Post by Teddy Bear on May 5, 2014 18:29:20 GMT
Most will be familiar with the recent 'uproar', at least for the BBC, concerning Jeremy Clarkson's supposed use of the Nigger word when reciting the Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo poem. Though the scene was never aired and it was only a forensic audio lab who were able to make the claim, it shows more the idiocy of the BBC mindset to make anything of this than an indictment of racism against Clarkson.
Though forced to make a public apology for his supposed gaffe, though he still denies actually saying the word, he has hit back at the BBC with quite a humorous and witty riposte. Though I'm no fan of Clarkson or Top Gear he's hit the mark with this.
Though forced to make a public apology for his supposed gaffe, though he still denies actually saying the word, he has hit back at the BBC with quite a humorous and witty riposte. Though I'm no fan of Clarkson or Top Gear he's hit the mark with this.
Jeremy Clarkson could get two pay-offs if forced out of BBC over Top Gear gaffe
Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson jokes he will now "arrive at work on a bicycle with a copy of the Guardian" as it emerges the BBC could have to hand him two pay-offs
By Anita Singh
The BBC faces having to hand Jeremy Clarkson two separate pay-offs if he leaves over the Top Gear race row, it has emerged as the presenter continued to openly mock his employers.
The presenter is paid around £1 million a year to present the BBC Two motoring show.
But he also has a second seven-figure contract with BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the corporation which sells Top Gear abroad and generates income from live shows, DVDs and associated merchandise. The deal runs until September 2015.
According to employment lawyers, the corporation could have to pay Clarkson twice over if it was to force him out, at a time when pay-offs for departing BBC staff have been described as a national scandal.
The unusual contract arrangement could explain why the BBC has failed to take any action against the presenter for appearing to use the n-word while reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe during a Top Gear out-take.
There is also the matter of Clarkson’s popularity with viewers. Top Gear is watched in 214 countries and makes more revenue for the BBC than any other programme.
The BBC's only action, beyond a "reprimand" from the director of television, Danny Cohen, was to make Clarkson apologise publicly. But that ended in farce as the presenter then claimed he had never said the n-word so had nothing to apologise for.
He used a newspaper column yesterday to openly mock his employers.
“I think most people now realise that I really didn’t say the n-word. But as a result of the lurid headlines I realise I must turn over a new leaf,” he wrote in the Sunday Times.
“I’ve been told by BBC chiefs that I’m drinking at the last chance saloon so from now on I shall arrive at work on a bicycle with a copy of the Guardian under my arm, and at lunchtime instead of moaning about how everything on the menu is vegetarian, I shall cheerily ask for extra lentils in my nuclear-free peace soup.
“Also I must remember when I’m in a lift to not goose Mary Beard." He joked that “to keep my job I must become like the love child of Polly Toynbee and Brian May”.
In 2012, BBC Worldwide paid £8.4 million for Clarkson’s stake in a joint venture which had owned the commercial rights to Top Gear. Clarkson had received dividends - £4.86 million in 2012 - as a co-owner of the company, Bedder 6.
Under the terms of the new contract, Clarkson now receives a seven-figure fee from BBC Worldwide and the corporation owns the rights to the Top Gear format, name and intellectual property.
Harvey Rands, senior litigation partner at law firm Memery Crystal, said the two contracts could prove expensive for the BBC.
“As they own the format, they have absolute control and would be able to terminate Mr Clarkson’s role either lawfully or unlawfully,” Mr Rands said of the BBC Worldwide contract.
“If they have a ‘bringing the company into disrepute’ clause, they would be able to terminate lawfully – although we know from history the BBC usually pays out anyway.
“If there is no such clause and they decide to disassociate themselves from him, they would absolutely have to pay compensation.
“He is thumbing his nose at them to call their bluff.”
Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson jokes he will now "arrive at work on a bicycle with a copy of the Guardian" as it emerges the BBC could have to hand him two pay-offs
By Anita Singh
The BBC faces having to hand Jeremy Clarkson two separate pay-offs if he leaves over the Top Gear race row, it has emerged as the presenter continued to openly mock his employers.
The presenter is paid around £1 million a year to present the BBC Two motoring show.
But he also has a second seven-figure contract with BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the corporation which sells Top Gear abroad and generates income from live shows, DVDs and associated merchandise. The deal runs until September 2015.
According to employment lawyers, the corporation could have to pay Clarkson twice over if it was to force him out, at a time when pay-offs for departing BBC staff have been described as a national scandal.
The unusual contract arrangement could explain why the BBC has failed to take any action against the presenter for appearing to use the n-word while reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe during a Top Gear out-take.
There is also the matter of Clarkson’s popularity with viewers. Top Gear is watched in 214 countries and makes more revenue for the BBC than any other programme.
The BBC's only action, beyond a "reprimand" from the director of television, Danny Cohen, was to make Clarkson apologise publicly. But that ended in farce as the presenter then claimed he had never said the n-word so had nothing to apologise for.
He used a newspaper column yesterday to openly mock his employers.
“I think most people now realise that I really didn’t say the n-word. But as a result of the lurid headlines I realise I must turn over a new leaf,” he wrote in the Sunday Times.
“I’ve been told by BBC chiefs that I’m drinking at the last chance saloon so from now on I shall arrive at work on a bicycle with a copy of the Guardian under my arm, and at lunchtime instead of moaning about how everything on the menu is vegetarian, I shall cheerily ask for extra lentils in my nuclear-free peace soup.
“Also I must remember when I’m in a lift to not goose Mary Beard." He joked that “to keep my job I must become like the love child of Polly Toynbee and Brian May”.
In 2012, BBC Worldwide paid £8.4 million for Clarkson’s stake in a joint venture which had owned the commercial rights to Top Gear. Clarkson had received dividends - £4.86 million in 2012 - as a co-owner of the company, Bedder 6.
Under the terms of the new contract, Clarkson now receives a seven-figure fee from BBC Worldwide and the corporation owns the rights to the Top Gear format, name and intellectual property.
Harvey Rands, senior litigation partner at law firm Memery Crystal, said the two contracts could prove expensive for the BBC.
“As they own the format, they have absolute control and would be able to terminate Mr Clarkson’s role either lawfully or unlawfully,” Mr Rands said of the BBC Worldwide contract.
“If they have a ‘bringing the company into disrepute’ clause, they would be able to terminate lawfully – although we know from history the BBC usually pays out anyway.
“If there is no such clause and they decide to disassociate themselves from him, they would absolutely have to pay compensation.
“He is thumbing his nose at them to call their bluff.”