by Joe Jeffrey
Justice served as Ray Mears forfeits five figure fee following caravan gaffe
Survival expert Ray Mears has been sensationally dropped from the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2015 following a diatribe on Room 101 in which he branded caravans “hideous” and “ghastly”.
The outdoor enthusiast proved he was less than enthusiastic about caravans during his appearance on the BBC’s Room 101, as revealed on CaravanTimes earlier this week, when he chose caravans as his top pet hate during the show’s ‘wild card’ round.
On the subject of caravans, the bushtrail and survivalist expert said: “I just think they’re hideous. Huge swathes of our coastline are just covered in these things.”
Describing caravans as something akin to “mobile breadbins,” Mears went on: “I wouldn’t mind so much if they could be painted green, but they have to be painted white.
“You go down to Devon and all you can see are cities of these displaced urban people in their ghastly white caravans.”
Pelican Communications, promoters of the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, which takes place at Birmingham’s NEC between 17 and 22 February have since confirmed Mears’ sacking, saying: “We booked Ray Mears in November, after the show was filmed, and there was never any mention of what he had said when we signed him up.
“There was no way we can now have him come along to speak at our event, he has slagged off the community we are in charge of promoting and protecting.
“We can’t align with someone who doesn’t agree with our core values. He has insulted the people who come to the show.
“It’s all a bit elitist, saying that you are okay going outdoors if you are staying in a man-made shelter.
“It’s a shame because we are all about getting kids off their backside and into the outdoors, an ideology I’d have thought we would have shared.
“He has lost a five figure sum.”
CaravanTimes reached out to Mears following his appearance on the show, but has yet to have received comment.
People power has certainly prevailed, and it certainly looks as though show organisers have sat up and listened to caravanners’ comments in light of Mears’ appearance on Room 101 and the news which followed on CaravanTimes.
If you didn’t catch what Mears said the first time round, check it out from the 22-minute mark below, whilst patting yourself on the back if you were one of the many caravanners who took it upon themselves to make their opinion heard.
And remember to make sure you let us know what you think of the disposal of Raymondo’s services in our comments below; after all, it really is apparent that your comments count. So much so in fact that, in order to celebrate the strong community spirit shown, we’ve decided to set up a new competition for you to win tickets to the show. Click here to enter now.
