How you see the BBC’s decision to remove the phenomenally popular presenter of its flagship worldwide show could very well depend on your view of the man in question. Those who support Clarkson see him as the last of dying breed of English TV personalities: the stubborn, old-school yet humorous gentlemen who simply enjoys being himself. His detractors see him as obnoxious, offensive and downright ignorant.
But let’s be clear: this was not a moral decision by the BBC management. To believe it was is to believe that a racial slur (“slope”) or a minor physical scuffle are greater crimes against humanity than covering up the sexual abuse of children committed by Jimmy Saville, for which nobody at the ‘Beeb’ has been punished. The BBC’s firing of Clarkson was – or at least should have been – a business decision. That they have made the wrong one is a matter of delight for me, as it should be for anyone who admires Clarkson or appreciates a quality, politically neutral media service.
Realising the BBC has fallen from grace is a bit like realizing Santa Claus doesn’t exist: for some it’s obvious from the first moment, for others it’s a more slow, gradual process. Either way there comes the inevitable moment when you wonder how you didn’t see it earlier. The doubt was eliminated years ago. The BBC themselves have commissioned investigations which confirmed they have a left wing bias (they neglected to investigate if grass is green or the sun is hot) , MPs have addressed it, their own tweets scream it and their interviewsreek of hubris and non-professionalism. In short, you’d be hard pressed to find any group of British society that doesn’t sense the BBC has lost its way.
Undeclared bias is often a symptom of corruption and in case anyone forgot, the BBC is the institution that shielded its personnel from the Jimmy Saville abuse scandal. When its own documentary team exposed this, it seemed for one beautiful moment that a turning point had been reached, or perhaps we’d been wrong all along and the BBC were more open than we’d given them credit for. Those hopes evaporated when the documentary team wereruthlessly punished for exposing their employer’s willingness to ignore and cover-up child abuse
But with the sacking of Clarkson comes hope. The BBC – like any politically corrupt organization- needs continued funding to exist. Any lapse in funding weakens its message which in turn weakens its cause. In an age where the public are swamped for choice of news channels, media outlets and political opinions the BBC has absolutely no choice but to provide a quality product. What shows does it have that still win admiration and respect across the spectrum? Sherlock (3 episodes a year at most), Doctor Who (a recent victim of funding cuts) and Top Gear – the biggest earner – largely thanks to Clarkson and his one million + supporters.
The solution then is simple: every Clarkson or Top Gear fan needs to stop watching the BBC and stop paying their license fee. One or two non-renewals wouldn’t hurt the BBC, one million non-renewals will hurt them. Any more than that will force them to take a long hard look at themselves.
There is no other solution. Academic studies of bias have had no impact. Neither have MPs speeches, petitions, public exposure or internal investigations. Nothing can change bias of people in high places who truly believe they are right and look at dissent with contempt and a sneer.
The bottom line is the BBC management don’t care what you think. They don’t care how you feel or what you believe. There is one way and one way only to change that: don’t give them your money.
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