David Cameron is sticking his neck out a long way it appears....dangerous to get involved I would say.

Coogan makes some good points. There is a tendency to make light of underlying prejudice and make it into a joke.

I did think he contradicted himself about TG using stereotypes, when he himself says:

"I can tell you from my own experience, living in the US, Mexicans work themselves to the bone doing all the dirty thankless jobs that the white middle-class natives won't do."

He may have good intentions, but this in itself is a stereotype, and does nothing to dispel the idea that Mexicans are down at heal slaves to the middle classes.

I didn't read it like that at all. I think he was saying that rather than being feckless and lazy, it is Mexicans that do all the hard and dirty jobs. I don't think he intimates that all Mexicans do that or that's the only thing Mexicans do, rather that Mexicans are prepared to work harder than the typical US middle classes. If anything it is they, the Middle classes, who are being stereotyped.

Don't think anybody can replace clarkson! Let's be honest if you like top gear you are generally entertained by the laddish banter that goes on and the amazing road trips
Clarkson can come across as a clown at times but there is usually a serious twist to him on car reviews and contrary to what has been said previously I think he comes across really well on the road trips and documentaries with a factual but fun manner
The Falklands road trip for one was brilliant anyway enough said on clarkson

Nobody can fill his shoes Guy as nice as he is would drown trying to fill the roll he just does not seem to have the ability to be nasty to anybody in a funny way!
there is only one Jeremy clarkson and anybody that tries to fill that roll
would only be imitating clarkson

So the best way forward for me is for the 3 of them to quit and start up on a different channel and let the bbc go back to the likes of tiff! Oh my god!
Anyway not sure if clarkson is hinting at quitting his style of entertainment or just quitting the bbc
Hope he comes back somewhere and yes I suppose adverts would be annoying but looks like that's the only option I can see!

The fact that Clarkson himself apparently reported the confrontation shortly before his contract was due to expire, suggests that he may have been looking for a way to get out of Top Gear without letting his fans know that he was bored with it.

He has made his millions out of it and "Just look - The nasty old BBC have kicked me out and ruined all my fans' viewing time"

And "Sorry Hammond and Mays but the BBC have killed your jobs off when they fired me."

I have been accused of cynicism before.

Of interest is that the punchbag is not saying very much, and what is said is via a lawyer.