RE: Clarkson Comeback?

RE: Clarkson Comeback?

Monday 21st January 2002

Clarkson Comeback?

Could Jeremy Clarkson be the saviour of BBC's motoring programming?


Author
Discussion

JMorgan

Original Poster:

36,010 posts

285 months

Sunday 20th January 2002
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About time. As for the level of interest bit, isn't fishing one of the top sports that people take part in? Now there's a thought, Clarkson on worm dangling

broccoli

254 posts

268 months

Sunday 20th January 2002
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Thank the stars. Brit tv is lacking in any worthwhile car viewing.

PetrolTed

34,428 posts

304 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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Interesting issue this. We're all a bit fed up of the Antiques Roadshow team producing Top Gear but they can't just go back to the halycon days of Clarkson/Needell/Wilson as things have moved on since then.

It's easy to criticise these programmes (I'm as guilty a party as anyone!), but what would we actually like to see in a quality production from the BBC that would appeal to a wide audience (that's what the bean counters need to justify after all)?

broccoli

254 posts

268 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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Good question: For me the presenters make the program. The content is always going to be new cars, sports, classics and shopping - with the token motorbike thrown in.

Top Gear used to be good even though most of the cars on it never appealed, the presentation made up for it.

PetrolTed

34,428 posts

304 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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So who out there is there good enough to do that job or should they be looking for new talent?

Jason F

1,183 posts

285 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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I used to watch Top Gear for Clarkson to insult the cars, and Tiff to scream round the track in them..


CarZee

13,382 posts

268 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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quote:
About time. As for the level of interest bit, isn't fishing one of the top sports that people take part in? Now there's a thought, Clarkson on worm dangling
Anyone who channel hops on Sky Digital will tell you that fishing is more than well catered for.. I know because it's all I can find when I'm flicking thru to find motorsports...

JMorgan

Original Poster:

36,010 posts

285 months

Monday 21st January 2002
quotequote all
quote:

Interesting issue this. We're all a bit fed up of the Antiques Roadshow team producing Top Gear but they can't just go back to the halycon days of Clarkson/Needell/Wilson as things have moved on since then.

It's easy to criticise these programmes (I'm as guilty a party as anyone!), but what would we actually like to see in a quality production from the BBC that would appeal to a wide audience (that's what the bean counters need to justify after all)?



I want to see more un-pc motoring programs. What are around today must have an audience or they would have been pulled. How about engine designers for GT racing, then the car in action. Obscure rare fast beasties that none of us can afford. Weekly shoot outs with an XR2 and XR3 (not being funny) or a drag with a speed boat and a fast road car (some of them inshore ones are something like 0-60 in 2?). I could probably think of more as the day goes on but you get the drift. Anything other than how much you can get in the boot etc.
I do like Clarkson as a presenter though. His program where he hovered a fish tank or somethimg (real or not) brought a giggle.

DIGGA

40,349 posts

284 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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As you say Ted, things have moved on slightly since the Top Gear hey day.

Motoring is not a Crime! - I think that sentiment, and topics that are near & dear, not just to Petrolheads, but also all car drivers, should be given coverage.

However, if the Beeb want to churn out the same, PC, 'on message' crap, then I'd suggest they don't bother.

Marcus
& Ocean Haze Griff 500

kooperkidd

397 posts

277 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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Levi's must be praying it's a vicious rumour - seeing the effect he had on their sales last time.

atg

20,616 posts

273 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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I have a terrible fear that producers' enthusiasm for DIY progs like "changing rooms" and "ground farce" will encourage them to hire Carol Smilley to search the local rag for a knackered banger for "oonly fifty pooonds" before that perfumed bufoon called Llwellyn is let loose on it with an angle grinder and some MDF in pursuit of making it look gothic.

Pete Billsberry

2 posts

269 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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I think Top Gear has lost the plot.They've chopped and changed a winning plot from the good days of Messers Clarkson and Berry. Its seems that they are now trying to copy 'Driven',which I think has got its act together and produces a quaility show from bikes,motorsport to MPV's.

Well done the BeeB 4 taking your eye of the ball and sticking your head up your bottom, bit like everything the BBC has done with all aspects of sport on the "we think where better than everone else" BBC

PetrolTed

34,428 posts

304 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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At least with sport they could argue that they couldn't afford to compete with the satellite channels.

The programme had to change when it lost the top presenters. It should have changed more in its quest to find a more successgul format thoughm not just the window dressing job they've tried in the last few years.

I'm afraid I still don't share your enthusiasm for Drivel, it's equally unimaginative.

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

268 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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What's the best Clarkson quote you can remember? I seem to recall something like...

"You can hear the snap of knicker elastic from 50 yards"

JMorgan

Original Poster:

36,010 posts

285 months

Monday 21st January 2002
quotequote all
Is part of the problem getting a bit of an extreme program that praises cars past the censors or managment in BBC or other orgs? Not that Pres Blair has control of course

jamesc

2,820 posts

285 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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quote:

What's the best Clarkson quote you can remember? I seem to recall something like...

"You can hear the snap of knicker elastic from 50 yards"




I remember that programme, it was the Ford Probe!

Anyone admit to driving a Probe now!

PetrolTed

34,428 posts

304 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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Well they managed to show some cars going fast in recent series but I do suspect there's some nanny-state-attitude filtering into the BBC. Why would anyone want a car that can do more than 70mph...?

Bombjack

483 posts

268 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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Roadrunner - for me, the M5 review where he didn't say a word sticks in the memory

kevinday

11,641 posts

281 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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I liked the review of the Jag XJS where he kept going into a filling station to fill it up.

Regards, Kevin Day

atg

20,616 posts

273 months

Monday 21st January 2002
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not so much a "tour de force" as tour of the south coast stopping in Bournemouth.