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Top Gear To Go Global While Clarkson Gets A Larger Slice Of The Pie

Agent009 submitted on 8/14/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 10:10:36 AM

13 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.guardian.co.uk

The BBC has entered into a business partnership with Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson in what is believed to be an unprecedented deal with an on-screen star.

BBC Worldwide, the corporation's commercial arm, has taken a controlling stake in a company set up by Clarkson and Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman, MediaGuardian.co.uk has learned. The BBC is understood to have paid a nominal fee of £100 for the stake.

Clarkson is one of the BBC's highest paid stars and reportedly signed a new deal earlier this year to stay with Top Gear.

It is understood that before he re-signed with the BBC Clarkson was being wooed by both ITV and American Idol creator Simon Fuller.
 



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Top Gear To Go Global While Clarkson Gets A Larger Slice Of The Pie

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Agent009

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User Comments

steve27t

Top Gear makes any US motoring show seem like some ass licking contest. Real opinions and criticism and great testing and driving. Also some wild projects, like making stretched limos out of Fiats and Space Shuttles out of a Reliant Robin, priceless. Not affraid to be politically incorrect, refreshing in todays world.

— steve27t (View Profile)

Posted on 8/14/2008 2:40:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 11   

nybimmer

Its easy to be irreverent when the BBC (UK broadcast organization which carries TopGear) is essentially a govt-supported not-for-profit that (I think) doesn't accept advertising.

I'd expect that irreverence to change if TopGear starts being made expressly for the US market. Its one of the many flaws of brining the show over here.

— nybimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 8/14/2008 3:24:39 PM | | Votes: 1   

Rupert

Yep, no plugging, advertising, product placement or lobbying allowed on the BBC. Taxpayer funded through the license fee (A TV tax, essentially). It means that on Top Gear, an hour long show, there are no commercial breaks at all.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 8:16:26 AM | | Votes: 2   

Larry

top gear could do without Clarkson I don't care for him at all, he sucks with his know it all, false opinions, he is a fraud.

— Larry (View Profile)

Posted on 8/14/2008 4:17:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -16   

Htay7500

No other show beats top gear. period.

— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/14/2008 4:45:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 11   

xj13

Love top gear and clarkson, a real winner.

— xj13 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/14/2008 10:15:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

nozferatu

Clarkson is a douche...not a journalist NOR a driver.

— nozferatu (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 1:51:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

holmstar

he may be a douche, but he absolutely makes that show. Part of what makes him so good for the show is the fact that he is a bit of a douche.

— holmstar (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 8:04:13 AM | | Votes: 2   

Lyall

Don't watch him or his show, if you think he's a douche. If anything, his irreverence, informality make his show very approachable and enjoyable. THe American version- now THAT'S a bit of a douche-b.

— Lyall (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 10:28:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Carboy

BRING REAL TOP GEAR TO THE WHOLE WORLD!

— Carboy (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 11:07:58 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Star

As a show it rocks, as a source of information it absolutely sucks.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 11:50:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

2007Tahoe

@ Larry and nozferatu

I don't even want to imagine what Top Gear would be like without Clarkson... it wouldn't be Top Gear...

— 2007Tahoe (View Profile)

Posted on 8/16/2008 8:53:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

OneOfOne

you dont have to imagine since nbc is doing an american version starring adam carolla and 2 other douches.

— OneOfOne (View Profile)

Posted on 8/18/2008 8:37:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

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