Jeremy Clarkson's top ten most controversial Top Gear moments

[lordAlucard]

He has been hailed as a hero of political incorrectness and derided as deeply offensive, but during his long career on Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson has been anything but dull.

In the 21 years since he first appeared on the BBC motoring show, the TV presenter and Sunday Times columnist has raised the ire of the Poles, the Germans, the residents of Norfolk, prostitute welfare organisations, gay rights groups and environmentalists to name but a few.

On occasion, the 49-year-old has apologised after whipping up storms of protest, but mostly he has stood firm, arguing for the right to express his opinions and make jokes without fear of being gagged.

As Clarkson sparks new controversy after joking about the German invasion of Poland, we bring you his ten most controversial Top Gear moments.

10. Jeremy Clarkson versus Gordon Brown

Five months after calling Gordon Brown a “one-eyed Scottish idiot” and then apologising, Clarkson was back in the headlines last month after telling a Top Gear live audience, between shots, that the prime minister was a “c***”.

9. Jeremy Clarkson versus conservationists

In November 2004, Clarkson boasted of being the first person to drive a vehicle to the summit of Ben Tongue, a Highland peak on a private estate on the Cromarty Firth near Inverness, Scotland.

Top Gear showed Clarkson piloting a large 4x4 over heather and bogland, sparking outrage by conservationists who said it could take years to recover.

The Scottish Ramblers Association and the president of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland were among his critics, but the BBC defended Clarkson saying Top Gear had researched the site before allowing the presenter onto it.

8. Jeremy Clarkson versus Gordon Brown... again

During a Top Gear tour of Australia in February, Clarkson drew criticism from the National Institute of Blind People and MPs when he mocked Gordon Brown for having no sight in one eye.
After taking the stage following a speech on the economy by the country’s prime minister, Kevin Rudd, Clarkson commented: “It's the first time I've ever seen a world leader admit we really are in deep s**t.

“He genuinely looked terrified. Poor man, he's actually seen the books. We have this one-eyed Scottish idiot who keeps telling us everything's fine and he's saved the world and we know he's lying, but he's smooth at telling us."

Clarkson later apologised.

7. Jeremy Clarkson versus head injury charities

In 2006, Clarkson’s Top Gear co-presenter Richard Hammond sustained a serious head injury when he crashed while filming footage for the show in a jet-powered car.

Following a long hospital stay and rehabilitation, he returned to the programme, in 2007, and Clarkson asked him “Are you a mental?” The show’s other presenter, James May, offered Hammond a tissue in case he "dribbled".

The brain injury charity Headway was inundated with complaints and the BBC apologised.

6. Jeremy Clarkson versus road safety charities and the people of Lincolnshire

In a 2005 column for Top Gear magazine, entitled ‘If JC rockets through your district it is only because it is so dull’, Clarkson wrote that he drives "fast and recklessly" through Lincolnshire as it is so boring.

Lincolnshire, which has one of Britain’s highest road death rates, didn’t appreciate the comment and RoadPeace, a support group for crash victims, complained his comments were “soul-destroying to the relatives of those who have died”.

5. Jeremy Clarkson versus gay rights groups

Unimpressed by a Daihatsu Copen in 2006, Clarkson asked a member of Top Gear’s studio audience whether he would consider buying one. The man replied, "No, it's a bit gay” and Clarkson responded in Cockney rhyming slang, "A bit gay, yes, very ginger beer.”
The BBC upheld a flurry of complaints, Ofcom censured the corporation and gay, lesbian, and bisexual charity Stonewall nominated Clarkson for the Bigot of the Year gong at their annual awards.

Clarkson was reported to have responded to the media storm: "It wasn't a gay car - it was actually a bit lesbian."

4. Jeremy Clarkson versus prostitute welfare groups

While test-driving a heavy goods vehicle during an episode of Top Gear in November 2008, ten months after lorry driver Steve Wright was found guilty of the Ipswich prostitute murders, Clarkson declared: “This is a hard job and I’m not just saying that to win favour with lorry drivers, it’s a hard job.


“Change gear, change gear, change gear, check mirror, murder a prostitute, change gear, change gear, murder. That’s a lot of effort in a day.”

After receiving more than 300 complaints, Ofcom investigated but cleared Clarkson of breaching the broadcasting code.

3. Jeremy Clarkson versus Korea

Clarkson made headlines in 1998 while manning the Top Gear stand at the Birmingham Motor Show. Hyundai UK complained to the BBC that he told visitors to the Top Gear stand that staff at the Korean car company’s stand had all eaten dog and that the designer of the car on display had probably had a spaniel for lunch.

2. Jeremy Clarkson versus a tree

While test-driving a pick-up truck, Clarkson decided to assess its strength by driving it into a 30-year-old chestnut tree in the car park of a church in Churchill, Somerset.

Parish Council members noticed the damage but only realised it was the work of Clarkson the following year when a parishioner saw the Top Gear episode in which he rammed the truck into the tree.

The church approached the BBC, who admitted Clarkson was responsible and paid £250 compensation.

1. Jeremy Clarkson versus Germany

In 2005, Clarkson decided that BMW should design a quintessentially German version of the Mini. He suggested the indicators could move up and down and gave a Nazi salute to illustrate the motion. Clarkson went on to say that it would have a “satellite navigation system that only goes to Poland."

German diplomats complained but Clarkson defended his actions as a joke.

LOL its so hilarious

[Dave-The-Rave]

Go on Clarkson, we don't care if what you say is morally backwards

I mean its Clarkson !!

[DangerousMali]

"actually its a bit lesbian"

lmao

[Zoibie]

He presented an episode of Top of the Pops once and always made fun of the band that had just been playing Was pretty funny watching his co-preenter trying to move on, but he wouldn't let her.

I lold when I seen that too Mali

[SamuraiClarke]

Clarkson is truely a God.

[Danny2304]

1. Jeremy Clarkson versus Germany

In 2005, Clarkson decided that BMW should design a quintessentially German version of the Mini. He suggested the indicators could move up and down and gave a Nazi salute to illustrate the motion. Clarkson went on to say that it would have a “satellite navigation system that only goes to Poland."

EPIC, the man is brilliant. If more people like him where around the world would be a better place

[V3nom]

I wish he was my dad

[Astonlover]

I like that 'Sat-Nav that only goes to Poland'

[SpyroViper]

So why does he apologize?

I'd say, no I'm not apologizing.. so tuff titties!

[Kyaw]

Clarkson is awesome!

Thats what i have to say...

[Chille]

thought this would go nicely here

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMuO-8S_0Wg"]YouTube - Harry and Paul - Clarkson Island[/ame]

[uofmtiger]

He rips on the USA quite a bit, too...but we can take it. Love his show...Just watched a "best of" last week when he ridiculed caravans then "accidently" set his caravan on fire.

[SessDMC]

Here's his latest addition to the Germany / Poland WWII stuff

When asked to do an advert with James May for the new VW TDI Sirocco , they tried several times, and failed several times and then they had one last go James was some poofterish crappy one while Jeremy's, was well..... abit more insightful than it needed to be.


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpcOQ7HaB98"]YouTube - Top Gear VW Scirocco Polish Ad[/ame]