Tag Archives: Top Gear

Sue Perkins Quits Twitter After Death Threats Over Top Gear Rumours

Out TV presenter Sue Perkins has said she is taking a break from Twitter after she received threats over rumours that she would take over as host of Top Gear.

Tweeting this morning, Perkins said: “Guys, post the utterly fabricated story about me & Top Gear, my timeline has been full of blokes wishing me dead…” “This morning, someone suggested they’d like to see me burn to death,” she said in a separate message. She went on: “All of which goes to say that I am off Twitter for a bit. Love and peace x.”

Also read: Sue Perkins Responds to the Dinosaurs on Twitter Who Think a Gay Woman Shouldn’t Replace Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear

A number of fans tweeted their support for star including her girlfriend Anna Richardson also hit out at trolls, and asked people to tweet their support for Sue with a selfie:

Sue Perkins Responds to the Dinosaurs on Twitter Who Think a Gay Woman Shouldn’t Replace Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear

Out comic, Sue Perkins, is in the driving seat to take over presenting the driving show Top Gear – being made even odds among the bookmakers.

However, the fact she is lesbian, replacing the male presenter Jeremy Clarkson is causing some concern.

The BBC show is the most watched factual TV programme in the world, and it would be a huge step towards visual representation for LGBT people on television.

But there are those who don’t think Perkins, who also presents the BBC’s The Great British Bake Off – should take the driving seat.

Also read: Channel 4’s TV Presenter Anna Richardson Announces Her Relationship With Out Comedian Sue Perkins

Numerous tweets were sent to the TV star, accusing the BBC of ‘box-ticking’ and that she should ‘stay in the kitchen’.

Perkins, currently filming in Bengal, delivered the perfect response.

Just back from night shoot in Kolkata sewers to find my timeline busy with middle-aged man-trolls. General gist: Man do cars, woman do cake.

Anyway, whatever bullshit is blowing in the UK, I wish you all night night from steamy Bengal. Xx

In March this year, Jeremy Clarkson’s contract was not renewed following an internal BBC investigation. It was found he attacked Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him.

The BBC has repeatedly had to defend Top Gear of accusations of homophobia, with in 2009 a gay couple claiming they had been denied tickets just because of their sexuality.

Clarkson has also referred to cars he doesn’t like as ‘ginger beer’, the rhyming slang for ‘queer’.