Clarkson satnav voice axed
2011-10-17 08:29
SATNAV DEAL: UK customers will have to move fast to grab a special TomTom satnav featuring Jeremy Clarkson’s voice - the BeebC has axed further production.
Earlier in 2011 we reported that TomTom users in the UK could purchase a special edition devive featuring Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson as a satnav voice. Now the BBC has made a humiliating U-turn after breaking its own editorial guidelines by marketing Clarkson’s voice.
Bosses at BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial arm, forgot to check their own rules. According to the BBC’s conflict of interest rules, presenters “must take particular care not to endorse any product or service which could be covered in the programmes on which they work”.
Halford's (a cars parts franchise) had signed a deal with the BBC and satnav specialist TomTom to stock the product, which costs £180 (about R2240). The BBC reports that 54 000 devices are already on the shelves.
BBC Worldwide will now donate the proceeds to Children In Need.
'NOT A GENTLE VOICE'
Clarkson style told The Sunday Times: “It is mostly about the tone of voice I use. There’s a tone of voice I use when ordering people to do things. It’s not a gentle satnav voice, put it like that.”
Clarkson will not receive any money from sales.
A Halford's spokesman said: “We are disappointed by the BBC decision on behalf of our customers who told us they loved the product. It was proving hugely popular. While we have plenty of stock we will not be able to replace them when they are gone, so the strident tones of voice of Clarkson will be appearing in Halford's for a limited time and then be silenced. - at least on a satnav.”
The' Go Live Top Gear' edition had a special Stig mode, which rendered the device instantly silent.
Of course the cynical among us can't help but wonder: Did the BBC loves the publiciity? Did Halford's "conspire" in the deal - are Clarkson & Co once again possibly misleading their millions of fans? Actually, who cares...
