I suppose it is unoriginal to comment on the Clarkson ‘Affair’, but being back on the writing horse so to speak, I really can’t stop myself.
I happened to be watching BBC1′s One Show last night and so witnessed the interview without preconception or bias. Well some bias in that I do admire Clarkson in many ways. Among other things I admire his ability to not give a fig about what others think about him. However, there are many times when I think Clarkson goes too far, is something of a pillock, or even might deserve a good slap!
These sentiments do not mean that I think he should change how he is or apologise. I just switch off when I consider him to have gone too far.
Humour often requires exaggeration and success requires an opinion. Whether right or wrong, it is better to have an opinion than not.
Clarkson is a success because a very large number of people are amused by his constant sliding along the razor blade of acceptability.
On the One Show to promote his DVD, he was, in a sense, egged on to be outrageous. Matt Baker and his companion squirmed. It made great television and prompted the biggest national sense of humour failure I can ever recall.
Actually Clarkson, whatever one thinks of his humour and style, was simply keeping faith with his public persona and doing and being the act for which he has long been rewarded.
