It’s rare to hear Jeremy Clarkson siding with the BBC these days, but the former Top Gear host has stuck up for his old employers in a new interview.
If that seems surprising, perhaps it will make more sense when we tell you that he was actually defending the high salaries received by the corporation’s top earning employees, a group he once fell into.
Responding to some critics who suggest the BBC’s biggest earners, including Gary Lineker and Graham Norton, might not be entirely deserving of their huge pay packets, Jeremy told The Times: “You get that for your entire life being taken over.
“So when you look at all those BBC salaries that are published, you think, “You get that for an hour’s work.” No, you don’t. You get that for your entire life being taken over by, ‘Selfie! Selfie! Photo! Photo! Photo!’ Somebody has to pay for that.”
Jeremy was let go by the BBC in 2015, having already been on what he said was his “final warning”, after physically assaulting a crew member while on location.
Following his departure, co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May also stepped down from the show, and the trio went on to sign a new deal with Amazon Prime to front The Grand Tour, currently gearing up for its fourth series.
Chris Evans eventually took over Top Gear, but stepped down after one series, after his presenting received a lukewarm response.
The show is now fronted by Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris, who were met with praise for the first series earlier this year.