I am so disappointed by the BBC’s feeble response to Jeremy Clarkson’s racism. Of course, Clarkson is responsible for his own Neanderthal views and I expect little from him. However, I still think the BBC is a national treasure which (largely) upholds the values of decent journalism and inclusive broadcasting. So how have they got it so wrong on Clarkson?
This week Ofcom upheld complaints that he used the racist term ‘slope’ to describe an Asian man during a Top Gear ‘special’ in Burma. By the way, I am still very unclear about what is so ‘special’ about touring three white middle-aged, western blokes through some of the poorest parts of the world to entertain themselves with how underdeveloped their cars and roads are. However, that is not my main charge today.
Clarkson has shocking form of course. The Mirror did good work in exposing his use of the N-word during a muttered version of ‘eeny meeny miney mo … ’ This was never broadcast on the show – and Clarkson apologised eventually, despite refusing to accept that he had used the word until the video evidence was distributed widely. After this he was apparently on ‘a final warning’, but seemed pretty unrepentant in his public statements about the events.
What makes this most recent ruling shocking is that Ofcom are clear that in the Burma programme, the use of the word was actually scripted. This was not some unfortunate 50-year-old unable to control himself from just blurting out racism, which seemed to be Clarkson’s defence on the N-word incident; this was a planned and scripted use of the language. In their ruling, Ofcom state:
There was clearly an opportunity both during filming and post-production to research the word and reach a more considered view on whether it was “mere slang” and had the potential to cause offence to viewers
I do not think most of us would have needed any ‘research’ to conclude that this was likely to be a potentially offensive word. Why take the risk unless you have a cavalier disregard for the impact of racist language which borders on a ‘look at me’ wish to gratuitously offend.
I have made some BBC documentaries and was pretty amazed at the extent of the editorial scrutiny that they were put under by what appeared to be several layers of BBC staff to ensure that everything complied with strict BBC editorial policy. Where is this scrutiny when it comes to Clarkson? Is it blinded by the £150m Top Gear makes for BBC Worldwide? Is it scared off by the idea of the foul-mouthed backlash which accompanies every criticism of Clarkson. When I previously called for Clarkson to be fired by the BBC, I received some of the most abusive Twitter trolling I have ever had – and you can imagine I attract a bit!
Even more worryingly, I have grounds to think there are elements within the BBC who would have liked to use Clarkson’s notoriety and my opposition to him for further entertainment. Just after I called for his sacking last time, I was asked to appear on Have I Got News For You – not the generic invitation I have received before, but for a specific week’s broadcast. I said no, and subsequently discovered that the chair for that week had been Clarkson himself. I hope this was coincidence – if it was not, then I will be even more disappointed by the BBC’s craven and poor judgement when it comes to Clarkson. Come on BBC, it is time to prove that there isn’t one rule for the profitable racists and another for the rest of your staff and talent – get rid of him.
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Jacqui Smith is a former home secretary, writes the Monday Politics column for Progress, and tweets @smithjj62
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Photo: Tony Harrison
You don’t say who scripted it? If it was Clarkson, then bang to rights. However if it was someone else, why are you not lambasting them?
Right wing prat says right wing unfunny “joke” which has to be explained. So what. I appear to have missed the bit about how offended you were when the lead article of Conservative Home, following the revelations concerning News of the World hacking Milly Dowler’s phone was that Mr Murdoch should get a knighthood.
Are you not aware that Top Gear is sold to 186 countries? It is the money that matters.
No amount of money would compensate BBC for failing its Public. [They know that.]
Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Ferraris & Porsches are on sale in Stoke as well as Chelsea.
Money and Greed are in the eye of the beholder. Jealous of Clarkson? Don’t be.
Its the Votes that count. Getting Mr Clarkson to vote for LABOUR would be a challenge?
Getting him to jump down a mineshaft is daft – instead of riling him and his chums in Chipping Norton agin’ the cause get you to read: “How to Win Friends and influence People” – by that canny Scot, Dale Carnegie – he was the richest Labourite in Toon.
And Murdoch sold millions of papers during the period ‘hacking’ and the’ intrusion’ of people’s and their families’ privacy was being practiced.- as one ex-NOW guy admitted it was a culture gone wild. People are now in prison. Making big bucks is no justification.
What punishment do you suggest? Remember what type of person Clarkson is and contemplate if you would want to spend five minutes being Jeremy Clarkson. Surely that is punishment enough.
It’s not the ‘individual’ thing really we know what JC is like and who has not enjoyed their foreign travels in places like Vietnam, Burma etc.,
JC has probably had a little telling off ( we would hope) I’ts the BBC response which was most worrying; a sort of arrogance which is difficult to precis but is in my first response.
To tell the truth i am far more worried by their ‘sloppy’ approach to important news events for example, East European immigration coverage this year , the “none” economic/jobs case for the EU, wall to wall coverage of Farage in May, the unchallenging coverage of the UK economy, the missing tax gap, child poverty / low wages/inequality increases; in sum their econ, political, sociological coverage is more D/Mail than quality press.
I think the BBC are missing having a replacement for Chris Patten and are missing that steady hand on the tiller that he provided. Certainly they have gone all right wing in the last year with even an experienced hand like John Humphreys getting away with hard tackles he would never have got away with before. The almost adulation of that smoothie we call the PM is almost hilarious.
At least Jacqui Smith aint afrit to tell it as she sees it – but even Clarkson admits he is a bit of an idiot and he did apologise. To Jeremy any free advertising is worth it – he is a newspaper [press] man after all.
He, Clarkson [read his wiki-cv] revels in people knocking him [performed persona – he’s a FAKE and you, Jacqui, you took the bait.
Concentrate on winning a vote or two for LABOUR and get your seat back next May 7 2015.
This actor/playboy-wannabee needs serious help not indirect support for his PR Management team. The BBC should fire his two hangers-on who fuel his mega-Ego.
Clarkson is a friend of Cameron and what he said about standing strikers up against the wall and shooting them is far worse. But then racist remarks against Jews don’t count, it is always open season on them.
So. Turn t’other cheek. One of the features of Christian belief structure/religion is that sinners are allowed back to [the flock] if they are What do we want? War? or Peace? Clarkson is welcome to Mr Cameron as a neighbour – deserve eachother.
Both are not beyond redemption to LABOUR. In the centenary [not celebratory] 100th year 70millions dead we, the 2nd and 3rd genarations, have learnt nowt & bugger all.
The remarkable thing about the official BBC response to OFCOM was 1) the lack of *humility* by a public corporation brought low by previous shocking revelations of it’s former celebs which I know did not appertain here but nevertheless you would expect some ‘change of culture’ at the BBC
2) This is a *licence* Millionaire paid at our expense ; the BBC is still remote from its capital city Celeb worship & believes anything goes if someone is a big celeb.
Labour needs to monitor the continued ‘elitist’, Home counties and unchallenged /Lapdog ‘conservative’ output of BBC economic, social, political coverage which is easily seen when compared with say channel 4 News or Sky News impartiality. In sum the BBC is still unrepresentative of the UK and still a long way up its own ********
My worry is it seem’s as thought the more knowledge we have is the more ignorant we are coming. So its no surprise to me with comment of Jeremy Clarkson. It those show’s up is ignorance and arrogance, I do agree that BBC should get rid of him.
Why is Jackie Smith surprised? Clarkson makes a fortune for the BBC and the unwritten part of the BBC’s mission is to do just that. Educate, entertain and enlighten now come way down the list.