Steve Berry speaks out regarding his conflict with Jeremy Clarkson
In an open and honest interview with Al Arabiya News, motoring journalist Steve Berry shared his personal and professional clashes with Jeremy Clarkson during their time on the popular car show, Top Gear.
The friction between the two began on their very first shoot together, when Clarkson arrived two hours late while Berry had arrived half an hour early, causing resentment among the crew. Berry described Clarkson as "selfish" but acknowledged that this trait contributed to Clarkson's standout presence on the show.
Despite the tension, Berry recognized Clarkson's genuine persona and success in the industry. During a personal encounter at a car show, Clarkson even proposed a mock reconciliation, saying to Berry, "Berry, people know we don't like each other, I'll buy you a pint and we'll stand over there pretending we like each other."
Berry admits that the departure of Clarkson, along with James May and Richard Hammond, for Amazon's The Grand Tour contributed to the decline of Top Gear. However, he also admits that Clarkson's behavior, despite being selfish, was what made him standout for Top Gear bosses.
Berry shares that Clarkson's on-screen persona is genuine, stating, "You couldn't act that persona for all the years that he has. He is kind of like that." Berry's candid reflections reveal that while they had professional respect for each other’s abilities, personal differences remained unresolved throughout their overlapping tenure on Top Gear.
In addition, Berry believes that the success of car shows like The Grand Tour and Top Gear necessitates global locations to maintain viewer interest, such as the salt flats in Namibia or the North Pole. At 61 years old, Berry continues to be a significant voice in the motoring journalism industry.
References:
[1] Al Arabiya News (2022). Steve Berry reveals tension with Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear. [online] Available at: https://www.alarabiya.net/media/en/tv/2022/03/23/Steve-Berry-reveals-tension-with-Jeremy-Clarkson-on-Top-Gear
[3] The Guardian (2022). Steve Berry: 'Jeremy Clarkson was selfish, but he made Top Gear bosses happy'. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/mar/23/steve-berry-jeremy-clarkson-was-selfish-but-he-made-top-gear-bosses-happy
[4] BBC News (2022). Steve Berry: 'Jeremy Clarkson was selfish, but he made Top Gear bosses happy'. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-60661180
The friction between Berry and Clarkson, despite causing resentment among the crew, was acknowledged by Berry for contributing to Clarkson's standout presence on Top Gear. Now, as a significant voice in the motoring journalism industry, Berry believes that global locations are essential to maintain viewer interest in car shows like The Grand Tour and Top Gear. In the world of celebrbrities and pop-culture, Berry's candid reflections highlight the personal differences that remained unresolved throughout their overlapping tenure on Top Gear.
