Jeremy Clarkson, the presenter of hit motoring shows such as Top Gear and The Grand Tour, has revealed that the character he portrays on screen is a “caricature.” Speaking to The Guardian ahead of the release of the third season of Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime Video, Clarkson shared how he acted as an exaggerated version of himself on television.
“Everyone assumes the character they see on motoring shows is me, but it’s exaggerated,” he shared. “To think that I was like I was on Top Gear is the same as thinking that Anthony Hopkins is a cannibal,” referring to the actor’s acclaimed role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence Of The Lambs.
He also spoke about previous dismissive comments he has made about global warming, now suggesting that they weren’t necessarily serious. “That was part of the caricature,” he shared. “It was a joke.” However, Clarkson did express concern about the impact of climate change, noting that he can now see the effects on a personal level.
Clarkson also weighed in on the topic of electric cars in the interview, suggesting that they won’t have a significant impact on climate change. “I won’t drive a Tesla,” he said. “I’ve probably got 10 cars, all with V8 engines. I don’t think electric cars solve anything. Science is going to be needed here, not politics. Science will solve it eventually. Always does.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Clarkson shared that he no longer feels the need to uphold his trademark controversial persona. “I don’t have to think, ‘Right, I’m going to say something stupidly provocative now.’ That’s relaxing,” he said. “Also, you don’t wake up every morning to find you’re in the middle of a tabloid maelstrom for something you’ve said or done.”
The third season of Clarkson’s Farm will arrive on Prime Video on May 3
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