Clarkson joins list of celebrity TomTom voiceovers

[prydey]

http://www.news.com.au/technology/to...ws-newsfeed-23

THE outspoken "Top Gear" presenter and The (London) Sunday Times columnist Jeremy Clarkson has been recruited by TomTom, Europe's biggest GPS system maker, to provide the voice for its latest gadget.

The company aims to cash in on the popularity of the BBC motoring show, which is watched by more than eight million people in Britain and has spawned versions across the globe.

Instead of the usual instruction to "Do a U-turn where possible," Clarkson will be telling drivers in no uncertain terms to execute a hand brake turn where safe to do so. "It is mostly about the tone of voice I use," Clarkson said.

"There's a tone of voice I use when ordering people to do things, so, 'I said left, left, I said left', you know, that kind of thing. It's not a gentle sat nav [GPS system] voice, put it like that," he added.

Recruiting Clarkson will be a popular move among the legion of Top Gear fans, but it is also a shrewd business move by TomTom and BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC.

Top Gear is by far the most lucrative earner for the corporation in terms of overseas sales, where it is watched in 170 countries.

Clarkson joins a select group of celebrity GPS system artistes. Ozzy Osbourne, Snoop Dogg and Sir Roger Moore, as well as Dan Castellaneta, who supplies the voice of Homer Simpson, have all contributed soundtracks for TomTom.

Garmin, its rival, offers Yoda, Darth Vader and the Saracens rugby team.

it would be funny if they used James May as a voice, considering his great navigational skills. you be constantly called a pillock and have him saying 'oh c**k'.

i don't own a sat nav, but i think its good how they are offering a range of voices. Yoda would be funny! i'm guessing if you make a wrong turn with Homer simpson, you willl get a big D'oh!