John Prescott’s clash with Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear audience goes viral

In a statement, his family said: “We are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father and grandfather, John Prescott, passed away peacefully yesterday at the age of 86.

“He did so surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.

“John spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment, doing so from his time as a waiter on the cruise liners to becoming Britain’s longest serving Deputy Prime Minister.”

Reminded of Prescott’s hilarious appearance on Top Gear. Fearlessly goes up against the live audience to bat for the M4 bus lane. pic.twitter.com/7CiCSLTcEa

— max tempers (@maxtempers) November 21, 2024

An experienced politician known for his fiery temper and no-nonsense attitude, Lord Prescott frequently clashed with those on the other side of the political spectrum.

After the news of his death spread, an interview with former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson resurfaced on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Back in 2011, Prescott was a guest on the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment of the popular BBC2 show.

Prescott was booed when he made his entrance and on more than one occasion got to his feet to remonstrate with the Top Gear audience following Clarkson’s provocation.

“Punching a protester and calling it “connecting with the electorate” is quality”

Largely, the M4 lane that Prescott created in 1999. Known to some at the time as Prescott’s Folly.

“What in the name of all that’s holy were you thinking when you said ‘let’s put a bus lane on the M4’,” asked Clarkson.

To which Prescott replied: “I’m going to introduce you to a revolutionary thought. You can go slower and you can get there quicker and that’s to do with flow.”

Throughout the interview, Prescott and Clarkson butted heads continuously, even to the point where the former said: “Hold on, just give your b***** brain a chance,” to Clarkson’s annoyance.

Users in the comments were impressed by the interview.

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One said: “What is interesting about this clip is even though he and @JeremyClarkson plainly disagree and the audience are largely with Clarkson there is none of the toxicity which is the legacy of Brexit, Johnson and 14 years of Tory chaos. We must re learn how to disagree without hatred”.

Another recalled a Prescott quote: “Punching a protester and calling it “connecting with the electorate” is quality”.

Whilst someone else commented: “A great video and actually just a sensible chat between the two – feisty but also fair. Current government would benefit from some of the more common sense direct communication Prescott brings to manage some of the misinformation that currently does the rounds.”