The Importance of Jeremy Clarkson at Top Gear

The question that we have all been asking this week is whether or not Jeremy Clarkson is as important to Top Gear as we all think. Is he really the only option that the BBC has? Does he really make the show the massive success that it is? And more importantly, is he untouchable???

There’s no doubting his popularity and the monster 850,000 petition that was signed to bring him back is testament to that, but is he really the only choice? Whomever replaces Clarkson (assuming that there will be a replacement) will need to be everything that he represents, the passion, his enthusiasm for cars, and an undying love of the motor industry, but without the Clarksonisums. Not an easy task.

That person will need to be able to keep the current viewers and inspire new viewers without turning the show into 5th Gear, or worse the USA version. SO who is that person? Piers Morgan? Chris Evens? Damon Hill? Jodi Kid? Does it mean that James May and Richard Hammond will need to go too? So many questions still open and no answers.

Personally I am a Jeremy Clarkson fan and think that there have been times in the past when certain comments or issues have been blown out of proportion, such as the Argie issue. But the latest spat is a tad more serious and one that we the fans can’t really approve of. Clarkson needs to be accountable for his actions and as such isn't untouchable. If what the papers are saying really happened, then he needs to go.

There are times when watching Top Gear that I think “what the hell is going on”, but other times it’s a show that makes you want to watch and re-watch. The star in a reasonably priced car is genius, the Stig a legend and their road trips brilliant,

Most of the time the passion and enthusiasm from Clarkson is just brilliant to watch. The episode where he drives the V12 Aston Martin Vantage is just a wonderful piece of journalism that epitomises everything I love about the show. BUT....I can’t help feel that if there was more of that and less of the Orangutang side to the show then the haters would be a lot less and the BBC less inclined to get rid of one of their most recognisable figures. And on that Bomb shell…..