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| Clarkson joke sparks complaints | Clarkson joke sparks complaints |
| (2 days later) | |
| Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has prompted more than 500 people to complain to the BBC about a joke he made on Sunday's motoring show. | Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has prompted more than 500 people to complain to the BBC about a joke he made on Sunday's motoring show. |
| Clarkson, 48, was taking part in a lorry-driving task, when he joked about lorry drivers killing sex workers. | Clarkson, 48, was taking part in a lorry-driving task, when he joked about lorry drivers killing sex workers. |
| "Change gear, change gear, check mirror, murder a prostitute, change gear, change gear, murder. That's a lot of effort in a day," he said. | "Change gear, change gear, check mirror, murder a prostitute, change gear, change gear, murder. That's a lot of effort in a day," he said. |
| The BBC said the joke had made "ridiculous an unfair urban myth". | The BBC said the joke had made "ridiculous an unfair urban myth". |
| Forklift truck driver Steve Wright was jailed in February for killing five prostitutes in Ipswich. | |
| 'Urban myth' | 'Urban myth' |
| Clarkson's joke, made before the watershed, has now sparked 517 complaints. | Clarkson's joke, made before the watershed, has now sparked 517 complaints. |
| But a BBC spokesman said that by Monday morning - before the incident had been reported on by newspapers and websites - there had been 188 complaints. | But a BBC spokesman said that by Monday morning - before the incident had been reported on by newspapers and websites - there had been 188 complaints. |
| Sunday's programme, which aired on BBC Two at 2000 GMT, was watched by around seven million viewers. | Sunday's programme, which aired on BBC Two at 2000 GMT, was watched by around seven million viewers. |
| In a statement, the BBC said: "The vast majority of Top Gear viewers have clear expectations of Jeremy Clarkson's long-established and frequently provocative on-screen persona. I think it's a sacking offence to make light of the murder of anybody, never mind prostitute women who are vulnerable and criminalised Cari MitchellEnglish Collective of Prostitutes | In a statement, the BBC said: "The vast majority of Top Gear viewers have clear expectations of Jeremy Clarkson's long-established and frequently provocative on-screen persona. I think it's a sacking offence to make light of the murder of anybody, never mind prostitute women who are vulnerable and criminalised Cari MitchellEnglish Collective of Prostitutes |
| "This particular reference was used to comically exaggerate and make ridiculous an unfair urban myth about the world of lorry driving, and was not intended to cause offence." | "This particular reference was used to comically exaggerate and make ridiculous an unfair urban myth about the world of lorry driving, and was not intended to cause offence." |
| The Iceni Project, a charity which had helped some of the murdered prostitutes in Ipswich, criticised Clarkson's remark. | The Iceni Project, a charity which had helped some of the murdered prostitutes in Ipswich, criticised Clarkson's remark. |
| Director Brian Tobin called the comment "highly distasteful and insensitive". | Director Brian Tobin called the comment "highly distasteful and insensitive". |
| Mr Tobin said the joke was made around the anniversary of the women's deaths and it made him "cringe". | Mr Tobin said the joke was made around the anniversary of the women's deaths and it made him "cringe". |
| Last week, the BBC received more than 30,000 complaints about a series of phone pranks made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross on Radio 2. | Last week, the BBC received more than 30,000 complaints about a series of phone pranks made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross on Radio 2. |
| Cari Mitchell, of English Collective of Prostitutes, meanwhile, said Clarkson's comments were "more serious than the Ross and Brand debacle" because he was "making light of murder". | Cari Mitchell, of English Collective of Prostitutes, meanwhile, said Clarkson's comments were "more serious than the Ross and Brand debacle" because he was "making light of murder". |
| "More than 60 women have been murdered who the police say are prostitutes in the last 10 years so it's an absolute disgrace," she said. | "More than 60 women have been murdered who the police say are prostitutes in the last 10 years so it's an absolute disgrace," she said. |
| Clarkson should lose his job and "the people who allowed this programme to go out have to be brought to account," she added. | Clarkson should lose his job and "the people who allowed this programme to go out have to be brought to account," she added. |
| Jeremy was just being Jeremy, just being himself and that's what people watch the show for, so why change it? Top Gear co-presenter Richard Hammond Hammond defends Clarkson's joke | Jeremy was just being Jeremy, just being himself and that's what people watch the show for, so why change it? Top Gear co-presenter Richard Hammond Hammond defends Clarkson's joke |
| "I think it's a sacking offence to make light of the murder of anybody, never mind prostitute women who are vulnerable and criminalised." | "I think it's a sacking offence to make light of the murder of anybody, never mind prostitute women who are vulnerable and criminalised." |
| But Clarkson's Top Gear co-presenter Richard Hammond told BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat: "Jeremy was just being Jeremy, just being himself and that's what people watch the show for, so why change it?" | But Clarkson's Top Gear co-presenter Richard Hammond told BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat: "Jeremy was just being Jeremy, just being himself and that's what people watch the show for, so why change it?" |
| He added: "He was just being Jeremy. People love that. That's what he was delivering." | He added: "He was just being Jeremy. People love that. That's what he was delivering." |
| Will Shiers, editor of Truck & Driver magazine said "a small number of drivers were offended by the murdering prostitute reference". | Will Shiers, editor of Truck & Driver magazine said "a small number of drivers were offended by the murdering prostitute reference". |
| "On the whole, I thought the show was really entertaining. | "On the whole, I thought the show was really entertaining. |
| "If anything it succeeded in demonstrating to car drivers just how difficult it is to drive a truck." | "If anything it succeeded in demonstrating to car drivers just how difficult it is to drive a truck." |
| Media regulator watchdog Ofcom said it had also been contacted by viewers angry at the remarks. | Media regulator watchdog Ofcom said it had also been contacted by viewers angry at the remarks. |
| A spokesman said: "We're looking at complaints we've received but we're not currently investigating the programme." | A spokesman said: "We're looking at complaints we've received but we're not currently investigating the programme." |