Tanks for your support! Reinstate Clarkson petition delivered to BBC by tank
Top Gear’s anonymous racing driver, ‘The Stig,’ arrived at the BBC in a tank to deliver a petition demanding the broadcaster reinstate scandal-magnet Jeremy Clarkson.
The driver, a helmeted character on the motoring TV show, could be seen holding a box containing “one million signatures” atop a 17 tonne Abbott tank outside the BBC’s broadcasting house.
Clarkson was suspended from Top Gear after an alleged ‘fracas’ in which he is reported to have punched a producer for not laying on hot food for the show’s crew during filming.
'STIG' DELIVERS MILLION SIGNATURE CLARKSON PETITION TO BBC... IN A TANK http://t.co/zPwIu4fK1opic.twitter.com/IR82bwLwcK
— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) March 20, 2015
The stunt was organized by political blogger Guido Fawkes. The petition was around 8,000 signatures shy of one million.
The Metropolitan Police was forced to issue a public statement, for fear the sight of a tank rolling through London’s streets may startle motorists and pedestrians.
Police have issued an advisory on the @GuidoFawkes tank. Apparently around Islington atm http://t.co/J7jvF5Mpjjpic.twitter.com/URKEjsswTg
— Jules Mattsson (@julesmattsson) March 20, 2015
The verdict on Clarkson’s permanent suspension from the channel is due next week. He is alleged to have punched Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon and called him “lazy, Irish c**t,” leaving him with a bloody lip and requiring medical treatment.
Can you imagine if ... This was any other protest group. Pointing a gun tank at the BBC? #Clarksonpic.twitter.com/eESHiVWzTI
— Sophia Cannon (@UndercoverMutha) March 20, 2015
The Change.org petition, however, has seen the television personality garner a huge amount of public support, and is believed to be one of the fastest growing online petitions ever.
Media awaits stig in a tank outside the #BBC#clarkson - apparently it's broken down... pic.twitter.com/mjdTpDSoS6
— Emily Unia (@BBCEmilyUnia) March 20, 2015
The petition calls for “freedom to fracas,” and demands the BBC give Clarkson his presenting position back. His co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May have reportedly refused to present the show without him.
Tank stunt at #BBC HQ to bring back Clarkson. Well, it beat the damp squib eclipse for excitement. pic.twitter.com/m710F4SVkC
— Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) March 20, 2015
Brie Rogers Lowery, UK director of Change.org, told The Independent: “The pace at which this petition grew was interesting to watch, but it’s quite different to most of the petitions we see on the site.
“Most petitions on Change.org that go on to win do so with 100 signatures or less – so while the number of signatories does make a great story, it is not the only way to measure a petition's impact.”
