Autoblog

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Jeremy Clarkson is a lot of things to a lot of people. He's unique and iconic. Entertaining and informative. But what he's not is inimitable. That's what British sketch comedy duo Harry and Paul discovered when they stumbled upon Clarkson Island. The magical isle off the southern coast of England (and not to be confused with the Isle of Man) is inhabited exclusively by clones of the celebrity automotive journalist, who all... talk the same. We won't ruin the rest of the four-minute skit for you, except to note that the roast has to have come from a place of love, especially for co-host Harry Enfield who was the first guest on Top Gear when the BBC re-launched the show in 2001. Thanks to everyone who sent in the tip; follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: YouTube]

A new business deal signed between the BBC on the one hand and Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson and producer Andy Wilman on the other could see the vast expansion of the Top Gear brand worldwide. The deal involves BBC Worldwide, the international commercial arm of the government-owned television network, taking a majority stake in Badder 6. The latter is a company set up by Clarkson and Wilman two years ago for reasons unknown, but will now act to channel all revenues from the Top Gear brand back to the BBC, Clarkson and Wilman.

The deal is seen as a necessity to keep Clarkson happy so he'll remain on the show amidst offers from competing networks and producers for the world's most famous automotive journalist. Badder 6, which now includes three top-level BBC Worldwide executives, will be responsible for managing the marketing of Top Gear around the world, including the magazine, the original British television program, the new program for the United States undertaken by NBC, an additional new series for Australia, and all related merchandising opportunities. Now reaping the rewards for his efforts, Clarkson will act in a direct capacity as the figurehead for the Top Gear brand around the world. Although the deal did not involve his co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May, the pair are reported to have secured more lucrative deals themselves in light of Clarkson's new arrangement.

[Source: The Guardian via Inside Line]

It should come as no surprise that Jeremy Clarkson is pulling down more cash than his Top Gear cohorts. Not only does Clarkson own a stake of the show's rights, he's more of a figurehead for the series than either James May or Richard Hammond. Clarkson has become nearly an adjective to describe any auto pundit expressing a strong opinion in a certain manner. While May and Hammond seem happy enough with their slightly-diminished status in the show hierarchy, rumors about flat-out contract rejections and threats of departure are flying behind the scenes.

James May's people state that they're not looking for parity with Clarkson's £2-million yearly earnings, but they are aiming for the best deal possible. Arlington Enterprises spokesperson, Annie Sweetbaum, has commented that nascent negotiations are progressing, and that the BBC's first offer is never the one accepted. Hamster's people dodged commenting, but we're sure his representation also aims for the fattest checks it can secure. Nobody has yet publicly threatened to take his ball and go home, but one imagines that it could come to that if no agreement can be reached. Shoot, we'd love to see what the BBC's offering; perhaps we can weasel our way into Top Gear as cheaper alternative hosts – not that we'd be any good, but with the dollar worth about three pence, getting paid in Pounds or Euros sounds pretty good to us. Thanks for the tips!

[Source: BBC]

Here's a news flash: Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame sometimes drives really fast. But it isn't a speeding ticket that has landed Mr. Clarkson in hot water, it's a recent admission during an interview at the Hay Festival in Powys, Wales that he drove the insanely fast Bugatti Veyron 186 mph on public roads. The overly honest answer to the question "what's the fastest you've ever driven" has public safety activists asking for Clarkson's curly locks on a platter. Mary Williams of Brake called the TV star "offensive and irresponsible," and said that the BBC should fire him.

While we're big fans of Clarkson, driving 186 on public roads is incredibly dangerous both to himself and for others on the road. And doesn't Clarkson have an airport runway for going as fast as he wants whenever he wants? Having said that, he obviously didn't get caught doing anything wrong, and hasn't had a speeding ticket in 20 years, so calls for his job are more or less annoying and wishful thinking.

[Source: Mailonsunday]

Some say his political views are frightening. Others say he's got a growing group of supporters. All we know is...he's called Jeremy Clarkson.

Back in August we brought you a report that the celebrity host of BBC television's hit program Top Gear had a petition started in his name to promote his popular candidacy for British Prime Minister. Not that he's in any way declared his intension to run for public office, but the petition that was at 15,000 signatures at the end of the summer has now nearly doubled.

In light of the mounting public support, British tabloid the Daily Mail has put together a mock platform for Jezza, the world's most famous automotive journalist, should he decide to run. Some of the platform's highlights call for promoting global warming by incentivizing gas-guzzling automobiles, while banning diesels and hybrids; shutting down the public health & safety department; arming constables in order to intimidate youth; abolishing speed cameras; promoting the glory of the British Empire; withdrawing from the EU and ending relations with the US; and reinstituting medieval punishment methods and public executions.

We say shoot for the moon and land among the stars: Clarkson for Transportation Minister.

[Source: Daily Mail]

For all of his popularity and sceptered isle wit, it's probable that Jeremy Clarkson hasn't kept anyone from buying a car they really wanted. Which is a good thing for MINI and those folks looking at a Clubman, because Jezza has this to say about it: "About as desirable as a packet of dung or a can of worms."

Most of his issues with the car are sensible: the third door is on the wrong side for the Brits, no rear visibility due to the split rear doors, massive torque steer, tramlining, and a (still) tiny boot. His other problem with the car doesn't really strike us as a problem: according to Clarkson, the car's natural cruising speed is 110-MPH. Um... that's what cruise control is for... or paying attention to the flow of traffic... because it's not like you could need a larger speedo to keep better track of your progress.

As always, it's an entertaining read, if full of digressions. But as we said, we don't think it will keep even one MINI Clubman from finding a good, private home. For all of its perceived and/or actual shortcomings, MINI is practically the entire reason that the noun "lifestyle" became an adjective, and lifestyle purchases operate on principles that have nothing to do with torque steer and boot volume.

[Source: London Times]

In addition to hosting the world's most popular car show, authoring a library of books and writing regular columns for a variety of magazines and newspapers, celebrity automotive journalist Jeremy Clarkson has turned out a tall stack of DVD specials.

The video after the jump is a trailer of his latest video, called Supercar Showdown. In the new special, scheduled for a November 5 release, Clarkson takes to the road and the track in some of the most mouth-watering and earth-shattering supercars, including the Ferrari 430 Spider and 599 GTB Fiorano, Lamborghini Gallardo and Murcielago Roadsters, Bugatti Veyron, Audi R8, Porsche 911 GT3, Radical SR3, Aston Martin V8 Roadster and Ascari A10. Sabine Schmitz and The Stig also feature in a head-to-head in what looks to be a jaw-dropping orgy of Octane.

Click through to catch a sneak preview.

Kudos to Mike for the tip.

[Source: YouTube]

The BBC was reportedly evaluating producing an American version of its hit show Top Gear with the existing British cast. The show's star lead host Jeremy Clarkson, however, apparently having seen enough of the U.S. after filming the show's road trip through the South, has nixed the idea.

The proposal would have involved Clarkson, together with his co-stars Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig, flying stateside for four months to embark upon a hectic filming schedule, a prospect which didn't tantalize Clarkson, to say the least. On top of other concerns, Jezza reportedly wouldn't want to leave his family behind for such a long period of time.

For their part, the BBC hasn't given up, and will undoubtedly look at other possibilities, with or without Clarkson. Stay tuned.

Thanks for the tip, Derek!

[Source: The Sun via PistonHeads]

It is well known that the inimitable Jeremy Clarkson has a way with words. Especially when they're uncomplimentary. In fact, as a measure of how much his wit can hurt, when Clarkson actually does give a compliment, a carmaker might simply be happier about not getting roasted than about getting a good review.

The London Times has posted a dozen delicious lines from various Clarkson reviews for those who need a gleeful laugh to round out their Saturday. You don't even need to be told who wrote them, because who couldn't identify the scribe in question from the scent of just this one line: "If you were to buy a 6-series, I recommend you select reverse when leaving friends' houses so they don't see its backside." (BMW 645 Ci, #11).

One of the great things about Clarkson is that he doesn't spare any carmaker his thoughts on everything. The Ferrari 599 (#12) and Maserati Quattroporte (#1) take their lumps alongside Kia (#3) and Perodua (#5). One of our favorites: "I'm choosing the words for my conclusion with even more care than usual. So here goes. The 1-series is crap." (#2) As always with Clarkson, it's well worth more than just one read.

Thanks for the tip, Tom!

[Source: London Times]

England's Education Secretary Alan Johnson has published a list of tomes intended to catch the interest of teenage boys. Monies have been set aside so that schools can take their pick of 20 titles from the 160 book list, and house those selections in their libraries. Absent from the register are works considered classic, such as Dickens, Shakespeare, or others from literary history. High on the new list is "I Know You Got Soul" by Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson. Clarkson's book, rather than being total fluff, celebrates elegant engineering and design work covering everything from Ferraris to the Hoover Dam. Clarkson delves into the history behind some of his favorite machines, and we would have gladly traded the Car Craft hiding in the leaves of our literature textbooks for Clarkson's work. As such, we fail to see how presenting history and engineering in an engaging manner is going to harm students.

[Source: Daily Mail]