Jeremy Clarkson represents the prime example of a modern day, educated Brit: Cosmopolitan and open-minded but also very patriotic on the brink of chauvinistic at the same time. It's typical for the ambivalent nature of modern Britain.
The thing is, though, that Britains aren't really very proud of what Britain has become. They are proud of what it used to be. And they constantly bemoan the loss of former glory, especially since in their opinion it was taken from them without them doing anything wrong. At least that's my perception. If I'm totally wrong, please correct me. It's quite the opposite to Germans: We are proud of what Germany is today but are deeply ashamed of what it used to be.
Fact is, that what we call the "Western World" today, is rooted in the British Empire. Colonisation (after they beat the Spanish) and industrialisation made them the leaders of what became our modern world. Jeremy Clarkson is actually right, when he says, that the world owes Great Britain a lot. I don't want to put all they did on a pedestal (there also was a lot of bad stuff coming from colonisation) but that's still some really big thing you can be proud of.
And that all slipped through their fingers. The brilliant engineering is still a lingering skill in modern Britain but somehow they can't manage to put it on a large scale anymore, so they can compete with other nations. It nags on them, that their former competitors and enemies have overtaken them in many sectors and that Britain today is just another European country.
From all those things comes Jeremy Clarkson's (and many Brits) attitude. Frankly I have no idea, how much of it is put on and how much of it is really his thoughts. What I noticed, though, is when he generalizes, he does it with countries and stereotypes. When he's with individuals, be it Americans, Germans, French or others, he is extremely friendly and open-minded with them in a way I wish everyone would be.
Jeremy Clarkson is a man, who knows and accepts the reality of today and can even show admiration for the achievement of others. But he is also a bit stuck in the lost glory of his home country and tries to keep its dignity and shine a light on what it is (or could be), despite of all that's going on.
One can discuss, if all his remarks and comments are tasteful or appropriate but one thing is absolutely clear: When it comes to it, he is the harshest critic of his own country, too. No need to tell him what's wrong with Britain today.
And that is what many, who bash or criticize him, ignore or simply blind out.