It was the right decision, but also the stupidest decision the BBC has ever made.
Yes, you can't go around punching co-workers. It is, as has been correctly identified, a sackable offense, and any organisation with any inkling of a duty of care to it's employees would immediately dismiss someone who did such a thing. It was absolutely, the right decision.
On the flip side, its a lose lose situation for everyone involved. The BBC has lost one of it's most popular shows and biggest money earners, Oisin Tymon has already suffered cyber bullying (though the fact that such repercussions are not as extensive as was initially anticipated is most likely down to Jeremy Clarkson's behaviour after the event, which was pretty exemplary - reporting himself to the BBC, and the only statement made to reporters being to ask them to "Leave Ois alone" - otherwise I doubt he would ever feel able to work again. That said, it's not as if he himself hasn't been a victim of misdirected violence), and the only person in any position to come out on top is Jeremy Clarkson (there are, afterall, other networks).
But the real sting is going to be felt by the BBC. Top Gear was the only show they, or frankly indeed any other British broadcaster, produced that does not appear to have aimed at the two golden demographics - housewives and 16-20 year old males. That is why it has upset a lot of people - it was the only thing they watched, and there is nothing to replace it. It's not like "Location Location Location" which, if it gets cancelled, well...you can always watch "Homes Under the Hammer".
There were also ways around it, as far as the BBC was concerned. There is strong reason to suspect that this was not the outcome Oisin Tymon wanted, and there would have been other ways to punish Clarkson without shooting themselves in the foot. But such a thing would require an imagination - something in short supply at the BBC. And now they have to find something new those who aren't desperately obsessed with other peoples houses or what other people are cooking.
Frankly, the only thing to pull out of this whole mess is the fact that petitions aren't worth the paper they are printed on. I mean, if a broadcaster (TV, let us not kid ourselves, relies entirely on the popularity of its shows to survive) won't refrain from firing someone based on a million signatures, I doubt that Monsanto really gives a halfpenny jizz for your 5,000 signature petition to give free milk to Peruvians or what have you
Yes, you can't go around punching co-workers. It is, as has been correctly identified, a sackable offense, and any organisation with any inkling of a duty of care to it's employees would immediately dismiss someone who did such a thing. It was absolutely, the right decision.
On the flip side, its a lose lose situation for everyone involved. The BBC has lost one of it's most popular shows and biggest money earners, Oisin Tymon has already suffered cyber bullying (though the fact that such repercussions are not as extensive as was initially anticipated is most likely down to Jeremy Clarkson's behaviour after the event, which was pretty exemplary - reporting himself to the BBC, and the only statement made to reporters being to ask them to "Leave Ois alone" - otherwise I doubt he would ever feel able to work again. That said, it's not as if he himself hasn't been a victim of misdirected violence), and the only person in any position to come out on top is Jeremy Clarkson (there are, afterall, other networks).
But the real sting is going to be felt by the BBC. Top Gear was the only show they, or frankly indeed any other British broadcaster, produced that does not appear to have aimed at the two golden demographics - housewives and 16-20 year old males. That is why it has upset a lot of people - it was the only thing they watched, and there is nothing to replace it. It's not like "Location Location Location" which, if it gets cancelled, well...you can always watch "Homes Under the Hammer".
There were also ways around it, as far as the BBC was concerned. There is strong reason to suspect that this was not the outcome Oisin Tymon wanted, and there would have been other ways to punish Clarkson without shooting themselves in the foot. But such a thing would require an imagination - something in short supply at the BBC. And now they have to find something new those who aren't desperately obsessed with other peoples houses or what other people are cooking.
Frankly, the only thing to pull out of this whole mess is the fact that petitions aren't worth the paper they are printed on. I mean, if a broadcaster (TV, let us not kid ourselves, relies entirely on the popularity of its shows to survive) won't refrain from firing someone based on a million signatures, I doubt that Monsanto really gives a halfpenny jizz for your 5,000 signature petition to give free milk to Peruvians or what have you