Maybe due to the Jade Goody reference in the Stigtro? (Jeremy called her a racist, pig-faced waste of blood and organs or something. She died of cancer last year.) I don't think they'd pull it because of The Crash footage.
I would've thought they could just cut the Jade Goody reference if they were worried - I know that channel Dave never shows that episode - and that is because of the crash footage. But it is a shame it's not available for whatever reason.
Hrm. That's a good point. They have shown 9x01 somewhat recently, but I didn't watch it so I don't know if it's still in there. It was there well before she died, though.
Is there anyway to find out what the download figures are for these episodes are? Would be interested to see how popular legal episodes are over the other side of the pond.
And the removal of 09x01 is very strange. If it is the Goody reference then surely they could edit that bit out. It's Proberley that the BBC are not happy about that episode being seen these days and so block it from being sold/shown.
But it's been seen fairly recently on BBCA (within the last month or so, IIRC), so they can't be that unhappy about it. It's only Dave that has an embargo on it, it seems. (That said, anyone watching on BBC World or BBC Prime know if they skip over 9x01?)
Mabey its just (and this is a wild card here) that Hammond himself didnt want people to be able to watch himself crash over and over again. not in a petty way, just in a lets all move on way. Idk. If it was the goody refrence though they would have cut it. Anyway its not like jade goody jokes have gone out of fashion since she died... a friend of mine was doing his best big brother impression this morning and said
"day 374 in the big brother coffin. and jade is still sleeping." to which my other friend responded "Jades 24 hour coffin cam will be screening through the night on E4"
What. A few of my friends have... unusual senses of humour