The BBC has paid a parish R3 085 after outspoken British motoring personality and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson rammed a 30-year-old chestnut tree with a Toyota bakkie – just to make his point.
The BBC has paid a parish R3 085 in compensation after outspoken British motoring personality and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson rammed a 30-year-old chestnut tree with a Toyota bakkie – just to make his point.
Clarkson, the star of the show (which South Africans can watch on the BBC Prime television channel), rammed the tree in the North Somerset village of Churchill, in west of England, to demonstrate how tough the truck was .
didn’t reveal where Clarkson conducted the stunt, but “we looked at the tree (after the programme was aired) and saw red paint and glass, so I contacted the BBC,” said Churchill parish council deputy chairman and church warden Pam Millward.
“After a few days the director of Top Gear admitted guilt and sent us 250 pounds (about R3 085) to be used as we see fit,” Millward said, adding: “I was amazed and annoyed at the cheek that they can turn up and damage the tree like that. They claimed they couldn’t ask permission as there was nobody to ask but there’s a notice board with numbers very nearby”.
The tree was badly scarred by the stunt, and a tree expert told Millward that it will probably suffer from woodworm and rot.
A spokesman for the BBC, said: “Top Gear have unreservedly apologised to the parish council for driving the pick-up into the tree. In acknowledgement of this, we have sent the parish council a donation for them to use as they feel is appropriate.”
