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Jeremy Clarkson takes to the streets of London on a bike - but it looks like his hi viz is going back to the shop

Renowned cycle-hater and his co-star James May film Top Gear segment on bikes in the capital

It’s just weeks since that infamous ding-dong with a cyclist he accused on Twitter of ‘point-making’ for taking a safe position in the road, but Jeremy Clarkson’s on a bike on the streets of London, and this time it’s in the name of work.

Spotted around the centre of the capital on an upright hybrid bicycle, accompanied by his co-star James May, who sported a Brompton, the pair appeared to be filming their faces with GoPro cameras attached to the handlebars.

Both had gone to some lengths to equip themselves with safety gear, including matching helmets, hi-viz jackets and gloves, and sunglasses despite the gloomy day.

It seemed Mr Clarkson’s jacket was so new he had in face omitted to remove the tags yet, as pictures published in the Daily Mail show.

The pair were being filmed for the new series of the BBC show Top Gear, followed by a camera crew on a motorbike as they made their way around the West End.

Although Clarkson has been spotten on a bike before, the GoPro is a new addition, and perhaps surprising given that in 2011 his co-presenter Richard Hammond, a keen cyclist, had been talking on screen about a BBC News feature on cylists wearing helmetcams “so they can video examples of road rage and people cutting them up on their bikes,” to which Clarkson interjected, “But cyclists deserve it,” the exchange continuing:

Hammond: “Don’t say that!”

Clarkson: “But they do deserve it, honestly. The other week, no honestly, there I am sitting in a traffic jam in London” – oh, the irony – “and a Frenchman, he was tried to cycle between the pavement and my car and after he’d removed most of the paint with his brake handle thing he came round to the drivers door to tell me off in that silly accent French people have.”

Hammond: “What, a French accent?”

Clarkson: “Yes, that, and I said to him, listen if you just work hard you can have a car.”

Hammond: “You are exactly the reason why I want a camera on my bicycle helmet when I cycle.”

Clarkson: “Why?”

Hammond: “When idiots like you get out of their car having cut me up – ”

Clarkson: “Who pays the road tax?”

Hammond: “Well – ”

Clarkson: “I’m sorry, I don’t mind if cyclists want to come on the road with their silly Victorian distractions, I’m not bothered, but they must behave themselves.”

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56 comments

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matheson replied to Sarah Barth | 10 years ago
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Sarah Barth wrote:

It's worth noting that Top Gear actually makes money for the bbc as it's sold worldwide for a massive fortune.

Yes, that makes it so much more bearable when the half-wits that buy into his sh!t think it's OK to behave like him.

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parksey | 10 years ago
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It'll be interesting to see the context of this feature in the show. It possibly does follow the Twitter furore the other week, but no doubt from Clarkson's "unique" perspective.

Being a car enthusiast as much as I am a keen cyclist, I do enjoy Top Gear. Some do need to appreciate though that Clarkson very much has an on-screen/on-paper persona, so much of what he says has to be taken with a liberal pinch of salt...

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oldstrath replied to parksey | 10 years ago
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parksey wrote:

It'll be interesting to see the context of this feature in the show. It possibly does follow the Twitter furore the other week, but no doubt from Clarkson's "unique" perspective.

Being a car enthusiast as much as I am a keen cyclist, I do enjoy Top Gear. Some do need to appreciate though that Clarkson very much has an on-screen/on-paper persona, so much of what he says has to be taken with a liberal pinch of salt...

Absolutely true, but the kind of drivel he tweeted abiut the cyclist "in his way" has to be opposed by any available means, whoever says it.

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DrJDog replied to parksey | 10 years ago
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parksey wrote:

Some do need to appreciate though that Clarkson very much has an on-screen/on-paper persona, so much of what he says has to be taken with a liberal pinch of salt...

Given the company he keeps, I think the opinions he espouses are his own and not his persona's. He's a right-wing, bigoted tosser.

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big mick replied to DrJDog | 10 years ago
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You have hit the nail on the head.That is what he thinks.He thinks we should all he driving super cars at 150mph badly like he does and anyone who doesn't agree with him is a green party lefty.He really is a shite driver.Seems to think oversteering in slow corners makes him look good NO Clarkson it makes you look like the total pratt you are.  21

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CJSTEVENS1955 | 10 years ago
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You bloody Brits take everything so personally, you cant even see when your being wound up.

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matheson replied to CJSTEVENS1955 | 10 years ago
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CJSTEVENS1955 wrote:

You bloody Brits take everything so personally, you cant even see when your being wound up.

Not so much that, it's that the TV license robbery helps pay him to do it. That and he's a complete dick on & off screen, as has been noted ad nauseam.

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big mick replied to CJSTEVENS1955 | 10 years ago
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CJSTEVENS1955 wrote:

You bloody Brits take everything so personally, you cant even see when your being wound up.

It's not that.The half wit cavs buy Clarksons patter as truth and put our lives at risk every day because of it.That I take personally

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duc888 replied to CJSTEVENS1955 | 10 years ago
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Quote
'You bloody Brits take everything so personally, you cant even see when your being wound up.

CJStevens'

well at least we can spell 'you're'

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Hector Ch | 10 years ago
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"in face omitted" ?

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don simon fbpe | 10 years ago
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Got it now. The whole selfish cyclist taking up half the road thing was a publicity stunt. Clever folks these marketeers.

Quote:

When will they leave the road tax shite alone.Road tax does not and has not existed since I think 1936.If cyclist had VED it would cost £0 anyway.

I wonder if JC is aware of this.......

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Miles253 | 10 years ago
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Top gear is funny, if clarkson wasn't a twat it wouldn't be

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Jack Osbourne snr | 10 years ago
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His entire fortune has been made on his skill in being provocative and controversial.

I love Jeremy Clarkson.

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big mick replied to Jack Osbourne snr | 10 years ago
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Jack Osbourne snr wrote:

His entire fortune has been made on his skill in being provocative and controversial.

I love Jeremy Clarkson.

I don't I would like to kick him in the balls hard and while I was at it do the same to his mate Dave.When will they leave the road tax shite alone.Road tax does not and has not existed since I think 1936.If cyclist had VED it would cost £0 anyway.  102

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AyBee replied to Jack Osbourne snr | 10 years ago
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Jack Osbourne snr wrote:

His entire fortune has been made on his skill in being provocative and controversial.

I love Jeremy Clarkson.

Quite agree. And this article is posting him in the worst light possible to try and get an angry reaction from readers - pointless.

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Notsofast | 10 years ago
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Loving the lycra over jeans look  1
His on screen character is there to provoke, really you should all know by now his tongue is permanently attached to his cheek.
Looking forward to TG tonight

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Bikebikebike replied to Notsofast | 10 years ago
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Notsofast wrote:

Loving the lycra over jeans look  1
His on screen character is there to provoke, really you should all know by now his tongue is permanently attached to his cheek.
Looking forward to TG tonight

Maybe. But the photo-ing and harrassing of the cyclist taking the lane was real-life Clarkson in the real-life world acting every inch the braying and bullying twunt most (reasonable) people think he is.

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Nick T replied to Bikebikebike | 10 years ago
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Bikebikebike wrote:

Maybe. But the photo-ing and harrassing of the cyclist taking the lane was real-life Clarkson in the real-life world acting every inch the braying and bullying twunt most (reasonable) people think he is.

Has the shocking coincidence of the timing of that event and the new series of TG featuring a segment on cycling been that lost on you?

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giobox replied to Bikebikebike | 10 years ago
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Bikebikebike wrote:
Notsofast wrote:

Loving the lycra over jeans look  1
His on screen character is there to provoke, really you should all know by now his tongue is permanently attached to his cheek.
Looking forward to TG tonight

Maybe. But the photo-ing and harrassing of the cyclist taking the lane was real-life Clarkson in the real-life world acting every inch the braying and bullying twunt most (reasonable) people think he is.

I really doubt it was real life him. Clarkson's twitter feed is just as much a part of his stage persona as the show.

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Bikebikebike replied to giobox | 10 years ago
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giobox wrote:
Bikebikebike wrote:
Notsofast wrote:

Loving the lycra over jeans look  1
His on screen character is there to provoke, really you should all know by now his tongue is permanently attached to his cheek.
Looking forward to TG tonight

Maybe. But the photo-ing and harrassing of the cyclist taking the lane was real-life Clarkson in the real-life world acting every inch the braying and bullying twunt most (reasonable) people think he is.

I really doubt it was real life him. Clarkson's twitter feed is just as much a part of his stage persona as the show.

Not sure it was his twitter feed shouting at a cyclist who had just nearly been run off his bike. I would say that was him.

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Chuck replied to Notsofast | 10 years ago
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Notsofast wrote:

Loving the lycra over jeans look  1
His on screen character is there to provoke, really you should all know by now his tongue is permanently attached to his cheek.
Looking forward to TG tonight

I'm with Bikebikebike on this. I used to suspect his on screen character was just that, and he's not quite such a buffoon in real life. The twitter thing makes me think I've given him too much credit there.
And even if that were the case, the idea that he should get some sort of free pass on the way he behaves and the stuff he says because it's "Jezza", and he's just having a laugh, and people who don't get it are humourless CTC members, is pretty lame. He's got a massive audience and I think a lot of people are very ready to believe that he's up there "telling it like it is", and that should be challenged.

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700c | 10 years ago
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His humour thrives on people who take him seriously. Please, just don't!

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oo03sjw | 10 years ago
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Looks lke his airbag has deployed.

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Rouboy | 10 years ago
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How can someone who so overtly hates cyclists ever do us any favours. Once an A hole always an..........!!

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congokid | 10 years ago
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spotten?

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JohnnyRemo | 10 years ago
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Clarkson always leaves the tags on for "comic" effect...

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