Jeremy Clarkson has once again voiced his skepticism about the BAFTA Awards, despite having received multiple nominations over the years. The 65-year-old presenter, well-known for his work on Top Gear and Clarkson’s Farm, revealed he has no intention of attending the ceremony, expressing his belief that the awards are not genuinely meant for people like him.
Throughout his career on Top Gear alone, Clarkson was nominated three times but never won. In his recent column for the Sunday Times, he humorously remarked that BAFTAs aren’t handed out to individuals who “drive round corners too quickly whilst criticising Sir Keir Starmer.”
Clarkson shared that in his office, he has a “wall of failure” where he displays the certificates from all his unsuccessful nominations. He described the nominations as symbolic gestures rather than genuine recognition, comparing them to leaving a small tip for a waiter who has provided poor service: “You don’t want him to think you forgot.”
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In a pointed critique, Clarkson suggested that nominees feel compelled to attend the awards as part of a “festival of inclusivity,” only to applaud winners who represent diverse backgrounds, citing examples like “someone with a club foot and a turban, who’s made a show about an HIV positive slave.”
The criticism comes amidst controversy surrounding the award ceremony, where a racial slur was broadcast live. The incident involved John Davidson, whose life with Tourette’s syndrome inspired the film I Swear. The BBC later apologized for the offensive broadcast.
Ironically, Clarkson admitted he “wished he’d been there” to witness the incident, despite rarely attending the event himself. He also sarcastically remarked that he would “give my left [something]” to see the BBC’s behind-the-scenes discussions about whether or not to air the moment.
This controversy followed another BBC editing decision during the ceremony when an acceptance speech containing the phrase “Free Palestine” was removed from the broadcast. Clarkson remarked that this incident itself could inspire a film titled When Bandwagons Collide, joking it might even win a BAFTA.
In related news, actor Delroy Lindo, who presented at the BAFTAs and was part of the controversy, expressed gratitude at the NAACP Image Awards in California for the overwhelming support he and co-star Michael B. Jordan have received. Lindo described the situation as a transformation from negative to positive and thanked everyone for standing with them.