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| ⚫ | '''Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson''' (born ], ] in ]) is a ] ] journalist and ] presenter. He is known for his physically imposing presence, and ebulliently robust manner, and he is often quite forthright in his opinions. | ||
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| ==Biography== | |||
| ⚫ | '''Jeremy Charles Robert |
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| Clarkson was educated at ]. Having long been a motoring enthusiast (Clarkson passed his driving test in his grandfather's 'R' Type ]), after leaving school he trained as a journalist on the '']'', before forming the ] in ]. During the 1980s he wrote for specialist car magazines such as '']''. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ==Television career== | |||
| In 2002 Clarkson championed ] in the ]'s search to find the ]. | |||
| The television show he is most associated with is the motoring programme '']'', which he has presented from 1989 to 1999, before returning in 2002 when the show underwent a format change. He also presented other motoring-related series such as ''Star Cars'' and ''Jeremy Clarkson's Motorworld''. | |||
| ⚫ | Clarkson, being one of the passengers on the last |
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| Other non-motoring shows he has starred in include: | |||
| He lives in ], ]. | |||
| *''Clarkson'' (1998): A one-series ]. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | *''Jeremy Clarkson's Extreme Machines'' (1998): where he rode all manner of machines, including a plane, a submarine and an airboat. | ||
| *'']'' (1998): Clarkson presented the first series of the UK version. | |||
| *''Jeremy Clarkson Meets The Neighbours'': A notorious ], Clarkson travelled around Europe, confronting (and in some cases reinforcing) his prejudices. | |||
| *'']'' (2002): Clarkson championed ] as the greatest ever Briton. Brunel came second in the public vote, behind ]. | |||
| *''Inventions That Changed the World'' (2003): A single programme about the ] and the work of ]. | |||
| *'']'' (2004): In which Clarkson traced his family roots. | |||
| He was awarded a 'Best Presenter' ] award in ]. After his work on ''Great Britons'', ] presented him with an honorary degree. | |||
| Clarkson lives in the Cotswold countryside near Chipping Norton with his wife Francie (who is also his agent), and their three children, Emily, Finlo and Katya. Clarkson regularly refers to his family on ] or in his newspaper columns, often with humour, in particular noting how resitant to damage the trim in demonstrator cars is once his children are let loose in the back. This information is of great value to parents shopping for a new car. He has a talent for sardonic prose style as well as television presentation, and his newspaper columns in ] invariably begin with what seems to be a massive ] before somehow arriving at the car that is being reviewed that week. He has honed this journalistic talent and converted it into a style of television presentation that is arresting for it instantly demands you to either love, or hate him. His wife has probably helped him with this, but it endures because underneath a very genuine man comes across, whose (often political) opinions are often shared by a silent majority of viewers or readers in Britain, and vociferously challenged by a substantial minority. As a result, most people in this country know who he is and have an opinion on him. The opportunity has existed, in recent times, for Clarkson to over-expose himself, to move from being the most well-known motoring journalist in Britain on to a full-blown media type. But he has resisted, even cancelling his talk show vehicle in favour of infrequent well-chosen appearances on the BBC series ] and ], both of which endeared him to the public further. It seems apparent that Clarkson and his wife carefully choose his appearances, but crucially, to British people, he never seems conceited. Clarkson and his wife do quite a bit of charity work, especially in his locale, that often goes unnoticed. The future, at this time, looks bright, with the exception that Clarkson recently found out that he will need a ] in some years. The go-ahead has just been given, in spite of objections by local people, for a new facility to film ] to be built just five miles from his home on an old airfield. | |||
| ==Newspaper journalism== | |||
| Clarkson writes a weekly motoring column for the '']'' newspaper. He has a talent for sardonic prose style, and his newspaper columns invariably begin with what seems to be a massive ] before somehow arriving at the car that is being reviewed that week. | |||
| He also has written for '']'' newspaper and '']'' magazine. Clarkson's politics are generally right-wing, and he will often write on what he sees as the interference of the 'nanny state' and the ]. His political views, combined with his ebullient manner, usually strike a chord with his readership, while infuriating his detractors. | |||
| ==Other interests== | |||
| ⚫ | Clarkson is interested not only in cars but engineering in general, especially pioneering work, as his programmes on Brunel and the Colossus computer have shown. In April 2004, Clarkson appeared on the British talk show '']'' and mentioned that he was writing a book about the 'soul' many machines have. He cited ] as his primary example: when people heard it had ], quite aside from the sadness they felt for the loss of human life, there was also almost a sadness for the machine. | ||
| ⚫ | Clarkson, being one of the passengers on the last ] Concorde flight on ], ], reworked ]'s famous saying: "''This is one small step for a man, but one huge leap backwards for mankind''". | ||
| ==Personal life== | |||
| Clarkson lives in the ] countryside near ], ], with his wife Francie (who is also his agent), and their three children, Emily, Finlo and Katya. Clarkson regularly refers to his family on ''Top Gear'' or in his newspaper columns, often with humour; for example, noting how resistant to damage the trim in demonstrator cars is once his children are let loose in the back, which can be a help to readers with children looking to buy a car. | |||
| Clarkson and his wife perform charity work, especially in his locale, that often goes unnoticed. He has recently found out that he will need a ] in several years' time. | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * | * | ||
| * | * | ||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 16:40, 12 January 2005
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born April 11, 1960 in Doncaster) is a British motoring journalist and television presenter. He is known for his physically imposing presence, and ebulliently robust manner, and he is often quite forthright in his opinions.
Biography
Clarkson was educated at Repton School. Having long been a motoring enthusiast (Clarkson passed his driving test in his grandfather's 'R' Type Bentley), after leaving school he trained as a journalist on the Rotherham Advertiser, before forming the Motoring Press Agency in 1984. During the 1980s he wrote for specialist car magazines such as Performance Car.
Television career
The television show he is most associated with is the motoring programme Top Gear, which he has presented from 1989 to 1999, before returning in 2002 when the show underwent a format change. He also presented other motoring-related series such as Star Cars and Jeremy Clarkson's Motorworld.
Other non-motoring shows he has starred in include:
- Clarkson (1998): A one-series chat show.
- Jeremy Clarkson's Extreme Machines (1998): where he rode all manner of machines, including a plane, a submarine and an airboat.
- Robot Wars (1998): Clarkson presented the first series of the UK version.
- Jeremy Clarkson Meets The Neighbours: A notorious Europhobe, Clarkson travelled around Europe, confronting (and in some cases reinforcing) his prejudices.
- Great Britons (2002): Clarkson championed Isambard Kingdom Brunel as the greatest ever Briton. Brunel came second in the public vote, behind Winston Churchill.
- Inventions That Changed the World (2003): A single programme about the Colossus computer and the work of Tommy Flowers.
- Who Do You Think You Are? (2004): In which Clarkson traced his family roots.
He was awarded a 'Best Presenter' RTS award in 1998. After his work on Great Britons, Brunel University presented him with an honorary degree.
Newspaper journalism
Clarkson writes a weekly motoring column for the Sunday Times newspaper. He has a talent for sardonic prose style, and his newspaper columns invariably begin with what seems to be a massive red herring before somehow arriving at the car that is being reviewed that week.
He also has written for The Sun newspaper and Esquire magazine. Clarkson's politics are generally right-wing, and he will often write on what he sees as the interference of the 'nanny state' and the European Union. His political views, combined with his ebullient manner, usually strike a chord with his readership, while infuriating his detractors.
Other interests
Clarkson is interested not only in cars but engineering in general, especially pioneering work, as his programmes on Brunel and the Colossus computer have shown. In April 2004, Clarkson appeared on the British talk show Parkinson and mentioned that he was writing a book about the 'soul' many machines have. He cited Concorde as his primary example: when people heard it had crashed, quite aside from the sadness they felt for the loss of human life, there was also almost a sadness for the machine.
Clarkson, being one of the passengers on the last BA Concorde flight on October 24, 2003, reworked Neil Armstrong's famous saying: "This is one small step for a man, but one huge leap backwards for mankind".
Personal life
Clarkson lives in the Cotswold countryside near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, with his wife Francie (who is also his agent), and their three children, Emily, Finlo and Katya. Clarkson regularly refers to his family on Top Gear or in his newspaper columns, often with humour; for example, noting how resistant to damage the trim in demonstrator cars is once his children are let loose in the back, which can be a help to readers with children looking to buy a car.
Clarkson and his wife perform charity work, especially in his locale, that often goes unnoticed. He has recently found out that he will need a hip replacement in several years' time.
External links
- BBC World biography of Jeremy Clarkson
- IMDb entry
- Archive of Clarkson's Sunday Times columns
- Brunel University on Clarkson's honorary degree