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Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English
broadcaster, and writer who specialises in motoring. He writes weekly columns
for The Sunday Times and The Sun, but is better known for his role
on the BBC TV show Top Gear. The show won an International Emmy in 2005.
He and James May were the first people to reach the magnetic North Pole in a
car, which was aired in a Top Gear special on the 25 July 2007 on BBC
Two.[1]
"Not a man given to considered opinion", according to the BBC,[2] Clarkson is known to be opinionated and forthright in his views. In the Daily Mirror of 9 June 2000 he was described by Tony Parsons as a "dazzling hero of political incorrectness".[3] The Economist, on the subject of road pricing in UK, has also described him as a "skilful propagandist for the motoring lobby".[4] BiographyBorn in Doncaster to teacher Shirley Ward and travelling salesman Eddie Clarkson,[5] his parents set up a business selling teddy bears to enable Jeremy to be educated at Repton, a fee-paying public school which he claims to have been expelled from.[6] His first job was as a travelling salesman for his parents' business selling Paddington Bear toys, after which he trained as a journalist with the Rotherham Advertiser.[7]
( takes a while to start )For an episode, broadcast in November 2004, of the first series of BBC's Who Do You Think You Are?, Clarkson was invited to investigate his family history; including the story of his great-great-great grandfather John Kilner (1792–1857), who invented the Kilner jar; a receptacle for preserved fruit.[8][9]
Clarkson married his agent/manager,[5] Frances Cain in May 1993 in Fulham. The couple currently live in the town of Chipping Norton, situated in the Cotswolds, with their three children (born August 1994, March 1996, and November 1998). Clarkson formerly had a flat as a base in London for working, but after selling this the couple bought a lighthouse as a second home on Frances' family home of the Isle of Man.[10] Known for buying him car related gifts, for Christmas 2007 Frances bought Jeremy a Grosser Mercedes.[11] In spite of his penchant for fast driving and high performance cars, Clarkson has been reported as having a clean licence.[12] Nonetheless, he readily discusses high speed driving on public roads; in a November 2005 article in The Sunday Times, Clarkson wrote, while discussing the Bugatti Veyron, "On a recent drive across Europe I desperately wanted to reach the top speed but I ran out of road when the needle hit 240mph", and later, in the same article, "From the wheel of a Veyron, France is the size of a small coconut. I cannot tell you how fast I crossed it the other day. Because you simply wouldn’t believe me".[13] Television careerCarsClarkson is most associated with the British motoring programme Top Gear, which he presented from 27 October 1988 to 3 February 2000,[14] in the programme's original format, and then again from 20 October 2002, when it was relaunched in a new format after a brief period off the air. His current co-presenters are James May and Richard Hammond. It is now the most-watched TV show on BBC Two,[15]and is also shown in over 100 countries around the world.[16] It won an International Emmy in 2005, for the best non-scripted entertainment show that was not broadcast in the United States. Clarkson said: "I didn't attend the awards ceremony because I didn't know that we had won, and I only found out after a 4am text message, whilst I was busy writing the script for the next show....". It then also received a National Television Award for best Factual Programme in 2006 and 2007, defeating the likes of Planet Earth and Bad Lad's Army.[17] Clarkson has periodically released motoring-based videos, such as "Clarkson - Unleashed on Cars".[18] Over the years, his videos have shown him driving many exotic cars, including a Ford GT40 which had been specially adapted to accommodate taller drivers; Clarkson is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m). He is also known for destroying his most hated cars in various ways, including catapulting a Nissan Sunny using a trebuchet, and dropping a Porsche 911 onto a caravan (after plunging a piano onto the bonnet and dousing it in hydrochloric acid, amongst other things). He has also presented other motoring-related series such as Star Cars, Jeremy Clarkson's Motorworld, and Jeremy Clarkson's Car Years.[19] Cars destroyed: Porsche 911, Perodua Kelisa, Yugo 45, Hyundai Accent, Lada Riva, Maserati Biturbo, Chevrolet Corvette, Alfa Romeo Arna, Morris Marina, Austin Allegro, Austin Montego, Nissan Sunny, Toyota Prius, Citroën 2CV, Austin Metro, Ford Scorpio, Triumph TR7, FSO Polonez, Toyota Carina.
Beyond carsAlthough closely associated with motoring, Clarkson has appeared on and hosted a number of shows on other topics. For three years he had his own chat show, Clarkson, on which he offended the Welsh by placing a 3D plastic map of Wales into a microwave oven and switching it on. He later defended this by saying "I put Wales in there because Scotland wouldn't fit". Similarly, he once removed the USA from a map and renamed the resultant space the 'South Canada Sea'.[20] Clarkson also hosted a six part series, Jeremy Clarkson Meets the Neighbours, in which he took a Jaguar E-type around Europe visiting France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. The programme explored the stereotypes of each of the countries to see whether or not they were true.[21] After the dismissal of Angus Deayton, Clarkson was one of a number of guest hosts recruited to present the topical panel show, Have I Got News for You. He was the first such host never to have previously been a guest of the programme, and one of only two people to appear as a panellist after hosting the show. As of 13 April 2007, he has presented the show five times and been a guest once. Clarkson has also appeared as a guest on the BBC series QI 6 times, 'winning' three times. He also presented an episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks, notable for the absence of long time host Mark Lamarr, featuring guests Jim Jeffries, Trisha Goddard, Rick Wakeman, and Anthony Costa, in April 2006. Clarkson has presented a number of shows focused on history. For example, he presented a programme looking at Victoria Cross recipients, in particular focusing on his father-in-law Robert Henry Cain who received a VC for actions during Operation Market Garden at Arnhem in World War II.[22] In 2007 he presented a programme about the St. Nazaire Raid (also called Operation Chariot), which took place in World War II. A subsequent programme showed how the graphics were created, the highlight being the construction and blowing up of a scale model of the HMS Campbeltown the ship that was used in the raid.[23] In addition to television, Clarkson also had a small role in the UK release of the 2006 Disney Pixar movie Cars as the voice of Harv, Lightning McQueen's agent. Harv is played by Jeremy Piven in the North American release.[24] A petition calling for Jeremy Clarkson to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has been set up on the government website, and has currently received over 40,500 signatures.[25] In response to this, another petition has been set up calling for this never to happen.[26] Engineering interestsClarkson is passionate about engineering, especially pioneering work, as his television programmes about Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Colossus computer have shown. Clarkson was awarded an honorary degree from Brunel University on 12 September 2003, partly because of his work in popularising engineering, and partly because of his advocacy of Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the 100 Greatest Britons programme.[27] In April 2004 he appeared on the talk show Parkinson and mentioned that he was writing a book about the soul he believes many machines have. The book, titled I Know You Got Soul was published in October 2004. He cited Air France Flight 4590 as his primary example: when people heard the plane had crashed, quite aside from the sadness they felt for the loss of human life, there was also almost a sadness for the machine. Clarkson was one of the passengers on the last BA Concorde flight on 24 October 2003. He paraphrased Neil Armstrong to describe the retiring of the Concorde: "This is one small step for a man, but one huge leap backwards for mankind".[28] Clarkson owns various cars including a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, a Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG, a Volvo XC90, a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Ford Focus, and an ex-military Land Rover Defender, and used to own a Ford Escort RS Cosworth and a Ford GT. His experiences with his Ford GT are well documented, having had many issues with the satellite tracker/alarm system - he reported that it would tell him the car had been stolen even when he was driving it, among other problems, including the rev limit inexplicably being reset to 600 rpm. As a result of what he called "the most miserable month's motoring possible", he returned it to Ford for a full refund. After a short period, including asking Top Gear fans for advice over the Internet, he bought back his GT. He has called it "the most unreliable car ever made", due to his never being able to complete a return journey using it.[29] In the October 2006 edition of Top Gear Magazine James May stated that Clarkson was looking to purchase a Gallardo Spyder. Clarkson announced at MPH'06 that he had ordered the Gallardo Spyder, with orange seats, and that he sold the Ford GT to make way for it. He has owned many exotic or high performance cars, including a Mercedes SL55 AMG, and a Ferrari F355. He also previously owned two VW Sciroccos and an XJR Jaguar, and bought a BMW Z1 for his wife.[30][31] He has also owned a 1970s Alfa GTV6, and has a passion for the marque, declaring famously on Top Gear, "You cannot be a true petrol-head until you've owned an Alfa". In his book I Know You Got Soul the Alfa 166 was one of only three cars classified as having that "special something". Clarkson quotably called the Brera, Alfa's latest sports car, "Cameron Diaz on wheels".[32] His known passion for single- or two-passenger high-velocity transport led to his brief acquisition of an English Electric Lightning F.1A jet fighter, which was installed in the front garden of his country home. The Lightning was subsequently removed on the orders of the local council, which "wouldn't believe my claim that it was a leaf blower", according to Clarkson on a Tiscali Motoring webchat. In fact, the whole affair was a setup for the programme Speed, and English Electric Lightning XM172 is now back serving as gate guardian at Wycombe Air Park (formerly RAF Booker), High Wycombe.[33] After winning the challenge between a Bugatti Veyron and a Cessna private aeroplane, he pondered and announced that "It's quite a hollow victory really, because I've got to go for the rest of my life knowing that I'll never own that car. I'll never experience that power again."[34] Charitable WorkHelp for HeroesAt the end of 2007 Clarkson became a patron of Help for Heroes,[35] a charity aiming to raise money to provide better facilities to wounded British servicemen. His effort led to the 2007 Sunday Times Christmas appeal supporting Help for Heroes.[36] Views on CarsPorscheClarkson has always hated Porsche 911 supercars due to simple basic design, and felt the rear-engined flat six is useless and stupid. Clarkson also thinks it is necessary to have seats in the back. He called these 911 models a "Volkswagen Beetle", due to design and rear engine base. He always raced with other types of supercars with co-presenter, Richard Hammond, who drives a Porsche 911. Alfa RomeoClarkson has owned several Alfa Romeos, and contends that 'you cannot be a true petrol head until you've owned one...it's like having really great sex that leaves you with an embarrassing itch'. HoldenClarkson does enjoy late-model V-8 Holdens, available in the UK rebadged as Vauxhalls, which does cause some problems given his views of other Opel/vauxhall cars (see below). Of the Monaro VXR he said, "It's like they had a picture of me on their desk and said (Australian accent) 'I'm gonna make that bloke a car'" and "I can't believe it... I've fallen in love... with a Vauxhall!". He later commented that the Vauxhall Monaro VXR should have window wipers on the side windows, as you spend most of your time sideways when driving in the car.[37]Clarkson suffered two slipped discs that he attributes to driving this car.[38] MG RoverOne of Clarkson's most infamous dislikes was of the British car brand Rover. Rover cars were manufactured at Austin Motor Company's Longbridge plant. After BMW pulled out of Longbridge, Rover was bought by the Phoenix Consortium and the English MG and Rover brands merged becoming the last major British owned and built car manufacturer. Clarkson did reserve some sympathy for the Rover workers left jobless, saying in his Sunday Times column, "I cannot even get teary and emotional about the demise of the company itself — though I do feel sorry for the workforce."[39] VauxhallClarkson is well known for his criticism of Vauxhall Motors.[40][41] Clarkson has described Vauxhall's parent company General Motors as a "pensions and healthcare" company which sees the "car making side of the business as an expensive loss-making nuisance".[41] Clarkson has expressed his disdain of the Vauxhall Vectra, including making what The Independent described as a "characteristically clever" film for Top Gear when the Vectra was launched, which it judged may have damaged its sales though he did name the Vectra as his car of the 20th century due to its bringing of mobility to the masses.[42] Vauxhall complained to the BBC and announced "we can take criticism but this piece was totally unbalanced".[43] He has described it as "One of my least favourite cars in the world. I've always hated it because I've always felt it was designed in a coffee break by people who couldn't care less about cars" and "one of the worst chassis I've ever come across".[44] However, he has expressed his approval of several recent Vauxhall models; he has been complimentary about the Astra VXR, Astra SRi and the Corsa VXR . Although highlighting that he thinks the VXR torque steers "like an absolute pig" and has poor handling in general,[45] he has also expressed admiration for its looks, speed and price.[46] Regarding the SRi he said, "when a car looks this good it can't be bad".[41] Perodua KelisaIn April 2007 he was criticized in the Malaysian parliament for having described one of their cars, the Perodua Kelisa as the worst in the world, built in jungles by people who wear leaves for shoes. A Malaysian government minister refuted the claim, pointing out that no complaints had been received from UK customers who had bought the car.[47] The offending remark was shown on one of his video productions, Jeremy Clarkson: Heaven and Hell (2005),[48] in which he purchases a brand new Kelisa, proceeds to attack it with a sledgehammer as soon as he purchases it from a local dealership, tears it apart with a heavy weight while it is hanged and finally blows it up. He described the Kelisa as "Built with no soul, no flair and no passion; like a washing machine or fridge" and "A piece of un-imaginative junk". ControversyClarkson is well known for his posturing and deadpan delivery. This frequently includes fairly abrasive and deliberately provocative remarks that have repeatedly been a source of controversy. However, Clarkson has been known to appear to take resultant criticism with humour, e.g. responding to being pied with "Great shot!"[49] He was forced to eat humble pie, when in attempt to prove the UK government's loss of banking details of around 25 million people was a fuss about nothing, he published his own bank details and address in The Sun newspaper. Rather than proving that no risk was taken by him, he eventually conceded he was wrong when he discovered that someone had set a monthly direct debit for 500 pounds from Clarkson's account to a diabetes charity.[50] Anti-American remarksThroughout Top Gear, Clarkson has made anti-American remarks, often stereotyping Americans as fat and dull-witted. For example, in September 2005 Clarkson wrote an editorial for The Sun: "Most Americans barely have the brains to walk on their back legs".[51] He has also said on Top Gear when comparing a rural British village with a rural American village that "If this were America, it would be full of people doing… whatever it is they do. Incest, mostly".[52] During the 'American Roadtrip' episode of Top Gear, he says, "If you're thinking of coming to America this is what it's like. You've got your Comfort Inn, you've got your Best Western, you've got your Red Lobster where you eat. Everybody's very fat, everybody's very stupid and everybody's very rude. It's not the holiday program, it's the truth!"[53] Later, when being chased by a gang of rednecks, he says "I honestly believe that in certain parts of America now, people have started to mate with vegetables."[54] Allegations of bigotryIn October 1998 Hyundai Motor Company complained to the BBC about what they described as "bigoted and racist" comments he made at the Birmingham Motor Show, where he was reported as saying that the people working on the Hyundai stand had "eaten a dog" and that the designer of the Hyundai XG had probably eaten a spaniel for his lunch. Clarkson also allegedly referred to those working on the BMW stand as "Nazis".[55] Allegations of homophobiaIn July 2006 Clarkson attracted complaints after agreeing with a Top Gear audience member that a featured car, the Daihatsu Copen was a bit "gay" or "ginger beer" (rhyming slang for "queer"). The complainants felt that the presenter was using the word pejoratively. In December 2006 the BBC ruled that his remarks had the potential to offend and should not have been broadcast.[56] However, when presenting a programme about the Colossus computer Clarkson expressed disdain about Alan Turing being driven to suicide after being convicted of committing homosexual acts.[57] CelebritiesFrom 2000 to 2006 Clarkson had a public feud with Piers Morgan which began when Morgan published pictures of Clarkson kissing his BBC producer, Elaine Bedel.[58] On the final Concorde flight Clarkson threw a glass of water over Morgan during an argument.[58] In March 2004 at the British Press Awards, he swore at Morgan and punched him. Morgan says it has left him with a scar above his left eyebrow.[59] Clarkson has spoken about this in a television interview.[60] In 2006 Morgan revealed that the feud was over, saying "There should always be a moment when you finally down cudgels, kiss and make up."[58] Clarkson has expressed affection for stage actress Kristin Scott Thomas whom he frequently mentions on Top Gear. Scott Thomas appeared on the programme in 2007. During that episode Scott Thomas ridiculed the car that Clarkson arrived in, and also disagreed with the rankings of various vehicles on the Cool Wall. Top GearIn February 2004 while filming Top Gear, Clarkson rammed a 30-year-old horse chestnut tree with a Toyota Hilux pickup truck to demonstrate how rugged the vehicle was. This led to the BBC having to compensate the local parish council who, until they saw the Top Gear broadcast, thought that the damage had been caused by local vandals.[61] German GovernmentDuring the 13 November 2005 Top Gear episode, a news segment featuring BMW's Mini Concept from the Tokyo Motor Show showcased what fellow-presenter Richard Hammond quoted as a "quintessentially British" integrated tea set. Clarkson responded by mocking that they should build a car that is "quintessentially German." He suggested indicators that displayed Hitler salutes, "a sat-nav that only goes to Poland" in reference to the Nazi invasion of Poland that marked the start of World War II in Europe, and "ein fanbelt that will last a thousand years," a reference to Adolf Hitler's propaganda slogan of "the thousand-year Reich". These statements drew negative attention in the British news media and from the German Government.[63] EnvironmentIn 2005, the School of Technology at Oxford Brookes University and Brunel University awarded him an honorary engineering doctorate, leading to an assault from green protesters who objected to his statements about the environment and his advocacy of car use. He has said: "I do have a disregard for the environment. I think the world can look after itself and we should enjoy it as best as we can". After the ceremony, he was hit in the face with a banana-meringue pie by Rebecca Lush of Road Block.[64] Clarkson took the insult with humour, commented that the pie had too much sugar, and remarked, "Great shot!"[65] In an editorial he wrote for Top Gear in November 2005, he referred to Lush as "Banana Girl."[66] FashionClarkson is one of a few celebrities who have been blamed for poor denim sales. Louise Foster of Draper's Record, trade magazine to the fashion industry, is quoted as saying, "For a period in the late Nineties denim became unfashionable. 501s — Levi's flagship brand — in particular suffered from the so-called 'Jeremy Clarkson effect', the association with men in middle youth."[67] He also received a fashion makeover from fashion gurus Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine on a celebrity edition of their style series What Not to Wear.[68] He had previously been named as one of the world's worst-dressed celebrities by the two fashionistas.[69] After Clarkson appeared on the show, he stated "I'd rather eat my own hair than shop with these two [Woodall and Constantine] again".[70] SmokingClarkson had long been noted for his pro-smoking viewpoint, with him even publicly smoking as much as possible on National No Smoking Day. However, he announced on 14 April 2006 that he had given up smoking. He cited that he had found a cure for the urge - the Koenigsegg CCX. He also said: "(the cure) is called smoking", in reference to "smoking the tyres". However, on the episode aired on 7 October 2007 he revealed that he had started smoking again. He was also censured by the BBC and other critics for smoking WorksOther motoring shows
Non-motoring shows presented by Clarkson
Featured
Videos/DVDsEvery year since 1995, Clarkson has released a video or DVD, produced by On The Box, covering a specific motoring theme. With the exception of Shoot-out, it has been a tradition for him to destroy "some kind of awful car" in each film, from blowing up a Yugo with a tank to shooting a Chevrolet Corvette with a helicopter gunship, or dismantling a Buick Park Avenue with a bulldozer.
LiteratureClarkson has written books about cars and humor books as well. The majority of the content comes from articles he's written for the Sunday Times.
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