Well, seeing as I started this thread, I'm going to stick my pennies worth in before it gets lost.
Clarkson has made his name by being out spoken to the extent of appearing to be a loud mouth dicksomethingorother (the mods watching). It's how he makes a living and up to yet he's not done a bad job. Most of what he says is tongue-in-cheek, weighted to provoke a reaction, much like an old member of this forum, for example the bike story, do you really think that if he had the power to implement wires across the road that he actually would? However the similarities stop there, for there is a depth to Clarkson most people don't or prefer not to see.
This man knows he isn't immortal; he knows his faults and can accept them. He champions the man on the street and something that according to this forum is most treasured, freedom of speech. No other gets away with being so unpolitically correct than he does, he's allowed to do it because at the same time nobody takes him seriously. He likes getting to the facts, cutting red tape and highlighting failures in government where they need highlighting. Let's take pollution for example; he and his team are responsible for showing that the total pollution in the UK caused by cars is less than that caused by the process of making cement in this country. Now I don't know if this is correct, but I don't see anyone challenging the fact. This puts into perspective where the pollution comes from and gives us the public something we can use to compare and properly judge our own effects on the environment. A lot easier than just a bunch of solitary CO2 figures to digest wouldn't you say.
Ok nearing the end now. Let's talk of Top Gear, this program was cancelled, it had run its course viewing figures were down, the program was old and stale. We did without it for a time and that was when Fifth Gear took up the gauntlet using the style of the old Top Gear. It was ok but we didn't know any better at the time, which was until TG was re-launched and now we do know better. Now we have found what entertainment in the motoring world can be like. True a few caravans have been lost in the process but even these were old and probably dangerous, but the fun is back in the program and viewing figures speak for themselves. Read some of his books, try to cut through the chaff, and understand the man before you start calling him names. He probably wouldn't do it for you, but then he is Clarkson.