Thanks I was not expecting it. I've told just about everyone so thought id post it here. I see were discussing Clarkson!
For those saying anyone else in any other company would be sacked for what Clarkson did, I'm afraid that's just not true. I knew someone who worked as a porter at one of the really big auction houses and got into a fight with a work colleague, who he hit over the head with a fence post. He wasn't sacked. I was also present at a council Chief Executive's leaving drinks when one employee got enormously drunk, tried to tip wine over the departing Chief Exec's head and, after being escorted from the building, ripped the crest off the Mayor's car and stood in the middle of the High Street flicking both middle fingers at the Town Hall while shouting "**** you [Council name], **** you in the ass." He was given a ticking off and continued working there for another 4 or 5 years. That's also ignoring the fact that Clarkson's in the entertainment industry and we all know different rules apply there.
I've surprised myself by watching no less than three hour long dramas this week. One, I had to catch up on, which was Smiley's People. After donkey's years, I've finally got around to the final episode. The other two were Banished and Poldark. Ever since childhood holidays in Cornwall I've been drawn to that area. I love the fact that one of my nieces lives 20 minutes walk from the North Cornish coast, near Bude. Added to that, I was an avid watcher of Poldark back in the 1970's. It's a great story, and it was excellently dramatised back then. Robin Ellis and the late Angharad Rees didn't get to be TV heroes due to just looking good. They were great in their roles. In fact, they blew it for anyone else. Until now perhaps. I've seen the latest offering of Poldark and I think it is pretty damn good. It is smouldering nicely already, and although one or two characters simply can't be replaced from the original adaptation so iconically played were they, in my opinion, the series is promising to at least be good enough to watch without a continuous longing for the original. Incidentally, ITV made a version [or sequel, I forget which] in the 1990's and was utter tripe. The first episode of Banished was unexpectedly good. A host of solid modern day actors featured, and although the emotions portrayed were almost certainly a little more visible than perhaps they might have been in keeping with the era in which the drama is set, they conveyed well to a modern audience, in my opinion. I could have stood a little less open emotion and a little more realism, but this is BBC One, not Two or Four. On the whole, the story line and subject matter of British convicts transported to New South Wales to serve their long or lifetime sentences proved very interesting. And there was a lot of genuine tension as the moral battles between liberty, rights, decency and the higher moral ground began to spiral. I'm looking forward to episode two. Smiley's People. I started to watch this back in the early 1980's and never got to the final episode. It's been repeated on several occasions, and either I've simply missed it or not been in the circumstance or frame of mind to bother to finish it. Until now. I can't even really remember how it goes but it's the quiet acting that grabs me these days. The actors that appear in the drama are primarily theatre thespians [even Alec Guinness - Run Luke Run], where they are trained to project their smallest gestures so that the gods can see them. And yet on TV they all act with the tiniest gestures. They are so natural it borders on the look-away. But this is the essence of it. It requires the viewer's effort to watch it and not to look away. I realised that I had to concentrate for Smiley's People like one used to years back. The other two dramas washed over me, either so familiarly or so contrived were the plot signals sent. They took no effort, but were very enjoyable. This one takes effort and is all the more rewarding for it. I suspect Wolf Hall might be the same. Posters who have watched that drama through might confirm or deny that. I'm going to give that a go before it disappears off the iPlayer, seeing as drama appears to be my new favourite colour.
Ha. It probably did. Possibly people did mean that but my point is that people do get away with all sorts because some employers don't want to deal with things for a variety of reasons. And as I said, he also works in entertainment. Different rules apply.
Clarkson is the star and according to a friend who attended the filming a few years back, is most definitely in charge. With all due respect to May and Hammond, would they get another chance to be part of such a huge programme? If JC goes, I can't see the BBC just abandoning the programme. They have two other options. Find a replacement bloke or completely reboot the franchise. This was done before and I remember when TG was mainly about cars! It might be better to start again with a new team as the old gang were not going to last forever.
They may...it's a job after all. Depends how well off they are and what other work they have. Apparently they were all about to sign new 3 year contracts, so they are free to leave and the BBC is free not to offer them new contracts.
If I said I took a swing at the very lovely Mrs Godders last night because my supper was not on the table when I wanted it what would you all say to that? You would say I was some obnoxious thug. However if I was famous and had loads of money it would be alright. Get some moral standards FFS.
I agree 100% about Poldark, looks really good. I suspect you're referring to characters like George Warleggan, Jud, and Prudie as being iconic, but I think the modern versions might just grow on us. And do watch Wolf Hall. It's just brilliant. Based on Hilary Mantell's first two books of a trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, which are both worth reading, as will be the last in the series when she's finished it, and which will also be adapted for TV. I believe Mantell was the first person ever to win two consecutive Booker prizes for the first two books, which is a measure of how good they are. The TV series was quite hard work, but as you say, all the more worth it for the effort, and Mark Rylance is stunningly good, as is, surprisingly, Damien Lewis as Henry VIII.
Have watched first couple of episodes of Wolf Hall and have the rest recorded...I may go back and give it another go. Haven't read the books, but I suspect I'd like them as I like the subject matter and I prefer books to have depth. Anyone watching Fortitude...liked it very much at first as it appeared to be a multi-layered crime story...my favourite. However, it is going a bit strange and I like that sort of story less. Always seems a cheat to me to bring in magic/aliens etc rather than have a very clever story. Will continue as it is interesting, but I suspect the denouement may be disappointing.
Just watching the nominations for Manager of Month and Player of Month. We feature very strongly...though not in a good way
They will easily find other jobs with probably a lot more money. I just can't see the BBC wanting to scrap their most profitable show. We all know the revenue lost won't effect the crazy wages. It will effect the standard of tv/ the license fee. BBC won't want to do anything the jeopardises their cash cow. I see them bringing Clarkson back soon, unless all 3 decide to walk. I also saw one of the BBC's plans they are discussing for the future. Lower license fee, but you have to buy certain shows. So that's say Doctor Who series is £12.99 to watch, MOTD is £28.99 etc etc. Who the hell thought of that crap idea?
That's my whole point though Vin, he DID say it. "I didn’t use the n-word here, but I’ve just listened through my headphones and it sounds like I did" His point blank refusal to accept any fault is nothing short of deplorable.
