Jeremy Clarkson has been sacked from Top Gear after the BBC inquiry heard that he had assaulted producer Oisin Tymon earlier this month.
Director general Lord Tony Hall said "a line had been crossed" in a lengthy statement.
He
said: "It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today
that the BBC will not be renewing his contract. It is not a decision I
have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful
consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and
Oisin Tymon.
"I am grateful to Ken MacQuarrie for the thorough
way he has conducted an investigation of the incident on 4 March. Given
the obvious and very genuine public interest in this I am publishing the
findings of his report.
Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror
"I take no pleasure in doing so. I am only making them public so
people can better understand the background. I know how popular the
programme is and I also know that this decision will divide opinion. The
main facts are not disputed by those involved."
His decision to
axe the controversial host from the BBC2 series because of the serious
nature of his “fracas” with Oisin, in which he is said to have called
him a “lazy, Irish c***” and punched him. The incident happened when
Clarkson, 54, was already on a “final warning” after a string of earlier
controversies.
Daily Mirror
The BBC probe heard that the star erupted in fury after discovering
that he no longer had a hot meal available to him when he arrived at a
hotel in Yorkshire two hours late. He and the other presenters, Richard
Hammond and James May, had delayed their helicopter in order to stay in
the pub near to the Top Gear track in Surrey.
May and Hammond are expected to remain on the programme with a new host to be appointed in due course.
Many fans of the show have threatened to boycott it if Clarkson left – while others insist they would stop watching if he stays.
How much money did Clarkson make the BBC? Watch our counter in real-time
FULL REPORT BELOW:
Investigation findings – Ken MacQuarrie
On9 March 2015, Jeremy Clarkson reported to BBC management that he had
been involved in a physical and verbal incident with Oisin Tymon, the
producer of Top Gear, at the Simonstone Hall Hotel, North Yorkshire,
whilst working on location. The incident had occurred on 4 March 2015
and Jeremy Clarkson was suspended on 10 March, pending investigation.
I
was asked to undertake an investigation to establish the facts of what
occurred. In conducting my investigation, in line with the BBC’s usual
practice, I interviewed a number of witnesses and others connected with
the incident. Accounts were agreed, based on my interviews, with each
participant.
Having conducted these interviews and considered the
evidence presented, I conclude the following: on 4 March 2015 Oisin
Tymon was subject to an unprovoked physical and verbal attack by Jeremy
Clarkson. During the physical attack Oisin Tymon was struck, resulting
in swelling and bleeding to his lip. The verbal abuse was sustained over
a longer period, both at the time of the physical attack and
subsequently.
Specific facts I have found as part of my investigation are as follows:
- Earlier
on 4 March, studio recording of Top Gear had taken place in Surrey and
the presenters had travelled that same evening to the location shoot in
North Yorkshire; - the incident occurred on a patio area of the Simonstone Hall Hotel, where Oisin Tymon was working on location for Top Gear;
- the physical attack lasted around 30 seconds and was halted by the intervention of a witness;
- it is the case that Oisin Tymon offered no retaliation;
- the
verbal abuse was directed at Oisin Tymon on more than one occasion –
both during the attack and subsequently inside the hotel – and contained
the strongest expletives and threats to sack him. The abuse was at such
volume as to be heard in the dining room, and the shouting was audible
in a hotel bedroom; - derogatory and abusive
language, relating to Oisin Tymon and other members of the Top Gear
team, continued to be used by Jeremy Clarkson inside the hotel, in the
presence of others, for a sustained period of time; - it is clear that Oisin Tymon was shocked and distressed by the incident, and believed that he had lost his job;
- following the attack, I understand that Oisin Tymon drove to a nearby A&E department for examination;
- over
the subsequent days, Jeremy Clarkson made a number of attempts to
apologise to Oisin Tymon by way of text, email and in person; and - it is the case that Jeremy Clarkson reported the incident to BBC management.
was not disputed by Jeremy Clarkson or any witness that Oisin Tymon was
the victim of an unprovoked physical and verbal attack. It is also
clear to me that Oisin Tymon is an important creative member of the Top
Gear team who is well-valued and respected. He has suffered significant
personal distress as a result of this incident, through no fault of his
own.
VIEW GALLERY
Jeremy Clarkson's timeline of shame
October 1998
At the Birmingham motor show In October 1998, Hyundai complained to the BBC over "bigoted and racist" comments.
He was reported as saying that the designer of the Hyundai XG had probably eaten a spaniel for lunch.
He was reported as saying that the designer of the Hyundai XG had probably eaten a spaniel for lunch.
February 2009
During a press conference in Australia in February 2009, Clarkson branded then Prime Minister Gordon Brown a “one-eyed Scottish idiot".
He later apologised for the "one-eyed" part of his comment but not the "Scottish idiot" aspect.
He later apologised for the "one-eyed" part of his comment but not the "Scottish idiot" aspect.
October 2009
The presenter caused outrage by ridiculing TV bosses for being obsessed with having “black Muslim lesbians” on shows to balance out the number of white heterosexual men.
July 2010
Clarkson got himself into trouble by making a joke about a woman
in a burka wearing a red g-string while discussing dangerous driving
conditions on the show.
The joke even upset the often-controversial Lily Allen, who tweeted that the joke was “distasteful”.
in a burka wearing a red g-string while discussing dangerous driving
conditions on the show.
The joke even upset the often-controversial Lily Allen, who tweeted that the joke was “distasteful”.
July 2010
In the same month, Alastair Campbell revealed on his blog that,
in unaired comments, Clarkson had rebuffed claims that he wasn’t very
sound on gay rights by replying “Oh yes I am. I demand the right not to be bummed.”
in unaired comments, Clarkson had rebuffed claims that he wasn’t very
sound on gay rights by replying “Oh yes I am. I demand the right not to be bummed.”
August 2010
Clarkson once again slipped up by making a jibe about people with disabilities.
The
presenter was comparing two Ferrari’s and described the older one as a
‘simpleton’ that should be called the ‘430 Speciale needs’ instead of
it’s real name ‘430 Speciale’, which prompted a backlash from the
National Autistic Society.
The
presenter was comparing two Ferrari’s and described the older one as a
‘simpleton’ that should be called the ‘430 Speciale needs’ instead of
it’s real name ‘430 Speciale’, which prompted a backlash from the
National Autistic Society.
August 2011
Clarkson and May were both filmed parking in disabled bay during the programme.
But Top Gear apologised on their behalf saying it was the producer's fault and not the presenters' decision.
But Top Gear apologised on their behalf saying it was the producer's fault and not the presenters' decision.
November 2011
Clarkson said striking public sector workers should be shot while appearing on BBC's The One Show.
He told the shocked presenters: "I’d have them all shot. I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families.
“I
mean how dare they go on strike when they’ve got these gilt-edged
pensions that are going to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to
work for a living.”
He told the shocked presenters: "I’d have them all shot. I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families.
“I
mean how dare they go on strike when they’ve got these gilt-edged
pensions that are going to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to
work for a living.”
December 2011
Clarkson caused outrage when he described people who throw themselves under trains as "selfish" in his column in the Sun.
The presenter argued that following a death, trains should carry on their journeys as soon as possible.
The presenter argued that following a death, trains should carry on their journeys as soon as possible.
March 2014
Jeremy Clarkson accused of racism after "slope" 'slur' during a special episode of Top Gear filmed in Burma.
The trio were tasked with building a bridge over the river Kwai in Thailand.
"That is a proud moment - but there's a slope on it," said Clarkson, as a figure walked toward them on the bridge.
Hammond replied: "You're right, it's definitely higher on that side."
Ofcom later ruled that the presenter had been "deliberately offensive".
The trio were tasked with building a bridge over the river Kwai in Thailand.
"That is a proud moment - but there's a slope on it," said Clarkson, as a figure walked toward them on the bridge.
Hammond replied: "You're right, it's definitely higher on that side."
Ofcom later ruled that the presenter had been "deliberately offensive".
December 2014
Top Gear sparked controversy when they filmed in Argentina by driving a porsche with the number plate H982 FKL.
The number plate seemed to refer to the 1982 Falklands War in which Argentina and the UK clashed over ownership of the island.
The team had to leave Argentina in a hurry and claimed they had been hounded out of the country.
The number plate seemed to refer to the 1982 Falklands War in which Argentina and the UK clashed over ownership of the island.
The team had to leave Argentina in a hurry and claimed they had been hounded out of the country.
March 2015
Clarkson was suspended during an investigation into his bust-up with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, who was left with a split-lip after the presenter laid into him about the lack of a hot meal in the Yorkshire hotel where they were staying.
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