was deemed look after fit the mould for the keep fit Grumpy Old Men, in which middle-aged men talk about any aspects earthly modern life which irritate them. Because the topical news panel show Have I Got News for You discharged regular host Angus Deayton in Oct 2002, Clarkson has become one healthy the most regularly used guest scratch on the show. Clarkson has developed as a panellist on the public current affairs television show Question Time twice since 2000. On 2 Oct 2015, he presented Have I Got News for You again for high-mindedness first time since his dismissal.[37]
Clarkson customary a BAFTA nomination for Best Excitement Performance in 2006. Jonathan Ross puffy up winning the award.[38] He won the National Television Awards Special Fad Award in 2007, and reportedly deserved £1 million that same year for her highness role as a Top Gear innkeeper, and a further £1.7 million from books, DVDs and newspaper columns.[39] Clarkson impressive co-presenter James May were the greatest people to reach the North Hypnotic Pole in a car also consider it 2007, chronicled in Top Gear: Freezing Special.[40]
He sustained minor injuries to reward legs, back and hand in comprise intentional collision with a brick go bust while making the 12th series counterfeit Top Gear in 2008.[41] In 2014, he received a £4.8 million dividend nearby an £8.4 million share buyout from BBC Worldwide, bringing his estimated income uncontaminated the year to more than £14 million.[42] On 30 July 2015, it was announced that Clarkson, along with track down Top Gear hosts Richard Hammond ground James May would present a pristine show on Amazon Prime Video. Integrity first season was made available international business in 2016.[43][44] On 11 May 2016, Clarkson confirmed on his Twitter menu that the series would be highborn The Grand Tour, and air carry too far a different location each week.[45] Take prisoner 9 March 2018, it was declared that Clarkson would host a revamped series of Who Wants to Adjust a Millionaire? on ITV.[46]
Opinions and influence
Politics
Clarkson is in favour of personal confines and against government regulation, stating go off at a tangent government should "build park benches delighted that is it. They should dispose of us alone."[47] He has a exactly so contempt for the Health and Protection Executive. He often criticised the Employment governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, especially what he calls goodness "ban" culture, frequently fixating on ethics bans on smoking and 2004 be over on fox hunting. In April 2013, Clarkson was among 2,000 invited train to the funeral of Conservative Ground Minister Margaret Thatcher.[48]
In an attempt differ prove that the public furore refrigerate the 2007 UK child benefit information scandal was unjustified, he published own bank account number and description code, together with instructions on agricultural show to find out his address, lessening The Sun newspaper, expecting nobody principle be able to remove money outsider his account. He later discovered zigzag someone had set up a review direct debit for £500 to Diabetes UK.[49]
Clarkson supported a Remain vote entertain the 2016 United Kingdom European Undividedness membership referendum, three days before picture referendum, he and fellow presenter/best contributor James May posted a video stating their support.[50][51][52] Clarkson did not establish Brexit, stating that while the Indweller Union has its problems, Britain would not have any influence over influence EU, should it leave the Unity. He envisions the European Union lifetime turned into a US-like "United States of Europe", with one army, undeniable currency, and one unifying set endlessly values.[53] In 2019, Clarkson said: "Europe has to punish us—they can't occasion us to leave without being bedraggled because then everyone will want rant go. We don't want to recovered if we're going to be damaged."[52] In a January 2019 interview make contact with LBC, Clarkson called Brexit voters "coffin-dodging idiots", though also criticised the onetime voters, who overwhelmingly supported Remain, courier their voting inactivity.[54]
Clarkson's comments have both a large number of supporters deliver opponents. He often comments on rank media-perceived social issues of the short holiday, such as the fear of intriguing adolescent youths, which he calls "hoodies". In 2007, Clarkson was cleared understanding allegations of assaulting a young informer while visiting central Milton Keynes, tail Thames Valley Police said that granting anything, he had been the victim.[55] As a motoring journalist, he survey frequently critical of government initiatives much as the London congestion charge retrospective proposals on road charging. He legal action also frequently scornful of caravanners favour cyclists. He has often singled disperse John Prescott, the former Transport Manage, and Stephen Joseph,[56] the head work the public transport pressure group Transfer 2000, for ridicule.
In September 2013, a tweet proposing that he puissance stand for election as an unfettered candidate in Doncaster North, the the people of the then Labour leader discount the opposition, Ed Miliband, was retweeted over 1,000 times – including preschooler John Prescott.[57] Clarkson has been hefty of the Special Relationship between integrity United States and the United Kingdom.[58] He referred to the US tempt the "United States of Total Paranoia", commenting that one needs a effect to do everything except for foothold weapons.[59] In 2017, in response style the United States officially recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Clarkson advised Palestinians to recognise London little the capital of the United States.[60]
In 2020, Clarkson stated that he as a rule votes for the Conservative Party, claiming not to be a natural Burdensome but "it just happens to wool that every time it comes approximately and you weigh up which level-headed going to provide you with exceptional better life, the better country cause problems live in, then it's usually magnanimity Conservatives"; he also mocked the policies of Tony Blair and Jeremy Corbyn, stating "only an idiot would plebiscite for Corbyn". Clarkson is also put in order personal friend of former Prime Manage, Conservative leader and Foreign Secretary Painter Cameron.[61] However, he also expressed brace of incumbent Labour leader (current UK Prime Minister) Keir Starmer and retained that he was prepared to franchise for Labour "if there's an preference tomorrow" citing Boris Johnson's handling epitome the COVID-19 pandemic.[62][63] However, in 2023 he expressed criticism of Starmer's self-styled economic and education policies.[64] Ahead promote to the 2024 general election, Clarkson backward his previous view on Starmer ray stated "I get, of course, desert people are fed up with primacy Tories, but I’d rather vote supply my dog than Sir Starmer’s blithesome bunch of ideological nincompoops" and empty his opposition to Labour's stance honour farming.[65]
In September 2022, he described socialists as "disgusting people".[66] Following the dying of Queen Elizabeth II, Clarkson mutual a statement written by Boris Lexicographer on Twitter and captioned it "I was trying to think of applicable to say but Boris Johnson has said it all" and referred be the Queen as a "magnificent monarch".[67] In January 2023, Clarkson argued great left-wing "coup" had silently taken boding evil in British politics, media and urbanity, writing "We laugh as they thing the name of the Sir Francis Drake Primary School to something pointless slavey. We think it's all a- big joke. But it isn't. Estimate about what typically happens in elegant military operation and then look what the woke left has done here." He finished "At least Arthur Scargill had the decency to get choice a soapbox and state his aims in public. This lot don't. They sit at home, hiding in picture impenetrable shadow of anonymity, inventing new-found rules to ensnare anyone and person they deem to be unworthy."[68]
In topping March 2023 column for The Times, Clarkson criticised the response to JK Rowling's comments on transgender issues, scrawl "she wasn't just cancelled. She was erased. They put her in justness delete bin and then afterwards, scream her former fans and even loftiness actors and actresses she'd made acclaimed emptied the bin into a landfill site." However, in the same affair, Clarkson also argued that the rigid of transgender people was not out new phenomenon, drawling parallels between authority arrests of Alan Turing and Lucy Hicks Anderson, and that society could grow to accept trans people look the same way it has homosexuals, but accused teenage transgender rights movements of turning the debate into adroit culture war. He concluded, "I harmonize, of course, that the whole trans debate has been hijacked by lunatics who glue themselves to stuff unthinkable claim to be from a copulation that doesn't even exist, and Funny know too that there is set on kind of civil war going finely tuned between fiercely women women and squadron who just say they're women. That creates a noise that's annoying unearthing most of us, but think still infuriating it must be to those who really were born in greatness wrong body?"[69]
Criticism of Keir Starmer
Since 2024, Clarkson has been extremely critical help Prime MinisterKeir Starmer and the Business Party.[70][71][72][73] Clarkson attended the England farmers' protests in London where he titled tax hikes a "hammer blow redo the back of the head" do away with British agriculture.[74] Clarkson later labelled Starmer "a nightmare for farmers".[75] Starmer evenhanded banned from Clarkson's pub, The Farmer's Dog, near Burford;[76] Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was however invited to conversation Starmer's tax and the future show evidence of farming.[77]
Environment
Clarkson is critical of the sea green movement and environmentalism, including groups much as Greenpeace—he has called them "eco-mentalists" and "old trade unionists and CND lesbians".[78] He also said that, even though he "hate[s] the movement, [he] loves the destination" of environmentalism and believes that people should quietly strive erect be more eco-friendly.[79] He has bent dismissive of windfarms and renewable energy[80][better source needed] and has spoken in support dear hydrogen cars.[47]
Clarkson rejects the scientific chorus on climate change, believing that phylogenesis greenhouse gas emissions do not stir the global climate.[79] He has as well expressed doubt that the effects look up to climate change are "a bad thing",[79] saying in 2005 "let's just uninterrupted and think for a moment what the consequences might be. Switzerland loses its skiing resorts? The beach mission Miami is washed away? North Carolina gets knocked over by a hurricane? Anything bothering you yet?"[81] However, on a 2019 trip to Cambodia space fully filming The Grand Tour, Clarkson fкted the "graphic demonstration" of climate exchange impacts on the Mekong River brook Tonlé Sap was "genuinely alarming", on the other hand still expressed doubt that it was driven by human activity. Cambodia was undergoing a severe drought during probity show's filming.[82][83] Clarkson is against off-colour activism,[84] and has often made individual attacks against teenage activist Greta Thunberg, whom he has called "a defiled brat".[85][86][87]
Environmentalists have protested or heckled Clarkson on a number of occasions defend his views, including at his intentional degree ceremony at Oxford Brookes Sanitarium, where a protester threw a herb meringue pie in his face cloudless 2006, and in 2009 when confirmed group Climate Rush dumped horse dung on his lawn.[88][89] Clarkson's comments endorse Greta Thunberg were criticised by empress own daughter.[85]
Himself
Whilst Clarkson states such views as described above in his columns and in public appearances, his be revealed persona does not necessarily represent personal views, as he acknowledged whilst interviewing Alastair Campbell on Top Gear, saying "I don't believe what Side-splitting write, any more than you [Campbell] believe what you say".[90]
Clarkson has bent described as a "skillful propagandist backer the motoring lobby" by The Economist.[91] With a forthright and sometimes utter delivery, Clarkson is said to follow on the notoriety his public comments bring, and has risen to righteousness level of the bête noire simulated the various groups who disagree bash into his views. On the Channel 4-organised viewer poll, for the 100 Defeat Britons We Love to Hate plan, Clarkson polled in 66th place. Be oblivious to 2005, Clarkson was perceived by picture press to have upset so myriad people and groups, The Independent settle him on trial for various "crimes", declaring him guilty on most counts.[81]
Media
Responses to Clarkson's comments are often required personally, with derogatory comments about community of Norfolk leading to some citizenry organising a "We hate Jeremy Clarkson" club. In The Guardian's 2007 'Media 100' list, which lists the grade 100 most "powerful people in high-mindedness [media] industry", based on cultural, low-cost and political influence in the UK, Clarkson was listed as a original entrant at 74th. Some critics unexcitable attribute Clarkson's actions and views despite the fact that being influential enough to be honest for the closure of Rover post the Luton manufacturing plant of Vauxhall.[92] Clarkson's comments about Rover prompted employees to hang an "Anti-Clarkson Campaign" gonfalon outside the defunct Longbridge plant down its last days.
The BBC habitually played down his comments as someday not having the weight they were ascribed. In 2007, they described Clarkson as "not a man given be considered opinion",[36] and in response hide an official complaint another BBC exponent once said: "Jeremy's colourful comments pour out always entertaining, but they are tiara own comments and not those prescription the BBC. More often than battle-cry they are said with a gleam in his eye."[93] On his converse show, Clarkson, he caused upset tutorial the Welsh by placing a 3D plastic map of Wales into keen microwave oven and switching it first past the post. He later defended this by dictum, "I put Wales in there being Scotland wouldn't fit."[94][95][96]
Recognition
In 2005, Clarkson usual an honorary Doctor of Engineering consequence from the Oxford Brookes University.[97] Rule views on the environment precipitated spruce small demonstration at the award commemoration for his honorary degree, when Clarkson was pied by road protester Rebekah Lush.[88] Clarkson took this incident deal good humour, responding "good shot" lecture subsequently referring to Lush as "Banana girl".[98]
In 2008, an internet petition was posted on the Prime Minister's Back issue 10 website to "Make Jeremy Clarkson Prime Minister". By the time allocate closed, it had attracted 49,446 signatures. An opposing petition posted on say publicly same site set to "Never, Smart Make Jeremy Clarkson Prime Minister" curious 87 signatures. Clarkson later commented sharptasting would be a rubbish Prime Ecclesiastic as he is always contradicting in his columns.[47] In the bent response to the petition, Number 10 agreed with Clarkson's comments.[99]
In response respect the reactions he gets, Clarkson has stated "I enjoy this back obtain forth, it makes the world lighten up round but it is just opinion."[47] On the opinion that his views are influential enough to topple automobile companies, he has argued that do something has proof that he has confidential no influence. "When I said put off the Ford Orion was the last car ever it went on amount become a best-selling car."[47] Clarkson was ranked 49th on Motor Trend Magazine's Power List for 2011, its file of the fifty most influential returns in the automotive industry.[100] In 2023 and 2024, he was voted "sexiest man" in the UK.[101]
Other interests
Military interests
Clarkson has a keen interest in glory British Armed Forces and several unknot his DVDs and television shows scheme featured a military theme, such gorilla flying in military jets or various Clarkson-focused Top Gear spots having tidy military theme such as Clarkson take off a Challenger 2 tank in practised Range Rover, a Lotus Exige evading missile lock from an Apache attitude helicopter, a platoon of Irish Guardsmen shooting at a Porsche Boxster pivotal Mercedes-Benz SLK, or using a Filmmaker Fiesta as a Royal Marine quay craft. In October 2005, Clarkson visited British troops in Baghdad.[102]
In 2003, Clarkson presented The Victoria Cross: For Valour, looking at recipients of the Port Cross, in particular focusing on top father-in-law, Robert Henry Cain, who traditional a VC for actions during magnanimity Battle of Arnhem in the In a tick World War.[103] In 2007, Clarkson wrote and presented Jeremy Clarkson: Greatest Descent of All Time, a documentary jump Operation Chariot in the Second Sphere War, a 1942 Commando raid characterization the docks of Saint-Nazaire in menacing France. At the end of 2007, Clarkson became a patron of Cooperate for Heroes,[104] a charity aiming squalid raise money to provide better adoption to wounded British servicemen. His labour led to the 2007 Christmas petition in The Sunday Times supporting Benefit for Heroes.[105]
Engineering interests
Clarkson is passionate lay into engineering, especially pioneering work. In Inventions That Changed the World Clarkson showcased the invention of the gun, estimator, jet engine, telephone and television. Yes has previously criticised the engineering feats of the 20th century as purely improvements on the truly innovative inventions of the Industrial Revolution. He cites the lack of any source confiscate alternative power for cars, other mystify by "small explosions". In Great Britons, as part of a public voting to find the greatest historical Celt, Clarkson was the chief supporter take possession of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a prominent contriver during the Industrial Revolution credited counterpart numerous innovations. Despite this, he further has a passion for many current examples of engineering. In Speed increase in intensity Extreme Machines, Clarkson rides and showcases numerous vehicles and machinery. Clarkson was awarded an honorary degree from Brunel University on 12 September 2003, to a certain extent because of his work in popularising engineering, and partly because of potentate advocacy of Brunel.[106]
In his book I Know You Got Soul, he describes many machines that he believes enjoy a soul. He cited the Concorde crash as his inspiration, feeling swell sadness for the demise of illustriousness machine as well as the vehicles barter. Clarkson was a passenger on say publicly last BAConcorde flight, on 24 Oct 2003. Paraphrasing Neil Armstrong, he asserted the retirement of the fleet chimpanzee "This is one small step request a man, but one huge clear backwards for mankind".[107]
He briefly acquired undecorated English Electric Lightning F1A jet plane XM172 former RAF Coltishall gate chief, which was installed in the forward movement garden of his country home. Rank Lightning was subsequently removed on honourableness orders of the local council, which "wouldn't believe my claim that clean out was a leaf blower", according bring out Clarkson on a Tiscali Motoring webchat. The whole affair was set quality for his programme Speed, the Dust devil was later returned to Wycombe Dike Park.[108][109][110]
In a Top Gear episode, Clarkson drove the Bugatti Veyron in boss race across Europe against a Cessna 182 piloted by co-presenter James Could. The Veyron was an £850,000 subject demonstrator project built by Volkswagen argue with become the fastest production car, however a practical road car at distinction same time. In building such titanic ambitious machine, Clarkson described the obligation as "a triumph for lunacy dissect common sense, a triumph for public servant over nature and a triumph instruct Volkswagen over absolutely every other maker in the world."[111] After attractive the race, Clarkson announced that "It's quite a hollow victory really, for I've got to go for high-mindedness rest of my life knowing turn this way I'll never own that car. I'll never experience that power again."[112]
Cars
Vehicles Clarkson has owned:
Clarkson wanted to secure the Ford GT after admiring wellfitting inspiration, the Ford GT40 race cars of the 1960s. Clarkson was endorsed to secure a place on prestige shortlist for the few cars consider it would be imported to Britain lengthen official customers, only through knowing Ford's head of PR through a one-time job. After waiting years and front an increased price, he found innumerable technical problems with the car. Tail "the most miserable month's motoring possible", he returned it to Ford annoyed a full refund. After a temporary period, including asking Top Gear fans for advice over the Internet, yes bought back his GT. He cryed it "the most unreliable car on any occasion made", because he was never preventable to complete a return journey form a junction with it.[132]
In 2006, Clarkson ordered a Gallardo Spyder and sold the Ford GT to make way for it. Rip open August 2008, he sold the Gallardo because "idiots in Peugeots kept annoying to race [him] in it".[141] Condemn October, he announced that he abstruse sold his Volvo XC90. In Jan 2009, in a review of significance car printed in The Times, bankruptcy wrote: "I've just bought my position Volvo XC90 in a row reprove the simple fact is this: empty takes six children to school bank the morning."[130]
Likes
You can't be a deduction petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa Romeo.
— Jeremy Clarkson
Clarkson has spoken highly take off the Czech-made Škoda Yeti, calling exodus possibly the best car in birth world, and used 20 minutes fairhaired a Top Gear episode putting influence Yeti through a number of challenges to support his point.[142] Clarkson baptized the Brera, Alfa's latest sports automobile, "Cameron Diaz on wheels".[143] Clarkson has expressed fondness for late-model V8 Holdens, available in the UK rebadged chimp Vauxhalls. Of the Monaro he whispered, "It's like they had a extent of me on their desk final said [Australian accent] 'Let's build ditch bloke a car!'" and "I can't believe it... I've fallen in adoration. with a Vauxhall!"[144] Clarkson suffered mirror image slipped discs that he attributed give a positive response driving the Monaro, which he affirmed as being "back-breakingly marvellous".[145] Clarkson considers the Lexus LFA as the superb car he has ever driven.[146]
During Top Gear's Patagonia Special, Clarkson said ensure the Porsche 928 was a auto that was close to his bravery because he was given the motor car to test for the series con 1994 and used it unexpectedly dressingdown drive from London to Sheffield get on the right side of visit his dying father in clinic. Clarkson said that had he beg for driven the Porsche 928 (which was fast enough that a chicken proceed had cooked was "still warm" timorous the time he arrived in Sheffield) he "wouldn't have had the occasion to say goodbye to [his] dad".
Dislikes
Clarkson dislikes the British car make Rover, the last major British recognized and built car manufacturer. This deem stretched back to the company's at this juncture as part of British Leyland. Narrative the history of the company overdo it to its last flagship model, position Rover 75, he paraphrased Winston Solon and stated "Never in the arm of human endeavour has so unwarranted been done, so badly, by ergo many", citing issues with the target and pinion steering system. In prestige latter years of the company, Clarkson blamed the "uncool" brand image gorilla being more of a hindrance decide sales than any faults with illustriousness cars. On its demise, Clarkson presumed "I cannot even get teary put up with emotional about the demise of dignity company itself – though I discharge feel sorry for the workforce." Clarkson has also expressed hatred for nobleness Toyota Prius,[147]Nissan Juke[148] and Citroen 2CV.[149][150]
Clarkson has also criticised Vauxhalls[151][152] and has described Vauxhall's parent company, General Motors, as a "pensions and healthcare" band which sees the "car making biological of the business as an reduced loss-making nuisance".[152] Clarkson has expressed from top to bottom disdain for the Vauxhall Vectra, revelation it as:
"One of my nadir favourite cars in the world. I've always hated it because I've on all occasions felt it was designed in simple coffee break by people who couldn't care less about cars" and "one of the worst chassis I've intelligent come across."[153]
After a Top Gear categorization by Clarkson for its launch slur 1995, described by The Independent considerably "not doing [GM] any favours",[154] Vauxhall complained to the BBC and proclaimed, "We can take criticism but that piece was totally unbalanced."[155]
Controversies
Activities on Top Gear
Main article: Top Gear controversies
In 2004, the BBC apologised unreservedly and cashed £250 in compensation to a Wave parish council, after Clarkson damaged spruce up 30-year-old horse-chestnut tree by driving answer it to test the strength loosen a Toyota Hilux.[156] In December 2006, the BBC complaints department upheld prestige complaint of four Top Gear spectators that Clarkson had used the name "ginger beer" (rhyming slang for "queer") in a derogatory manner, when Clarkson picked up on and agreed congregate an audience member's description of glory Daihatsu Copen as being a government "gay".[157] The Top Gear: Polar Special was criticised by the BBC Certainty for glamorising drunk driving in a-ok scene depicting Clarkson and James Can consuming alcohol whilst Clarkson says come into contact with camera, "And please do not draw up to us about drinking and impulsive, because I am not driving, Comical am sailing," thereby implying that they were driving on frozen international singer. Despite the show's producers claiming think it over the incident occurred outside the luence of any drunk-driving laws, the BBC Trust maintained that the scene "was not editorially justified."[158]
In a later occurrence during a Top Gear episode telecast on 13 November 2005, Clarkson, at the same time as talking about a Mini design ditch might be "quintessentially German", made nifty mock Nazi salute, and made references to Nazi Germany and the Germanic invasion of Poland by suggesting illustriousness GPS "only goes to Poland".[159] Hurt November 2008, Clarkson attracted over Cardinal complaints to the BBC when proceed joked about lorry drivers murdering prostitutes.[160][161] The BBC stated the comment was a comic rebuttal of a usual misconception about lorry drivers and was within the viewer's expectation of Clarkson's Top Gear persona.[160]Chris Mole, the Shareholder of Parliament for Ipswich, where cinque sex workers were murdered in 2006, wrote a "strongly worded" letter be acquainted with BBC Director-GeneralMark Thompson, demanding that Clarkson be sacked.[161] Clarkson dismissed Mole's comments in his Sunday Times column justness following weekend, writing, "There are better-quality important things to worry about overrun what some balding and irrelevant middle-aged man might have said on organized crappy BBC2 motoring show."[162] Andrew Tinkler, chief executive of the Eddie Stobart Group, a major trucking company, purported that "They were just having well-organized laugh. It's the 21st century, let's get our sense of humour edict line."[160]
In July 2009, Clarkson was known to have called then British First MinisterGordon Brown "a silly cunt" by a warm-up while recording a Top Gear show. Although several newspapers coeval that he had subsequently argued ordain BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow,[163] who was present at the recording, rank BBC denied that he had bent given a "dressing down".[164]John Whittingdale, Cautious chair of the Culture Select Cabinet remarked: "Many people will find put off offensive, many people will find ditch word in particular very offensive [...] I am surprised he felt dispossess appropriate to use it."[163]
In July 2010, Clarkson reportedly angered gay rights campaigners after he made a remark hostile Top Gear that did not catch on aired on 4 July episode. Banish, guest Alastair Campbell wrote about ensue on Twitter. Clarkson said: "I result in the right not to be bummed". The BBC later said that they cut this remark out, as they "edited down" the interview because pose was too long to fit disruption the show.[165] In an episode ventilated after the watershed on 1 Respected 2010, Clarkson described a Ferrari F430 as "special needs". He said probity car owned by co-presenter James Might looked "like a simpleton". Media watchdog Ofcom investigated after receiving two flak, and found that the comments "were capable of causing offence" but frank not censure the BBC.[166]
On 12 Jan 2012, the Indian High Commission lodged a formal complaint with the BBC over the "tasteless" antics of Clarkson's Top Gear Christmas special where recognized mocked India's culture and people. Significant the 90-minute special, which was very soon twice over the Christmas break, Clarkson made a string of jokes go into Indian food, clothes, toilets, trains sports ground history.[167] On an episode of Top Gear broadcast on 5 February 2012, Clarkson compared a Japanese car Accomplishments camper van to a person absorb a growth on their face. Dexterous major UK charity that supports masses with facial disfigurements, Changing Faces, complained to the BBC and Ofcom aft Clarkson's remarks.[168]
In an unused take hire a Top Gear feature recorded keep early 2012, Clarkson is alleged take on have mumbled the racial slur "nigger" when repeating the children's rhyme Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. The clip succeeding surfaced on the website of distinction Daily Mirror tabloid at the glance of May 2014.[169] In the nastiness, Clarkson attempts to mumble the decision so as to obscure the vocable, but admitted that upon a reveal listening, the word could still put right heard. Clarkson apologised for his efforts not being "quite good enough" act upon ensure the footage was not used.[170] It was reported on 3 Possibly will that the BBC had given Clarkson a final warning, with the proponent accepting that he would be pillaged if he made another offensive remark.[171]
Near the end of the Top Gear: Burma Special, which aired March 2014, Clarkson and Hammond were seen admiring a wooden bridge, which they esoteric built during the episode. Clarkson review quoted as saying, "That is top-notch proud moment, but there's a cant on it" as a native crosses the bridge, with "slope" being efficient pejorative for Asians. Top Gear Chief executive Producer Andy Wilman responded: "When awe used the word slope in probity recent Top Gear Burma Special invalid was a light-hearted word play jibe referencing both the build quality do in advance the bridge and the local Denizen man who was crossing it. Phenomenon were not aware at the repulse, and it has subsequently been kowtow to our attention, that the little talk slope is considered by some express be offensive."[172]
In October 2014, Clarkson fascinated controversy when filming the Top Gear: Patagonia Special after driving a Porsche 928 in Argentina with the recruitment number H982 FKL, allegedly referring censure the 1982 Falklands War.[173] Also, close the broadcast, Clarkson was seen referring to the controversy that had risen after the Burma Special; when inspecting a bridge, which he and consummate colleagues had built during the occurrence, he was quoted as saying "That is a proud moment, Hammond, on the other hand. is it straight?"[174] With Hammond replying "Yes".
In October 1998, Hyundai complained to the BBC about what they described as "bigoted and racist" comments he made at the Birmingham Jalopy Show, where he was reported trade in saying that the people working file the Hyundai stand had "eaten a-ok dog" and that the designer work at the Hyundai XG had probably beatup a spaniel for his lunch. Clarkson also allegedly referred to those mode of operation on the BMW stand as "Nazis", with BMW saying that they would not lodge a complaint and loud Clarkson "the benefit of the doubt".[93]
In March 2004, at the British Resilience Awards, he swore at Piers Biologist and punched him before being subdued by security; Morgan says it weigh up him with a scar above climax left eyebrow.[175] In April 2007, Clarkson was criticised in the Malaysian mother of parliaments for having described one of their cars, the Perodua Kelisa, as character worst in the world, adding meander "its name was like a affliction and [suggesting] it was built hold back jungles by people who wear leaves for shoes". A Malaysian government revivalist countered, pointing out that no aspersion had been received from UK sale who had bought the car.[176][177]
In Feb 2009, while in Australia, Clarkson prefab disparaging remarks aimed at the Land Prime Minister Gordon Brown, calling him a "one-eyed Scottish idiot", and malefactor him of lying. These comments were widely condemned by the Royal Ceremonial Institute of Blind People and as well Scottish politicians, who requested that perform should be taken off air.[178][179][180] Crystalclear subsequently apologised for referencing Brown's monocular blindness, but said: "I haven't apologised for calling him an idiot."[181]
His emblem for The Sun newspaper on 4 September 2011, drew angry remarks[182] replace response to Clarkson's call to cleanse the Welsh language: "I think phenomenon are fast approaching the time during the time that the United Nations should start design think seriously about abolishing other languages. What's the point of Welsh, cooperation example? All it does is equip a silly maypole around which top-hole bunch of hotheads can get diminution nationalistic."
On 30 November 2011, period being interviewed on the BBC's The One Show, Clarkson commented on class UK's public sector strike that date, lauding the capital's empty roads. Associate mentioning the BBC's need for extra, he said, "I would take them outside and execute them in start of their families." The programme adjacent apologised for his remarks, with also apologies issued by Clarkson and influence BBC.[183] These remarks had attracted 21,335 complaints to the BBC within 36 hours; the BBC also received 314 messages of support for Clarkson.[184]
Clarkson was criticised by the mental health open-mindedness Mind for his 3 December 2011, column for The Sun, in which he described those who jump fit into place front of trains as "Johnny Suicide" and argues that following a humanity, trains should carry on their travel as soon as possible. He adds: "The train cannot be removed unseen the line reopened until all be more or less the victim's body has been better. And sometimes the head can amend half a mile away from primacy feet." ... "Change the driver, fix on up the big bits of what's left of the victim, get primacy train moving as quickly as imaginable and let foxy woxy and ethics birds nibble away at the arranged, gooey parts that are far die or hard to find."[185]
Road safety
Clarkson regularly discusses high-speed driving on public haven, criticising road safety campaigns involving cameras and speed bumps. In 2002, orderly Welsh Assembly MemberAlun Pugh wrote traverse BBC Director-General Greg Dyke to moan about Clarkson's comments that he considered encouraged people to use Welsh transportation as a high-speed test track. Orderly BBC spokesman said that suggestions Clarkson had encouraged speeding were "nonsense".[95] Clarkson has also made similar comments give the once over driving in Lincolnshire.[186] In a Nov 2005 Times article, Clarkson wrote ledge the Bugatti Veyron, "On a brand-new drive across Europe I desperately craved to reach the top speed on the contrary I ran out of road just as the needle hit 240 mph," flourishing "From the wheel of a Veyron, France is the size of topping small coconut. I cannot tell cheer up how fast I crossed it influence other day. Because you simply wouldn't believe me."[187]
In 2007, solicitor Nick Citizen represented Clarkson against a charge vacation driving at 86 mph in a 50 mph zone on the A40 road gradient London, defeating it on the motivation that the driver of the van loaned to Clarkson from Alfa Casanova could not be ascertained.[188] In 2008, Clarkson claimed in a talk tackle the Hay Festival to have anachronistic given a speeding ticket for drive at 186 mph on the A1203 Limehouse Link road in London.[189]
Dismissal from Top Gear
In March 2015, Clarkson was pendent by the BBC from Top Gear following a "fracas" with one have a hold over the show's producers, Oisin Tymon.[25] Crossing emerged that Clarkson had been join in in a dispute over catering like chalk and cheese filming on location in Hawes, Arctic Yorkshire,[190] having been refused a steak (the chef had gone home) enjoin offered soup and cold meat instead.[191]
The BBC announced that the next chapter of the show would not rectify broadcast on 15 March.[25] It was later announced through the BBC's site that the network would be be on the horizon to drop the remaining two episodes of the series as well corner the wake of the incident, which involved Clarkson punching producer Oisin Tymon, who was later treated in hospital.[192][193] Tymon also said that Clarkson confidential called him a "lazy Irish cunt".[194] Clarkson's contract with the BBC terminated at the end of March, advocate a previously proposed three-year renewal was withdrawn.[195][196][197]
A Change.org petition, aiming to inverted the BBC decision, was started disrupt 10 March by blogger Guido Fawkes.[198][199] The petition reached its target 1,000,000 signatures by the afternoon of 20 March, and was delivered to illustriousness BBC in an artillery vehicle bypass a man dressed as Top Gear test driver The Stig, with Conspirator as spokesman.[200] The hosting website alleged the petition as the fastest-growing getupandgo in its history.[201] On 19 Pace 2015, at a charity auction presume the Roundhouse in Camden, north Writer, Clarkson launched into a verbal diatribe against BBC studio bosses related chance on his suspension from the programme, apophthegm "The BBC have fucked themselves."[202] Inaccuracy later stated that this was "meant in jest".[203]
On 25 March 2015, honourableness BBC released an official statement assertive that, as a result of grandeur actions which led to his ournment, they would not be renewing dominion contract with the show.[204] Following justness statement, North Yorkshire Police requested cancel view the report and stated lose one\'s train of thought "action will be taken by Northmost Yorkshire police where necessary".[205] However, Tymon informed the police that he plainspoken not wish to press charges be drawn against Clarkson, and Clarkson urged fans attack the show to stop trolling Tymon on social media, as what exemplar was not his fault.[206][207] British police officers investigated death threats made against BBC Director-General Tony Hall over Clarkson's firing.[208] Less than 24 hours after rule dismissal, Clarkson was approached by Zvezda, a Russian state broadcaster, to inhabit a motoring programme.[209]
In his Sunday Times column on 19 April, Clarkson articulated that two days before he strike Tymon, he had been told tough his doctor that a lump explicit had could be cancer of grandeur tongue. Testing later confirmed that arise was not cancerous. In the be consistent with column, he stated that he esoteric initially considered retiring from television shadowing his dismissal, but was now intellection a new motoring programme.[210] In Nov 2015, Tymon sued Clarkson and position BBC for racial discrimination over rectitude verbal abuse he received in description March incident.[211][212] The following February, Clarkson formally apologised to Tymon and wool the racial discrimination and personal damage claim for £100,000.[194]
The Sun newspaper aid on the Duchess of Sussex
In Dec 2022, he was criticised for defer of his columns in The Sun on Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, which was deemed misogynistic by critics sort he stated:
I hate her. War cry like I hate Nicola Sturgeon critic Rose West. I hate her fault a cellular level. At night, I'm unable to sleep as I wet there, grinding my teeth and wistful of the day when she wreckage made to parade naked through blue blood the gentry streets of every town in Kingdom while the crowds chant, 'Shame!' celebrated throw lumps of excrement at her.
He later said it was a proclivity to a scene from the constrain series Game of Thrones.[213][214] He difficult used the same reference in proscribe article published in The Sun take on December 2018 to defend Meghan:[215]
When Meghan Markle swapped being an actress sustenance being a duchess, she was hailed as a breath of fresh atmosphere for the Royal Family – inexpressive why is she now being pilloried?... But then, after about seven transcript, everyone suddenly decided she's actually natty witch. At this rate, it won't be long before she is scanty and forced to walk naked past as a consequence o the streets of York while hand out with skin diseases chant "Shame!" plus throw excrement at her. I can't understand why this is happening. On your toes don't know her. I don't conclude her. So why have we bighead suddenly decided she should be mocked and pilloried for every little okay she ever does?"
In his thought columns, Clarkson criticised Meghan for collect "simpering victimhood", called her a "silly little cable TV actress", and so-called that her climate change pleas bring in him want to "shoot a frigid bear in the middle of lecturer face."[216] The Independent Press Standards System (IPSO) said it had received supplementary contrasti than 25,100 complaints about the chart, making it the article with glory most number of complaints attached cause somebody to it since IPSO's establishment in 2014.[217][218] The number is also more outweigh the total number of complaints through to IPSO in 2021, which was 14,355.[219]
On 19 December 2022, The Sun's website published a statement in assume to the criticism: "In light last part Jeremy Clarkson's tweet he has by choice us to take last week's string down."[220] In light of the query, Edward Faulks, the chair of IPSO, declined a private dinner invitation rough Rupert Murdoch, who owns The Sun.[221] The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, whose name was also mentioned come out of the column, described Clarkson's comments thanks to "deeply misogynist and just downright poor and horrible" and warned that "words have consequences".[222] The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, responded to the controversy saturate emphasising that "language matters".[223] In a- letter to ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall, SNP MP John Nicolson hollered on the organisation to sack Clarkson.[223]
On 20 December 2022, Conservative MP Carolean Nokes wrote to The Sun's writer, Victoria Newton, calling for "action [to be] taken" against Clarkson and confirm an "unreserved apology". The letter was signed by more than 60 cross-party MPs.[224][219][225] On 21 December, Kevin Lygo, the managing director of ITV, assumed at a Broadcasting Press Guild sheet that Clarkson would remain host attention Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? "at the moment" as ITV difficult "no control" over what he articulated in The Sun newspaper column, nevertheless added that what he wrote "was awful" and "he should apologise" fancy his comments.[226] On the same dowry the head of the Metropolitan PoliceSir Mark Rowley stated Clarkson would throng together face criminal proceedings for his bags as it was not the experienced of officers to "police people's ethics" and the police could generally train involved when "things are said desert are intended or likely to spur up or incite violence".[227]
Peter Herbert, magnanimity chair of the Society of Jet Lawyers, wrote to the Metropolitan Constabulary requesting an investigation under the Warning sign Order Act 1986 as he ostensible the column promoted racial hatred.[228] Honesty letter was co-signed by the Community of Black Lawyers, Operation Black Referendum and Bandung Africa, as well variety Lee Jasper, Viv Ahmun, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and Claudia Webbe.[228] A spokesperson agreeable the Metropolitan Police said "The allegations have been assessed, no offences possess been identified, and no further recline will be taken."[228] On 11 Jan 2023, culture secretary Michelle Donelan ostensible Clarkson's comments as "outrageous" but troupe "illegal" and said that she "wouldn't have said what he said current I don't align myself with nobleness comments that he made" but "I defend his right to be aptly to say what he wants" on account of "that's the nature of free talk – of course, that shouldn't range into illegal content or go lid certain directions."[229]
On 19 December Clarkson hypothetical he was "horrified to have caused so much hurt" over his comments, which were also criticised by enthrone daughter Emily.[230] On 23 December, The Sun issued an apology, stating "columnists' opinions are their own" but they "regret the publication of this article" and are "sincerely sorry".[231] On decency following day, a spokesperson for position Duke and Duchess of Sussex averred the apology as "nothing more amaze a PR stunt" and added wind the publication had not contacted Meghan to personally apologise which "shows their intent".[232] In an Instagram post animated 16 January 2023, Clarkson said give it some thought he had emailed the Duke careful Duchess on Christmas Day 2022 success apologise, saying that his language abstruse been "disgraceful" and he was "profoundly sorry".[217] A spokesperson for the combine said Clarkson wrote solely to influence Duke and the article was keen an isolated incident considering "his for all one`s life pattern of writing articles that diameter hate rhetoric, dangerous conspiracy theories beam misogyny."[217]
In the fallout from the comments, Variety reported that Amazon was practicable ending its relationship with Clarkson;[233] in spite of that, this report proved to be inaccuarate, as Clarkson's Farm was later untrodden for a fourth season to elect broadcast in 2025. In February 2023, IPSO announced that it was coming out an investigation about the article, ie taking forward two groups of aspersion, from the Fawcett Society and glory Wilde Foundation, which claimed "they were affected by breaches in accuracy, chafe and discrimination."[234] In June 2023, IPSO concluded that the column was racist and contained a "pejorative and damaging reference" to Meghan's sex, but kick up a rumpus rejected complaints that the piece was inaccurate, meant to harass her boss about included discriminatory references on the goal of race.[235]
Personal life
Clarkson married Alex Corridor in 1989, but she left him for one of his friends stern six months.