London, England – Noel Edmonds spoke out in defence of Jeremy Clarkson on Monday, claiming that BBC managers were simply not competent enough to handle such a major talent.
Clarkson has been suspended over a fracas with one of his producers and will find out this week whether the BBC has decided to sack him.
Edmonds, a former presenter of Top Gear, blasted director-general Tony Hall and head of television Danny Cohen as unfit to work with important figures in television and radio. He intervened as it emerged that Clarkson reported himself to BBC bosses for his “dust up” over a steak.
The corporation has pulled together a panel of senior executives to question him about the clash with producer Oisin Tymon at the Simonstone Hall Hotel in North Yorkshire on last Wednesday. The Top Gear host is said to have attacked Tymon, after he was offered a platter of cold meats to eat after a long day of filming, instead of a steak.
Head of BBC Scotland, Ken MacQuarrie, will lead Tuesday’s investigation, which will take place in a hotel in London. He has experience of dealing with controversial issues at the BBC, handling the review into Newnight’s botched expose of Lord McAlpine, the Conservative peer falsely accused of child abuse.
MacQuarrie will quiz Clarkson and Tymon separately, as well other members of the Top Gear team. A source confirmed that staff at Simonstone Hall would be contacted to hear their version of events. After the inquisition is complete, executives including Lord Tony Hall, director general, will decide whether to discipline or sack Clarkson. He approached BBC bosses himself a few days after the clash, after it became clear that the incident was not going to go away.
Top Gear’s 30-strong production team is understood to have become increasingly concerned about the kind of behaviour that goes on when the programme is being made.
Last year, the BBC ordered a review into whether racist language was being used behind the scenes.
'OUT OF TOUCH'
In one incident, Clarkson was filmed allegedly using the N-word. In another, he was forced to apologise for apparently using the racist term “slope”. The report was turned in to Cohen but was never published. Nor was there any real punishment.
This time around, however, BBC bosses are said to be eager to take action as swiftly as possible and many are said to be keen to see the back of Clarkson.
Edmonds said the Clarkson crisis was the latest in a string of embarrassing incidents for the BBC and laid the blame squarely at the feet of Cohen and Lord Hall.
Edmonds, who worked at the BBC for 30 years and hosted Top Gear during the 1980s, also branded the corporation’s chiefs as “out of touch” and “out of control”.
“What are their qualifications?” he asked. “I don’t understand what their qualifications are to handle somebody like Jeremy Clarkson and even understand the appeal of Top Gear. What on their CVs means they can understand how to handle truly talented broadcasters?”
Edmonds said that as a former BBC and Top Gear employee he felt compelled to give his views on “the massive insult” the BBC had dealt to viewers and the “blatant absence of competent talent management” at the corporation.
He said the decision not to broadcast the final three episodes of the motoring show’s current series was a betrayal of fans.
“Somebody of Clarkson’s status is a brand,” he added, “and he should have had full support from skilled and experienced brand managers.”
The BBC declined to comment on Edmonds’ claims.
Daily Mail