Updated to include Jeremy Clarkson’s statement of apology
Another day, another scandal at the BBC. Earlier this week the Beeb announced that Carol Thatcher will no longer work on The One Show after she was reported for an off-air remark. The daughter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher referred to a tennis player as a “golliwog”.
Now Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has landed the network in hot water yet again. Speaking to journalists in Sydney, the host reportedly called Gordon Brown a “one-eyed Scottish idiot”. The prime minister lost the sight in one eye when he was a teenager and Scottish politicians are furious at the remark.
Clarkson is no stranger to controversy. Late last year the BBC received 1,800 complaints when Clarkson made a joke about lorry drivers murdering prostitutes following the conviction of Steve Wright in Ipswich.
The outspoken presenter has since apologised, saying: “In the heat of the moment I made a remark about the Prime Minister’s personal appearance for which, upon reflection, I apologise.” The BBC has said that it will take no further action.
This of course follows the scandal involving talk show host Jonathan Ross and radio presenter Russell Brand, which engulfed the BBC in October last year. The pair made several prank calls to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs on Brand’s Radio 2 show. Brand quit the BBC and Ross was suspended for three months following the affair.
Despite announcing strict new taste guidelines, gaffes like these are becoming commonplace at the BBC. DJ Chris Moyles has had to apologise for making jokes about Auschwitz, suggesting that Poles make good prostitutes and making fun of singer Will Young’s sexuality. Elsewhere, comedian Harry Enfield sparked controversy in October 2008 after a skit in one of his television shows led to the Philippine ambassador to London accusing him of racism.
What do you think about these scandals? Was the BBC right to axe Carol Thatcher? How should they deal with the latest Clarkson outburst? Is this a serious issue or an overreaction by those who complain?
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33 comments so far
Here we go again with people clammering to be all self-righteous. Has Clarkson got to apologise for making an accurate remark? Not as far as I am concerned.
- Posted by sueThere’s a difference between things that are completely unfunny and in extremely bad taste aired on national television or radio, and throwaway remarks reflecting people’s personal opinions, however abrasive. If Jeremy Clarkson had referred to the PM as that “handsome and devilishly canny Scot” we would all be screaming that he had exposed himself to be a charlatan and a fraud. Let’s not get too precious about this.
- Posted by MatthewClarkson is entitled to his opinions as are we all. However, personalising his comments in the way he is reported, is disgusting - and I’m no fan of Brown.
- Posted by SpikeIf Clarkson can only make the headlines in this way, the BBC should sack him.
I think Clarkson is an “overpaid English idiot”, but there are bigger idiots - us the license fee payers.
I thought we had free speech in this country.
Gordon Brown amongst other things :
Botched regulation of the banks (we all know the consequences)
Borrowed far too much from 2002 onwards
Sold UK gold reserves at the bottom of the market
Raided pension funds the moment he got into office (abolishing dividend tax credit for pension funds)
Reduced benefits of holding ‘tax-free’ benefits (PEPs/ISAs)
The description ‘idiot’ for him is pretty much fair comment to many in the country. Reference to disability and national origin is ‘over the top’ but Brown deserves little sympathy.
- Posted by DavidIt’s about time the Clarkson bashing was looked into. The man says something that by the looks of things the majority agree with and immediately the media get the knives out. Freedom of speech has been lost along with a sense of humour in this country.
- Posted by JaniceAt last someone in the public eye says what we are all thinking.
- Posted by Gary DeeBrown is an un-elected, un-wanted liability.He is a Lying,deceitful and hated prime minister, who hates the indiginous people of this country and only got the job because of a backhanded deal with his mate,Blair.
Get this moronic dimwit out now!
My congratulations to Jeremy Clarkson for speaking on behalf of us “common people”.
Clarkson acts like a big kid, not a role modal. He is not worth being called a star. He needs to grow up.
- Posted by y.s.After many years I am beginning to agree with Jeremy Clarkson
As for the Carol Thatcher gaff, the best comment I have read was where apparently using the G word offended Jo Brand! Have you ever seen Jo Brand perform her stand up routine? I never realised that she was such a sensitive creature!
- Posted by EddieWell done Clarkson. Say it as it is and what most of the English believe. It does not matter whether Brown has one eye, two or four he is a Scottyish idiaot. He almost single handedly has led this country into bankruptcy because of short sighted arrogance through tax & spend. He has wasted taxpayers money not only in this country but also in Iraq, Afghanistan and on despotic, corrupt overseas governments as well as funding illegal immigrants and bogus refugees. Brown should go along with the rest of this Scottish government in England. He personally has ruined previously well funded pension funds, sold gold at the worst possible time and surrendered power to the EU. Go Brown go.
- Posted by RodneyWhat’s the problem with Jeremy Clarkson’s comments? Gordon Brown has one eye, he’s scottish and given the mess he has got the country into, is indeed an idiot.
All of this PC nonsense is ruining this country, with many in the public eye (and more and more of those not in the public eye) not able to speak their minds for fear of offending someone. Bring back free speach.
- Posted by Neil HWell done Clarkson. Say it as it is and what most of the English believe. It does not matter whether Brown has one eye, two or four he is a Scottish idiot. He almost single handedly has led this country into bankruptcy because of short sighted arrogance through tax & spend. He has wasted taxpayers money not only in this country but also in Iraq, Afghanistan and on despotic, corrupt overseas governments as well as funding illegal immigrants and bogus refugees. Brown should go along with the rest of this Scottish government in England. He personally has ruined previously well funded pension funds, sold gold at the worst possible time and surrendered power to the EU. Go Brown go.
- Posted by RodneyI wasted my time posting a perfectly valid comment here and it was removed. Looks as though Reuters is no better that the BBC in terms of it’s “impartiality”.
- Posted by JasonSticks and stones will break my bones,
- Posted by Fred RickabyNames will never harm me.
Hmm, I hope the beeb do show some balls about this soon. They are going to end up with no presenters left. Even Blue Peter presenters will start getting the heave-ho.
I’m Scottish and of course the remark could be taken as racist, but really we are going too far with this whole PC issue.
Scottish is also how to describe someone who is from Scotland. The same way a Black is the word to describe a Black person.
What if he’d said ‘one eye’d idiot’ would that have been ok? What part of the comment is it that people are ‘offended’ by?!
Certainly the Carol Thatcher comment is a lot worse. Golliwog is clearly a demeaning term and if anyone had used that word in the workplace, regardless of content, they’d have few complaints were they sacked.
Also, Carol Thatcher is an educated lady and should know better, ignorance is not an excuse, but perhaps there is a little of that over this incident. Especially given how reluctant she was to apologise.
- Posted by GrantWhat part of the Clarkson comment was inaccurate? Gordon Brown is Scottish, his actions and statements - particularly those involving saving the world and its banks, qualified him as an idiot and he is, unfortunately, one-eyed. Clarkson, by contrast, is an overweight, lantern-jawed, bigoted petrol head. He is not to blame for his appearance, any more than Mr Brown should be ridiculed for his glass eye. Both are expensive burdens on the taxpayer, Clarkson as one of the highest paid BBC employees and Brown as both a public employee and the author of the nation’s financial car crash.
Clarkson is entitled to his opinion as to the competency of Brown, but if his mania takes the form of poking fun at the Scottish PM’s tunnel vision in the name of humour, then this is a matter of judgement, but surely not a sacking matter. After all, it’s not like he gave away hundreds of billions to bankers or blocked a humanitarian appeal for dying kids in Gaza, is it?
- Posted by john KellyThe BBC has now become a national embarrassment. From over zealous misleading news coverage of the global economic crisis, to acting as chearleader in chief for the climate change lobby (without airing any separate coverage of news content discrediting certain arguments e.g. The Hockey Stick graph, to biased reporting of the Isreali/Palastinian conflict in favour of Israel and now this ridiculous series of PC sanctions against harmless off the cuff remarks that are not even worth the airtime. The BBC has completely lost any credibility it ever had as an impartial, balanced and serious broadcaster. RIP.
- Posted by Billy Connolly2 things…
lots of things get said in private without going public,why did this one?
Chris Rock ( on ch 4 ) calls whites “crackers” but is never called racist !!
It seems you can only be racist if you are white middle class …………..
- Posted by fredBrown is an idiot as is his pal Darling go back to Scotland and never come back
- Posted by winistoniHere we go again, yet another piece of triva jamming in airwaves…. While the entire media, TV News and papers alike have seriously more important news to report, they do persist in either thiving on trivial stories, or becoming one themselves.
We appear to have a group of people in our society these days, only too ready to pick up on minor “slip of the tongue” faults in others, when I’m sure they have had their own - myself included. Now if we could only tap this wasteful energy and turn it into true productivity the UK might not be in half the mess it is!
After all said and done, there’s a lot more said than done!
- Posted by PhilBrown, Clarkson the BBC all get too much attention. Brown, you cant run the country let alone the world, so kindly leave the stage, Clarkson, sometimes you are funny and off camera quite a nice chap, BBC, just get on with bringing us the news and entertainment and stop thinking you are the news and entertainment. Most British people now feel so powerless that many are resorting to ranting and blogging as its the closest they will get to making a difference. The big untold story of the moment (because the local press dont want to mention it) is the demise of the Regional Press which will lead to even greater loss of local democracy and local power, (until Tescos, Google or the like take it over and turn it around) It wont be long before Regional titles disappear, merge or go online….there thats my ranting blogg!
- Posted by GilesTo say that Clarkson is a one brain-celled idiot would be a compliment too far.
When will the BBC stop wasting licence payers money on Thatcher, who is grossly over confident and Clarkson and Ross etc., who should be in a zoo. Sorry that’s an unacceptable insult to the animals.
These idiots exemplify what is wrong with this country i.e. pay unproductive fools huge amounts of money for yobish, public school type behaviour, whilst starving the research development and production side of our society of funds. That’s what the public choose
- Posted by Graham WheldonI think some people are just humor impaired. I find Clarkson quite funny. If you don’t like him, change the channel on the tv.
- Posted by DanCan we get away from this BBC liberal rubbish. England is in a mess thats more important.
- Posted by M.Franklin-HarrisMaybe if he’d have referred to the PM as a Two-Eyed Scottish Idiot he wouldn’t have gotten in hot water!
- Posted by Robert ElmoreClarkson - I love him - give him the job of PM instead of the mutt we have there just now. I think Jonathan Ross should be excluded from any broadcasting indefinitely. He is a loathsome self-important under-talented oaf and I resent my licence fee going to his pocket. Oh, a little note to young Wheldon who posted earlier - I take exception to your implying by default those who go to Public School exhibit yobbish behaviour. Have you been there? How many people do you REALLY know from Public School? Have you seen a yob? Would you REALLY know a yob if you met one? Food for thought methinks…..
- Posted by LarryWhats wrong with a perfectly accurate factual comment and description - can we no longer say it as it is without some fool deciding that the english language is too robust for them - in which case go elsewhere - we don’t need you - try California where all this nonsense started.
- Posted by EntaxeiWhat an idiot,Not Gordon Brown but Jeremy Clarkson.I find his arrogance quite unacceptable,time the BBC got rid of him and leave it to his two co presenters.I am Scottish and I would not have a problem if he called me Jock But I would if he called me a one eyed Jock idiot.
- Posted by A L KerrThis is a storm in a teacup. Gordon Brown is thick skinned enough to take it. I find this sort of jest far less offensive than a lie, and politicians lie every time they appear on the television.
It is important to give people in public life some leeway, or none of them will ever say anything worth listening to. And people who don’t say anything interesting, don’t tend to have any original thoughts either.
- Posted by Oliver ChettleWhat a load of rubbish! I cannot understand the media’s obsession with the Clarkson comment. I couldn’t understand the obsession with the Brand/Ross affair, either–all utterly, utterly blown out of all proportion. Leave our presenters alone, and stop persecuting people for remarks made in the heat or excitement of the moment. When did we as a nation become so unbelievably thin-skinned?
- Posted by KathrynI am not surprised with the ongoing problems with the BBC and the sagas regarding the staffers…and, the comments…
- Posted by DENNIS JUNIORIf this is all people have to worry about then Britain is in good shape. If people spent half as much time working on issues such as education, poverty and crime rather then wasting time on such trivia the world would be a much better place.
- Posted by JPIf they’re all slips, then it’s not a problem, although it would certainly be an enormous coincidence of timing.
But it has the appearance of becoming a game of “chicken” amongst the BBC’s most tired and outdated and least talented presenters, in which they must guess just how cowed their own line manager is, and gauge what is the greatest offence they can cause whilst still keeping their job.
In that case, a clear out of presenters behaving like ten year olds and of managers too timid to slap them around might be no bad thing.
- Posted by Ian Kemmishguten Start
- Posted by Dana_Tools