Jeremy Clarkson Top Gear Row: Two Stigs Give Verdicts On Whether Show Can Continue Without Him
Can Top Gear Continue Without Jeremy Clarkson? Two Former Stigs Weigh In
Sara C Nelson— Huffington Post UK
|
As Jeremy Clarkson’s future at Top Gear continues to hang in the balance, two former Stigs have weighed in over whether the show can survive without the controversial presenter.
Perry McCarthy, who played The Stig from 2002 – 2003 is less than hopeful the show can continue without Clarkson – and has some words of warning for anyone who might be hoping to fill his shoes.
Jeremy Clarkson's future at Top Gear hangs in the balance...
“And God help any soul who takes his place, because that’s like signing up for your own firing squad."
The original Stig Perry McCarthy
McCarthy mused as to whether the show could continue with a “neutered” Clarkson, but insisted: “It won’t work. The charm and the brilliance of Jeremy are that he is a slightly loose cannon."
Top Gear without Clarkson, he warned, would be: "Like having a Ferrari in your garage, but with a Ford engine.”
Ben Collins took over as the Stig after McCarthy
It’s praise indeed for Clarkson, but less so from Ben Collins, who performed as The Stig from 2003 – 2011.
Collins left the show on bad terms following his decision to reveal his identity in a book, something he says Clarkson was “not supportive” of.
In 2012 he breached BBC guidelines by comparing a Japanese car to people with growths on their faces. A member of the public complained about the "offensive" remarks after Clarkson likened the shape of a Prius campervan to someone with "a growth on their face" and referred to it as the "elephant car".
Clarkson claimed to be the victim of a Twitter hack when a now deleted a picture of a sign saying ‘entrance to slope’, with the caption ‘this is just obscene’ emerged from his accountBut he later denied having sent such a tweet.
Writing in The Sun, the Top Gear presenter made fun of synchronised swimming as nothing more than "Chinese women in hats, upside down, in a bit of water".He added: "You can see that sort of thing on Morecambe Beach. For free."In 2004 23 cockle-pickers drowned after becoming trapped by rising tides in the Lancashire bay.
Collins, who has not spoken to Clarkson since his departure admits the front man is an “unstoppable force” but was keen to praise the creativity of the show's production team.
He added: "It's become harder for Top Gear to reinvent itself, so it’s possibly starting to strain under the weight of its own success. But things will evolve. I don’t think it can be only anchored in one person."
If you're looking for someone who doesn't mind being purposefully offensive, look no further than Katie Hopkins. The controversy magnet hits the headlines more often than all the Top Gear stars put together, normally because she's offended someone/a large group of people.
Nigel Farage(02 of11)
Open Image Modal
You've suspended a pint-loving smoker who has his head stuck in the 1940s? Why not employ someone exactly the same person?Nigel Farage has virtually the same political views as Clarkson, so he'd probably be a good fit.
Vladimir Putin(03 of11)
Open Image Modal
If you want someone with outdated ideas about their country's military might and an odd desire to look as masculine as possible, the Russian leader would be a good one to go for. Although he probably won't be free any time soon, he's probably going to be running the Kremlin until he dies.
Piers Morgan(04 of11)
Open Image Modal
If you've ever seen one of Piers' epic Twitter spats with Clarkson, you'll know he's remarkably similar in many ways. The same fashion sense, a similarly punchable face, and all the rest of it.
Who better to take over from Clarkson's controversy-laden style than the man who brought us "rose-c***ed spectacles"?
Dapper Laughs(07 of11)
Open Image Modal
Here's someone as offensive and widely hated as Clarkson, who'll undoubtedly make the same kind of unpleasant jokes just because he thinks they're funny. If maximum offensiveness is what you're going for, snap up the world's least funny comedian ASAP.
The veteran radio host's alter ego Steve Coogan is quite the petrol-head, having appeared on the show several times. But wouldn't it be great for the man from Norwich to take you around the Top Gear track whining about "POWERRRR" is his trademark nasal voice?
Kanye West(10 of11)
Open Image Modal
Potentially the only ego bigger than Clarkson's.
Mr Blobby(11 of11)
Open Image Modal
He'd certainly be more coherent than Clarkson at times. He's probably also a bit skinnier and a better driver.