The BBC were right to sack Clarkson

Like him or loathe him, the BBC were right to give Jeremy Clarkson his marching orders. Don't worry, he'll be back on TV, just not on the Beeb.

SO after weeks of speculation over Jeremy Clarkson's future. The BBC has officially given him his marching orders. It has in no doubt been a difficult few weeks for the Corporation because they know how popular he is with the viewers, and the part he had in making Top Gear a huge success that it has been over the past decade.

The BBC has decided not to renew the 54-year old presenter's contract. Where Clarkson did an unprovoked attack on Top Gear producer, Oisin Tymon, where he verbally and physically assaulted him. That was all over some food when filming on location in North Yorkshire.

Clarkson's contract not being renewed isn't just on the basis of the incident he had with Tymon. It could also be based on the string of controversies he has caused as well that may have been put into consideration. It has been reported that the BBC had given Clarkson one last chance and that he was on his 'final warning'.

Tony Hall, director general of the BBC, made the decision of dropping Clarkson "wasn't taken lightly", as he believed he "crossed the line". He acknowledged that it would "divide opinion" because of Clarkson's popularity but also Top Gear and the penchant for controversy.

On the statement for the BBC Lord Hall had released, he made a very valid point saying: "There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations." I couldn't agree more.

Don't get me wrong, Clarkson is a likeable chap on being an outspoken rebel against political correctness (which will ruffle a few feathers). Along with his sharp wit, dry and tongue-in-the-cheek humour as a writer and a television presenter. That won him an army of fans. He's very good at what he does.

However, attacking a colleague - especially if it's physically and unprovoked - is gross misconduct. A sackable offence. If you did that at your workplace, you would get sacked and your employer wouldn't hesitate in handing you over that P45. On that basis, the BBC was right to sack Clarkson and you can't defend his actions, which just reiterates the points Lord Hall made on his BBC statement.

Jeremy Clarkson may have left the BBC, and those who loathe him will rejoice in his departure. But he's not going to disappear from the limelight anytime soon. He's out of a job on TV for now, but you'll still see his columns in The Sun and The Sunday Times.

The bosses of ITV and Channel 4 may well be rubbing their hands seeing pound signs from Clarkson presenting a show on their channel. Being the commercial broadcasters that they are, they can see how much revenue he can potentially bring in and it will also attract advertisers with deep pockets. A potential goldmine, and the perfect opportunity to try and sign him up.