Jeremy Clarkson has admitted he would like to emulate Gary Lineker's kindness and tolerance but finds the prospect too exhausting. The Clarkson's Farm host, 66, revealed he has enjoyed being hailed as a "national treasure" since disclosing his prostate cancer battle, receiving "boxes and boxes of letters and cards" from well-wishers worldwide. However, he concedes that maintaining a permanently amiable persona would be unrealistic for someone of his temperament.
Clarkson's Cancer Revelation and Public Response
In a recent column, Clarkson wrote that he had been touched by the public's reaction to his cancer diagnosis. He noted that people called for him to be knighted and "carried around in a sedan chair by six greased eunuchs." "Being seen as a nice person rather than a troublemaker was just so relaxing," he said. "For the past few weeks I've been wondering if maybe, at the age of 66, I should become an adult."
Comparing Himself to Gary Lineker
Clarkson explained that he has always liked the former England footballer and Match of the Day presenter, despite their disagreements. He referenced a recent podcast where Lineker used the term "the Falklands or the Malvinas" when discussing the England vs Argentina World Cup semi-final, sparking controversy. Clarkson interpreted this as a diplomatic move and considered adopting a similar approach. "I thought, 'yes, that's what I must do from now on'," he wrote.
The Exhausting Nature of Diplomacy
However, Clarkson quickly realised the impracticality of constant diplomacy. He listed hypothetical scenarios: referring to Berlin as "Germany or Deutschland," the Uffizi as "Florence or Firenze," and the English Channel as "La Manche." He noted that avoiding offence would require careful consideration of his food, shoes, holidays, newspapers, expressions, political views, friends, car, actors, and opinions on Gaza and Hamas. "Sounds like being Gary could well be very time consuming," he remarked.
Clarkson's Struggle with Restraint
Clarkson acknowledged that turning the other cheek, as advocated by Jesus and Lineker, is difficult for someone like him who has "spent his life throwing rocks in ponds to watch the ripples." He described an incident on his farm where filming was repeatedly interrupted by light aircraft. While Jesus and Lineker would advise deep breaths, Clarkson admitted being consumed with a desire to find the pilots' homes and "set fire to them." He concluded, "Yes, I'd lose my national treasure status. But at least I could get some work done."
