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'''Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson''', also known as "Jezza" and "The Orangutan" among various other nicknames was a British motoring journalist who became the longest serving host of ''[[Top Gear]]'' in its entirety, presenting approximately 200 episodes apiece for both the original format of the show from 1988 - 1998, and for the first iteration of the show's relaunch from 2002 - 2015. During this time he wrote weekly columns for various news outlets, in addition to working for the show's accompanying [[Top Gear Magazine (UK)|magazine]] from 1993 - 1999, and again from 2001 - 2015. During his second, more widely-regarded tenure on ''Top Gear'', he helped to transform the show into a global juggernaut with a cumulative global audience of 350 million people tuning in worldwide. Clarkson appeared in the first twenty-two series of the current format of the show until he was dismissed by the BBC on the 25th of March, 2015.
'''Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson''', also known as "Jezza" and "The Orangutan" among various other nicknames was a British motoring journalist who became the longest serving host of ''[[Top Gear]]'' in its entirety, presenting approximately 200 episodes apiece for both the original format of the show from 1988 - 1998, and for the first iteration of the show's relaunch from 2002 - 2015. During this time he wrote weekly columns for various news outlets, in addition to working for the show's accompanying [[Top Gear Magazine (UK)|magazine]] from 1993 - 1999, and again from 2001 - 2015. During his second, more widely-regarded tenure on ''Top Gear'', he helped to transform the show into a global juggernaut with a cumulative global audience of 350 million people tuning in worldwide. Clarkson appeared in the first twenty-two series of the current format of the show until he was dismissed by the BBC on the 25th of March, 2015.


==Career==
==Career until 2002==
Jeremy Clarkson's career began in the 1980s, writing for [[Performance Car Magazine]]. His writing talents would soon be noticed by producer [[Jon Bentley]], who met with Clarkson at the British unveiling of the Citroen AX<ref>Roach, M. (2012). ''The Top Gear Story.''</ref> in 1986, later inviting him to participate in a screen test for ''Top Gear'', bringing along a Range Rover. He would debut on the installment dated the 27th October, 1988, replacing the roles of [[Frank Page]] and [[Sue Baker]]. He soon become notorious, developing a reputation due to his abrasive character and would be selected as the show's main host following the departure of series stalwart [[William Woollard]] in 1991. Under his lead, ''Top Gear'' became edgier throughout the 1990s, featuring more action-oriented content with higher-powered cars that the show had previously strayed away from. He spent much of his first decade on the show embroiled in controversy, a tradition he'd continue once he resumed work on ''Top Gear'' from 2002.
Jeremy Clarkson's career began in the 1980s, writing for [[Performance Car Magazine]]. His writing talents would soon be noticed by producer [[Jon Bentley]], who met with Clarkson at the British unveiling of the Citroen AX<ref>Roach, M. (2011). ''The Top Gear Story.''</ref> in 1986, later inviting him to participate in a screen test for ''Top Gear'', bringing along a Range Rover.


Clarkson would quit ''Top Gear'' in January 1999, being replaced by [[James May]], and instead focused on hosting a selection of miniseries following the success of his [[Jeremy Clarkson's Motorworld|Motorworld]] programme in the mid-1990s. One of these was the [[Clarkson (talk show)|Clarkson]] talk show, which he hosted from 1998 - 2000 and helped to flesh out Clarkson's personality after a decade working with cars. He would meet up with lifelong friend [[Andy Wilman]] in late 2001 to discuss a new car show, which at the time was called ''Carmageddon'' and eventually morphed into the relaunched ''Top Gear'', premiering in October 2002. The show quickly became a worldwide hit under his lead, not least thanks to the work of [[Alex Mills]] and his website [[FinalGear]], with Clarkson paying tribute to Mills following his death from leukaemia in February 2019.
===Early career on ''Top Gear''===
Clarkson's distinct demeanour and attitude quickly caught on, as by 1990, he was already beginning to leave an impression. That year, a budding film-maker under the online alias of "Caspersdaddy" would film a ''Top Gear'' parody<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YugnH2-H2DY YouTube - ''Bottom Gear'' (1990).]</ref> entitled "Bottom Gear", with his friend Rich depicting Clarkson. It is the earliest known ''Top Gear'' parody.
 
===First tenure as lead host===
 
===Solo breakout and ''Motorworld''===
In 1995, Clarkson would present ''[[{{PAGENAME}}/Home Video Releases/Motorsport Mayhem|Motorsport Mayhem]]'', a crash compilation directed by Charles Balchin for the low-budget production company Astrion. Despite being made on a very limited, shoestring budget, with Clarkson's commentary being filmed in what appears to be his own living room, the home video was a massive success and demand was high for a sequel.
 
===Further development into household name===
In the Summer of 1996, he would participate in the very first ''[[Top Gear (1977 TV series)/Series 35/Top Gear Live|Top Gear Live]]'' special, held at Silverstone, where he would partake in a race against several other ''Top Gear'' presenters in a specially-prepared [[SEAT Ibiza/Cupra|SEAT Ibiza Cupra]]. Before the race began, Clarkson mocked the accents of fellow Northern ''Top Gear'' presenters [[Steve Berry]] and [[Tony Mason]], before intently stating to the camera his goal was to beat Tiff Needell at his own game. He would succeed in this endeavour, beating even Chris Goffey, the latter finishing 2nd overall.
 
===Departure from ''Top Gear''===
 
===''Clarkson's Car Years'' and further solo work===
 
==Career until 2015==
Clarkson, Wilman, and a skeleton crew comprised of other figures such as [[Richard Porter]] would work on this new version of ''Top Gear'' in relative secrecy.
 
===Return to ''Top Gear''===
 
===Health problems and slipped disc===
 
===Inner turmoil with the BBC and Bedder 6===
 
===Renewed success and ''Top Gear Live''===
 
===Rumoured departure from ''Top Gear''===
 
===Final home videos===
 
===First two warnings and "annus horribilis"===
 
==Firing from ''Top Gear''==
{{Main Article|name=Jeremy Clarkson's dismissal from Top Gear}}
 
==Career since 2015==
 
===Hammond's second accident and pneumonia scare===
 
===Contract with ITV===
 
===Retirement from full-time presenting===
 
===Farming career===


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
Line 34: Line 77:
*''[[The Grand Tour]]'' - 2016 - 2022 (43 episodes)
*''[[The Grand Tour]]'' - 2016 - 2022 (43 episodes)
*''[[Clarkson's Farm]]'' - 2021 - 2022 (8 episodes)
*''[[Clarkson's Farm]]'' - 2021 - 2022 (8 episodes)
==Trivia==
*At 36 years, Clarkson holds the record for the longest, uninterrupted career in automotive journalism for a British personality, writing and starring in productions about cars every year from 1986 - 2022.
*He equalled [[L.J.K. Setright]] in this respect, whose career spanned 31 years from 1965<ref>Disputed; ''[[Car (magazine)|Car]]'' claims this to be correct whilst Independent cites 1966 due to his column becoming an established fixture that year.</ref> until 1996, for this honour in 2017, before subsequently overtaking him.
*At 34 years, Clarkson also holds the record as the longest continuous on-screen automotive personality in the United Kingdom, appearing in at least one TV programme or home video since 1988.
*He equalled Tiff Needell for this accolade in 2017, before subsequently overtaking him.
*Globally, both records are held by American motor journalist [[John Davis]], whose career has spanned 41 years as of 2022.


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>


==Navigation==
{{TG 1977 Hosts}}
{{TG 1977 Hosts}}
{{TG 2002 Hosts}}
{{TG 2002 Hosts}}

Latest revision as of 02:44, 13 December 2022

Jeremy Clarkson

JC Current.jpg Photograph of Jeremy Clarkson as of May 2019.

JC Prime.jpg Jeremy Clarkson in the 2000s, at the height of his career.

JC Early.jpg Jeremy Clarkson in the 1990s, during his initial rise to fame.

Full Name Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson
Nationality Flaguk.png Great Britain
Birthday 11th April
Sex Male
Occupation Writer of Performance Car Magazine
Presenter of Top Gear (1977 TV series)
Writer of Top Gear Magazine (UK)
Presenter of Top Gear (2002 TV series)
Presenter of The Grand Tour
On-screen debut Top Gear: Series 20, Episode 6 (1988)
Final appearance A Scandi Flick (2022)

Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson, also known as "Jezza" and "The Orangutan" among various other nicknames was a British motoring journalist who became the longest serving host of Top Gear in its entirety, presenting approximately 200 episodes apiece for both the original format of the show from 1988 - 1998, and for the first iteration of the show's relaunch from 2002 - 2015. During this time he wrote weekly columns for various news outlets, in addition to working for the show's accompanying magazine from 1993 - 1999, and again from 2001 - 2015. During his second, more widely-regarded tenure on Top Gear, he helped to transform the show into a global juggernaut with a cumulative global audience of 350 million people tuning in worldwide. Clarkson appeared in the first twenty-two series of the current format of the show until he was dismissed by the BBC on the 25th of March, 2015.

Career until 2002[edit | edit source]

Jeremy Clarkson's career began in the 1980s, writing for Performance Car Magazine. His writing talents would soon be noticed by producer Jon Bentley, who met with Clarkson at the British unveiling of the Citroen AX[1] in 1986, later inviting him to participate in a screen test for Top Gear, bringing along a Range Rover.

Early career on Top Gear[edit | edit source]

Clarkson's distinct demeanour and attitude quickly caught on, as by 1990, he was already beginning to leave an impression. That year, a budding film-maker under the online alias of "Caspersdaddy" would film a Top Gear parody[2] entitled "Bottom Gear", with his friend Rich depicting Clarkson. It is the earliest known Top Gear parody.

First tenure as lead host[edit | edit source]

Solo breakout and Motorworld[edit | edit source]

In 1995, Clarkson would present Motorsport Mayhem, a crash compilation directed by Charles Balchin for the low-budget production company Astrion. Despite being made on a very limited, shoestring budget, with Clarkson's commentary being filmed in what appears to be his own living room, the home video was a massive success and demand was high for a sequel.

Further development into household name[edit | edit source]

In the Summer of 1996, he would participate in the very first Top Gear Live special, held at Silverstone, where he would partake in a race against several other Top Gear presenters in a specially-prepared SEAT Ibiza Cupra. Before the race began, Clarkson mocked the accents of fellow Northern Top Gear presenters Steve Berry and Tony Mason, before intently stating to the camera his goal was to beat Tiff Needell at his own game. He would succeed in this endeavour, beating even Chris Goffey, the latter finishing 2nd overall.

Departure from Top Gear[edit | edit source]

Clarkson's Car Years and further solo work[edit | edit source]

Career until 2015[edit | edit source]

Clarkson, Wilman, and a skeleton crew comprised of other figures such as Richard Porter would work on this new version of Top Gear in relative secrecy.

Return to Top Gear[edit | edit source]

Health problems and slipped disc[edit | edit source]

Inner turmoil with the BBC and Bedder 6[edit | edit source]

Renewed success and Top Gear Live[edit | edit source]

Rumoured departure from Top Gear[edit | edit source]

Final home videos[edit | edit source]

First two warnings and "annus horribilis"[edit | edit source]

Firing from Top Gear[edit | edit source]

Main article: Jeremy Clarkson's dismissal from Top Gear

Career since 2015[edit | edit source]

Hammond's second accident and pneumonia scare[edit | edit source]

Contract with ITV[edit | edit source]

Retirement from full-time presenting[edit | edit source]

Farming career[edit | edit source]

Selected filmography[edit | edit source]

Unabridged article: Filmography

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • At 36 years, Clarkson holds the record for the longest, uninterrupted career in automotive journalism for a British personality, writing and starring in productions about cars every year from 1986 - 2022.
  • He equalled L.J.K. Setright in this respect, whose career spanned 31 years from 1965[3] until 1996, for this honour in 2017, before subsequently overtaking him.
  • At 34 years, Clarkson also holds the record as the longest continuous on-screen automotive personality in the United Kingdom, appearing in at least one TV programme or home video since 1988.
  • He equalled Tiff Needell for this accolade in 2017, before subsequently overtaking him.
  • Globally, both records are held by American motor journalist John Davis, whose career has spanned 41 years as of 2022.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Roach, M. (2011). The Top Gear Story.
  2. ↑ YouTube - Bottom Gear (1990).
  3. ↑ Disputed; Car claims this to be correct whilst Independent cites 1966 due to his column becoming an established fixture that year.

Navigation[edit | edit source]

1970s
Tom Coyne (1977) | Angela Rippon (1977 - 1979) | Judith Jackson (1977, 1979, 1981 - 1982) | Barrie Gill (1978 - 1979) | Gill Pyrah (1979) | Mike Dornan (1979 - 1980) | Noel Edmonds (1979 - 1980)
1980s
Peter Macann (1980) | Frank Page (1980 - 1988) | Sue Baker (1980 - 1991) | Stewart Woodcock (1981 - 1982) | Tom Boswell (1981 - 1982, 1988 - 1990) | William Woollard (1981 - 1991) | Chris Goffey (1981 - 1997) | Bob Friend (1982) | Peter Burgess (1985 - 1986) | Tony Mason (1986 - 1998) | Tiff Needell (1987 - 2001) | Beki Adam (1988 - 1990) | Jon Bentley (1988, 1995 - 1997) | Jeremy Clarkson (1988 - 1998) | Vic Allan (1989 - 1990)
'90s/'00s
Nicky Fox (1991 - 1992) | Janet Trewin (1991 - 1994) | Quentin Willson (1991 - 2000) | Steve Lee (1992 - 1993) | Michele Newman (1993 - 1998) | Steve Berry (1993 - 1999) | Andy Wilman (1994 - 2001) | Vicki Butler-Henderson (1994 - 2001) | Julia Bradbury (1998 - 1999) | Brendan Coogan (1999) | James May (1999) | Kate Humble (1999 - 2000) | Adrian Simpson (2000 - 2001) | Jason Barlow (2000 - 2002) | See also: List of presenters
Original
Jason Dawe (2002) | Perry McCarthy (2002 - 2003) | Jeremy Clarkson (2002 - 2015) | Richard Hammond (2002 - 2015) | Ben Collins (2003 - 2010) | Top Gear Stunt Man (2003 - 2011) | James May (2003 - 2016) | Top Gear Dog (2006 - 2007) | Tiff Needell (2011) | Unknown Stig portrayer (2011 - 2022)
Relaunch
Chris Evans (2016) | Eddie Jordan (2016 - 2018) | Matt Leblanc (2016 - 2019) | Rory Reid (2016 - 2019) | Sabine Schmitz (2016 - 2020) | Chris Harris (2016 - 2022) | Freddie Flintoff (2019 - 2022) | Paddy McGuinness (2019 - 2022)
Other
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