It has been “gently “ suggested that this section needs a little spice. With that in mind, but not digressing too far from the established mode, we introduce this month’s personality, Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson. Clarkson began life as a journalist and has since branched out into authoring books on motoring, farming and his personal opinionated views on all things ranging from the environment to politics, farming, and transgender issues. In addition, he has established himself as a top television presenter and regular columnist for The Sunday Times [repeated in The Australian] and The Sun. As a farmer he has starred in the farming documentary Clarkson’s Farm and as a TV host he introduces Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Of course Jeremy Clarkson is best known for presenting the motoring television programme Top Gear. This gig ended prematurely in 2015 when the BBC failed to renew the contract as a consequence of Clarkson’s assault of one of the Top Gear Producers. This resulted in him and co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond move to produce The Grand Tour for Amazon Prime Video. The Grand Tour ran from 2016 to 2024, when by mutual agreement the programme ceased and Clarkson moved on to present his farming documentary Clarkson’s farm, where with his usual humorous style he portrayed farming life on his Cotswold property Diddly Squat. This show again highlighted his controversial approach to regulatory authorities and led to litigation to establish his restaurant on the farm.

Outside of his writing and presenting motoring shows, Clarkson has also diversified into other areas of TV entertainment. In 1998 he took on a talk show, Clarkson, where he interviewed musicians, politicians and television personalities. He also went on to present documentaries on history and engineering. He is a controversial personality and his tongue-in-cheek writing style is clear from the titles of his books:

               . Born to Be Riled.

               . The World According to Clarkson.

               . And Another Thing.

               . For Crying Out Loud.

               . How Hard Can It Be.

               . Is it Really Too Much to Ask

               . If You’d Just Let Me Finish.

We have in Jeremy Clarkson the original grumpy old man and his writing is reflective of his great capacity to upset and/or humour people.