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Updated: 22/02/2012 15:55 | By motoringresearch.com
Clarkson cleared over striking worker jibe
Jeremy Clarkson has been cleared by media watchdog Ofcom following his remarks on the BBC’s The One Show that striking public sector workers should be shot in front of their families.
Clarkson to be investigated by Ofcom
The comments on the BBC One show led to almost 32,000 complaints – but despite this, Ofcom has cleared Clarkson.
Should Clarkson have been cleared?
The regulator said viewers should be familiar with Clarkson’s “provocative and outspoken nature”, which was also referred to in the programme’s introduction.
“Consequently, the editorial nature of the programme as a whole would have prepared viewers for the type of comments Jeremy Clarkson would be likely to make,” said Ofcom.
Clarkson’s tongue in cheek comments were aired on 30 November, as public sector workers embarked on a one-day strike over changes to pension schemes.
Ofcom director Christopher Woolard explained its decision to clear Clarkson of breaking broadcasting regulations in a letter to Unison, which lodged a complaint with Ofcom.
The regulator said it was “clear to most viewers that his comments were not an expression of seriously held beliefs or views that should be literally interpreted”.
Clarkson’s apology after the event was also taken into account: Unison accepted this and, it has emerged, also invited Clarkson to spend a day with a healthcare assistant.
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112Comments
20/02/2012 20:32
jezz keep up the good work fighting for us all , make the comments we will back you every time . its good u are prepared to say it as it is and not be frightened of upsetting some one or shy away from saying wt most of us believe , i have been in court myself over comments that i have made and the magistrate has thrown it out freedom of speech and expression is a human right and should not be outlawed looking forward to many many more of your outspoken and outrageous comments well done
20/02/2012 23:14
Ofcom got it right in this case, Clarksons comments were meant to be a joke,to paraphrase Clarkson; the P.C. brigade? I'd have them all shot!
These pathetic gray humourless losers want a bland,blank and featureless society where individualism and freedom of thought are not allowed, it's time more people and organisations
stood up to political correctness.
20/02/2012 19:28
Clarkson makes his career by making spontaneous off the cuff remarks, these are meant to be
light hearted, if any offence is caused it is because a few thin skinned individuals in the political
correctness brigade have no sense of humour.
Clarkson says what many people say in their workplaces,the pub or the privacy of their homes should these people be investigated and penalized as well?
It's called having a sense of humour, I suggest the P.C brigade try it sometime.
20/02/2012 20:24
More politically correct bulls*it! Who gives a f*ck what he said!!
20/02/2012 19:42
just sums up the type of one show viewers, do gooders with no sense of humour and to far up their own backsides, they cant take a joke!!!
who has the time on their hands to write and complain about something so trivial....oh yeah, people on strike!!!!!
20/02/2012 19:29
come on you 32000 get a life and by the way my wife works for the local authority and found this amusing to say the least keep up the good work top gear and carry on making people laugh
20/02/2012 19:51
to all those complaining about his comments, did you actually watch the whole response he gave to the question? or have you just read about the one sentence reported in the tabloids and become offended by it? listen to his words in context and you can see he was actually mocking the BBC and it's impartial stance on such matters.
if you can't be bothered to find the video clip on youtube, i will transcribe it here for you:
after being asked what he thought of the strikes, he first responded saying he was very pleased because there was no traffic etc. then said:
"we have airports, people streaming through with no problems at all, it's like being back in the 70s, it feels like home somehow."
he was asked if he knew anyone who had striked, and he said no he didn't.
he then said:
"we have to balance it though don't we, because this is the BBC. frankly i'd have them all shot", followed by loud bursts of laughter from the TV crew members who obviously have a sense of humour and an understanding of satire so could recognise this was clearly a joke and he was being sarcastic. he then said " 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 while the rest of us have to work for a living."
can you see how taken in the context in which it was said, it is not offensive at all and is clearly a joke?
if you can't be bothered to find the video clip on youtube, i will transcribe it here for you:
after being asked what he thought of the strikes, he first responded saying he was very pleased because there was no traffic etc. then said:
"we have airports, people streaming through with no problems at all, it's like being back in the 70s, it feels like home somehow."
he was asked if he knew anyone who had striked, and he said no he didn't.
he then said:
"we have to balance it though don't we, because this is the BBC. frankly i'd have them all shot", followed by loud bursts of laughter from the TV crew members who obviously have a sense of humour and an understanding of satire so could recognise this was clearly a joke and he was being sarcastic. he then said " 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 while the rest of us have to work for a living."
can you see how taken in the context in which it was said, it is not offensive at all and is clearly a joke?
20/02/2012 19:36
s m. You clearly havn't read any of Clarkson's books or you would know that he is not racist or a bigot. Yes. A lot of stuff is just for shock value but it is amusing. I don't agree with half the things he says but that doesn't make it any less funny. I don't think he's intending for us to take it seriously.
And as you stated it's a perfect toilet read. One chapter per ***t.
And Hugh S. You appear to comparing Clarkson to Hitler. Now that is offensive.
Clarkson - offended some grannys
Hitler - killed 6 million Jews.
Hmm. Yes, I can see where you're coming from.
20/02/2012 19:26
All the people who complain at things like this need to get a life. Mr Clarkson's comments like this on The One Show and Top Gear etc are said tounge in cheek, are "white, English" people not allowed to have a sense of humour, yet everyone else in the world can what they like about other people in fun without comeback.
Political Correctness gone mad again
20/02/2012 19:57
You can be rest assured that only a handful of complaints resulted from the 1 Show. The vast majority (31900 or more) resulted from the slanted and out of context reporting from all TV and Newspaper journalists. Even now, they report only the alleged 'offensive 'part of the interview that was deemed offensive (out of context) and not the entire dialogue. It is only the truly stupid and gullible that would complain about something like this. Then again, we believed Tony Blair about weapons of mass destruction, so I suppose we are all in that category.
21/02/2012 02:00
Grow up and get a life those who choose to whine or use your finger to change channels if you don't like what you're watching.
Jeremy's a tongue in cheek presenter, comedian, looloping oaff, and a guy who like's to act to fool and doesn't mind others laughing at him. The UK would be a lot more fun if there was more people about like him who's got the balls to say what he wants, without any malace meant. Unlike those narrow minded fools who take life, and TV far too seriously and mean what they say about him.
We have free speech in the UK, he has a right to use it, same as you all have a right to turn over if you don't like it...... so on that bombshell...goodnight haha
21/02/2012 02:28
Ha ha ha!! You PC tosspots!!!! Clarkson for Prime Minister!!!!
20/02/2012 19:40
The 32,000 complaints were probably as usual from the pc brigade, who is by the way only pc regarding white british people, and probably from the public sector who always wants more and is forever treathening to strike if they do not get what they want (something the private sector cannot do).
21/02/2012 02:49
Hey losers who complain! Instead of wasting your time crying like a baby to ofcom - go and do some good like finding a JOB or be respectful you have a job and STOP whinging about a bit of banter! This country and its stinky politicians are so hell-bent on PC correctness, they/you don't realise we (us normal people) are losing the right of "freedom of speech!"
21/02/2012 00:10
These people should grow up, thats the trouble these days, a lot of sad acts looking for faults in people. If thats what they want they should stand in front of a mirror
Thiek
21/02/2012 00:43
Ha ha ha!!! You PC tosspots!!! Clarkson for Prime Minister!!!!!!!
20/02/2012 19:54
Jog x is no doubt a public sector worker himself and forgets a very important fact. He mentioned that Clarkson gets paid out of the taxes of these very hardworking (hmm) public sector workers.
Does he know who is paying his wages, yes correct the private sector workers!!! They are always ignored and undervalued and poorly represented (and I am not talking to the few overpaid individuals at the top) while the public sector always winges and wants more and is very well represented by their huge unions.
Does he know who is paying his wages, yes correct the private sector workers!!! They are always ignored and undervalued and poorly represented (and I am not talking to the few overpaid individuals at the top) while the public sector always winges and wants more and is very well represented by their huge unions.
20/02/2012 19:45
Its like people just watch the show and wait for him to say something offence so they can make a huge deal out of it and complain if you don't like him or the show keep your opinion to yourself your not forced to watch the show people watch him cause hes got a sense of humour.
21/02/2012 02:51
This is a "non event" and a media distortion of what actually happened, one line of dialogue has been extracted from a conversation and spun completely out of context.
If any of the complainants had either seen the show or taken the trouble to research a replay they would see that this was just a bit of banter, not Adolf Clarkson advocating genocide!
Anyway, it gives MSN a chance to allow their punters a voice to comment on nothing worthy of comment yet again.
Bugger! I've commented!!
20/02/2012 21:41
Lets turn the clock to a time when we all could laugh at everybody and everything with people not getting upset,,all this politically correct pillocks need to get a life and a sense of humour,the press dont help in these matters at all,
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