Hammond talks sense

Posted by Jon Sparks May 8, 2007

I made a passing reference to Jeremy Clarkson in my last blog, which may have mystified non-UK readers. Lucky you. Clarkson is one of the presenters of a BBC motoring show called Top Gear. Once a serious programme about cars it seems (needless to say, I don’t watch it) to have become more and more a light entertainment show.

However, Clarkson’s idea of entertainment is mostly to ridicule anyone who doesn’t share his particular, if not peculiar, set of values. Clarkson is a standard-bearer for the unregenerate petrolheads, and notoriously scathing about cyclists, not to mention pedestrians, caravans, and indeed almost any other road-user.

One of his co-presenters on Top Gear is Richard Hammond, who last year attracted a lot of publicity after narrowly surviving a 280 mph crash in a dragster, and doggedly fighting back to health. Now it seems bicycles may have played a part in his recovery, or at least in giving him a good base level of fitness to start from.

In a recent magazine interview, Hammond comments that he’s always loved cycling and regularly uses a bike as a practical way to get around town, while getting some exercise into the bargain. But he adds that Clarkson constantly ridicules him for doing so. (Makes me wonder just what Jeremy Clarkson is so scared of).

Incidentally, Hammond also comments that driving around London in a 4x4 is ‘pretty unnecessary.’

This inspires mixed feelings. On the one hand, Richard Hammond’s comments suggest that there may be hope for the world yet. On the other hand, it’s almost sad that simple common sense like this should (a) be so newsworthy and (b) be held up to ridicule by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson. Who, unfortunately, is still taken seriously by a lot of people.