The fast no longer furious

Former ‘Top Gear’ host Clarkson apologises for beating up show producer

LONDON: Jeremy Clarkson — the former host of BBC’s popular motor series Top Gear — has finally apologised and settled a lawsuit with a member of the production team he physically assaulted a year ago. According to BBC, the incident — which cost Clarkson his job — took place at the North Yorkshire Hotel in the British capital, when Clarkson was told there was no hot food available after a long day of shooting. The victim Oisin Tymon was subjected to an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack” by him, who called the producer “lazy” and “Irish.” After a formal inquiry, BBC announced that it would not be renewing Clarkson’s contract for the following season.

The outspoken Clarkson has now agreed to pay Tymon more than £100,000 in damages, to settle a racial discrimination and injury claim. “I would like to say sorry once again to Oisin Tymon for the incident and its regrettable aftermath,” Clarkson said in a statement, “I want to reiterate that none of this was, in any way, his fault. I would also like to make it clear that the abuse he has suffered since the incident is unwarranted and I am sorry that he has had to go through that.”

According to Oisin’s lawyers, he is keen to put the matter behind him and wishes to focus on his work. “We are pleased that matters have now been resolved,” BBC claimed in a statement. “Oisin is a valued member 0who behaved with huge integrity in dealing with the very difficult circumstances last year.”

Clarkson became the face of Top Gear along with co-presenter Richard Hammond and James May, by mixing a passion for cars with blunt banter that often generated controversy. The show is aired in 200 countries, now fronted by British radio and TV presenter Chris Evans and Friends star Matt LeBlanc. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th,  2016.

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