Clarkson's first major television role came as one of the presenters on the British motoring programme "Top Gear", from 27 October 1988 to 3 February 2000, in the programme's earlier format. Jon Bentley, a researcher at "Top Gear", helped launch his television career. Bentley shortly afterwards became the show's producer, and said about hiring Clarkson: "He was just what I was looking for – an enthusiastic motoring writer who could make cars on telly fun. He was opinionated and irreverent, rather than respectfully po-faced. The fact that he looked and sounded exactly like a twenty-something ex-public schoolboy didn't matter. Nor did the impression there was a hint of school bully about him. I knew he was the man for the job. [...] Clarkson stood out because he was funny. Even my bosses allowed themselves the odd titter."