01/12/2011

BBC Apologises Over Clarkson Comments

The BBC has being forced to apologise after broadcaster and journalist Jeremy Clarkson called for public service workers on strike to be "taken out and shot".

The motoring specialist made the comment during a live television interview on The One Show during which he also complained about being delayed by people throwing themselves in front of trains.

Clarkson is known for his off the cuff remarks about current affairs, especially in his newspaper column, but the broadcaster, BBC, issued an immediate on air apology saying that Clarkson often over stepped the mark for comic value.

The comments from Clarkson fuelled many angry reactions and left The One Show presenters, Matt Baker and Alex Jones, stunned and embarrassed. However some viewers applauded Clarkson’s controversial comments and said they felt that they were obviously meant as a joke.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "The One Show apologised at the end of the show to viewers who may have been offended by Jeremy Clarkson's comments." She declined to comment further.

(LB)

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