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I'm sorry, but not for calling PM 'an idiot', says Clarkson

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Published Date: 08 February 2009
TOP Gear host Jeremy Clarkson watered down his apology yesterday for calling Prime Minister Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot" – saying he was not sorry for "the idiot bit".
Speaking to The Sun, in which he writes a weekly column, he said: "I very specifically apologised for making fun of his personal appearance – very specifically.

"I have nothing against the Scottish and of course I regret making any remark that might have upset the disabled. But the idiot bit – there is no chance I'll apologise for that."

Disability groups and politicians reacted with outrage to the BBC presenter's remarks, which he made in Sydney, where he is on tour with Top Gear Live, a stage version of the hit TV show. In a statement issued on Friday, Clarkson said: "In the heat of the moment I made a remark about the Prime Minister's personal appearance for which, upon reflection, I apologise." The broadcaster said it would be taking no further action.

But politicians north of the border called on the presenter to say sorry for using the term "Scottish".

The row is the latest controversy to hit the BBC, coming days after Carol Thatcher was dropped from The One Show for comparing a tennis player to a golliwog.





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  • Last Updated: 07 February 2009 8:54 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: The BBC
 
1

Jimbo2,

08/02/2009 00:08:51
"Politicians north of the border called on the presenter to say sorry for using the term "Scottish".

Yes indeed; he should have used the term 'North British'.

Why is Clarkson being castigated for telling the truth?
2

Free by 2093,

08/02/2009 00:13:30
When Jeremy Clarkson said that he sounded like a Northern Tw@t, when he apologised he was like a southern softy.

Since when were the Brits keen on turning political correctness into a national sport?
3

Curley Bill,

08/02/2009 01:13:18
Since your chum Bliar and his 'yuman rights' missus hove into view
4

FerryPort,

08/02/2009 01:26:08
BBC are at fault here. Letting a clown loose with a 2 millon wage packet to shower us with his daily cheap shock diatribe of cheap shock.
What an ambassador.
Any colleague, distance yourself now!

He's going down like a sh@t brick and will hang around the pan for all his worth, which is Jack sh@t all.

Bring back Biddy Baxter!
5

Observer,,

Glasgow 08/02/2009 01:34:29
4 I know who Biddy Baxter is. Oh no, that means I must be getting old.
6

Observer,,

Glasgow 08/02/2009 01:38:17
I've got a Blue Peter badge and I had a painting on the programme when I was seven. I thought I was famous.
7

Finlang,

Hong Kong 08/02/2009 01:44:33
Like a handful of other talentless nonentities, Clarkson uses and abuses his undeserved media status, Yorkie-free (to cobble an English pejorative in his direction), courtesy of the complicit and craven BBC. If he is permitted carte blanche on broadcast TV to call Brown, or any politician - or indeed anybody under the sun - an idiot (Scottish or otherwise), then the general public ought to be granted the same right or privilege to round on him and his damn-fool supporters. Clarkson is just another horrendously overpaid classic media nobody of our times. Depressing times. Listen up, licence-payers.

8

james 1st,

hamilton 08/02/2009 01:50:29
clarkson is a loud mouthed idiot who thinks he can say what he likes, this is not the first time that he has been in teouble
too many people seem to think thatthey can make derogatory statments abput the scots and we should treat it as a joke or that it doesnt matter
had he called a black person a golliwog he would have been sacked as a racist, well his statment was about a scot and reveals his inherent racism and he should be sacked
9

FerryPort,

08/02/2009 01:55:01
Oh Observer. you are famous!
Do you still have the badge?
10

Scottyboy007,

Glasgow 08/02/2009 02:59:48
Clarkson was correct the PM is an Idiot.


11

Big Mertin,

08/02/2009 04:49:53
im sure he's not an idiot - apparently, he's supremely intelligent. He may well have a different political viewpoint and limited charisma though
12

Galalean,

Mission 08/02/2009 04:57:47
BBC pays damages for terrorist libel



Published Date: 03 February 2009
A LEADING Muslim community worker accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages
yesterday over a claim on Newsnight that Children in Need money paid to a charitable organisation called Leeds Community School was passed to the 7/7 bombers. Hanif Malik brought his claim over a report broadcast in August last year.
How come Jeremy gets off
13

John Cameron,

St Andrews 08/02/2009 06:29:46
I think that is quite enough apologizing. Brown has always been an arrogant oaf. In fact the words attributed to Jeremy are among the nicer things said in recent days about our "well past his sell-by date" PM.
14

,

08/02/2009 07:13:39
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
15

1745,

Edinburgh 08/02/2009 07:59:14
Jeremy Clarkson is a great presenter. In calling G Brown an idiot he has the support of most of Scotland. Truth is ,unfortunately
Brown is Scottish and most of us regret that fact. Brown has only one eye this also is true. Leave Clarkson alone he only told the truth.
16

ex-teacher,

Fife 08/02/2009 08:18:45
Well said 7 & 8.

The only idiot in this situation is Clarkson himself.

I am outraged that my licence fee is being used to pay such a puffed up, loud-mouthed, over opinionated idiot.
17

El Sabio,

Sandton 08/02/2009 08:33:21
How many mouths could one feed, by this I mean genuinely deserving mouths, on GBP 2 million/annum?

Unto them that have more shall be gjavascript:__doPostBack('wctlAddComment1$ctl00$btnPost','')iven!
18

Phil C,

08/02/2009 08:35:33
He's not a Scottish idiot. Fortunately for Scots, he's a British idiot!
19

Phil C,

08/02/2009 08:39:20
#7,8,17- idiots!
20

Scimiter,

Rugby UK 08/02/2009 09:10:47
Love or hate Clarkson, he spoke the truth, or what he believes is the truth, what is wrong with that?
21

wayne bijlyeerheid,

08/02/2009 09:22:05
Clarkson is typical of the anti-Scottish airhead snobs that the BBC employ.
It is the "House of Lords" of the entertainment industry full of the talentless who would not get employment in the competetive private sector they are given massive salaries at the expense of the licence and tax payer.
No other "national" public broadcasting system would allow the chauvinistic, if not downright racial, statements that are frequently put out by this increasingly anachronistic corporation.
The sooner the licence fee is abolished the better.
22

FTH22inarow,

08/02/2009 09:28:03
All politicians are idiots, not one of them are trustworthy. Who cares what Clarkson says he's just an ignorant blowbag
23

Joe Macdelta.,

08/02/2009 09:36:20
Why is everyone upset, this is CLARKSON were talking about, we all know he's the biggest over opinionated waste of space on TV, just an ignorant pr**k.
24

JimboJimbo,

08/02/2009 09:45:25
Fire him - Clarkson that is. Lets get back to some decent presenters at the BBC - not boors like JC
25

Paranoid Johnny from Midlothian,

08/02/2009 09:52:39
The man is a supercilious dick...empty him...won't be missed.
26

E300,

08/02/2009 09:59:00
"Disability groups and politicians reacted with outrage"

Great if that is all they have to get excited about. I can think of one or two things to exercise their minds and mouths which might have more influence on making the world a better place!
27

sceptic,

livingston 08/02/2009 10:17:48
Well if claims about abolishing "Boom & Bust" don't qualify for "idiot" status what does?
28

traprain,

08/02/2009 10:19:47
#28
Er, er ...........Prudence?
29

Phil C,

08/02/2009 10:30:25
#28

Ehhhm, claims of singlehandedly saving the world?
30

Alexander,

Edinburgh 08/02/2009 10:35:38
#28
Emmmmm.....Selling the country's Gold Reserves for a third of their value at exactly the wrong time!
31

drew 33,

duddingston 08/02/2009 10:39:51
#28
Eh Eh Eh.....Single handedly destroying most of the best company pension schemes in the UK if not the world.
32

Liberal for life,

Dunblane 08/02/2009 10:39:56
Clarkson is a pratt of immense proportions from the top of his curly head to the tip of his cowboy boots.

Whatever Gordy Broon is he is no idiot - a bit misguided in his approach to politics perhaps but if the alternative is Camerons Tories then it remains a choice between the "devil and the deep blue sea" for all of us.

A return to Tory misrule followed by further Labour misrule in years to come is something the UK has suffered since World war II. But now there is a choice and from a position of having had only 6 MP's left in the 1950's the LibDems have slowly but surely got themselves into the position with over 60 MP's to at the very least hold the balance of power next time round.

So folks, vote with your heads whenever the next election comes around(and certinly do not with your nationalistic hearts because for sure the SNP can never win a Westminster election, despite what Salmond and co tell you).

You are still the force and you still have the power, remember that fact
33

E300,

08/02/2009 10:46:00
#28
Eh, claiming it is everyone else at fault

Liberal for life
"a bit misguided"
That must be the understatement of the year.
34

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 08/02/2009 11:33:26
My savings and pension have taken a real hit directly due to Brown's decisions as regards financial regulation and his obsessive desire to tax anything that moves. Just ask anyone who relies on savings or pension for income what they thought of Jeremy's opinion. I'm sure he would have it assessed as "mild".

He could have left out the one-eyed and Scottish parts which are true unless used in pejorative style, but "idiot" implies someone who is in an unfortunate mental state through no choice of their own. In this case the actions taken by Brown have been deliberate, and accompanied by lashings of spin and attempts at deception e.g. "British Jobs for British Workers".
35

jkr,

Lochwinnoch Greater Glasgow 08/02/2009 12:01:11
No doubt it would have been a really major issue these days if Brown was not white!!
36

nabodican,

Rural Scotland 08/02/2009 12:06:00
What I can't understand about the people who complain about Jeremy Clarkson is why they don't use one of two buttons on their remote control!
1 - The channel change button
2 - The Off button.
Personally, I like top gear and the wit that goes with it. He is certainly right about Pa Broon.
37

FTH22inarow,

08/02/2009 12:15:10
28 Following tory fiscal policies, cosying up to the City of London, continuing the rundown of the UK manufacturing base started by Thatcher and her cronies,allowing outsourcing of Jobs to India/China, continual reform of the NHS to the point the Management costs have increased 3 fold to try and manage these reforms, PFI and all the over inflated contracts that go with that, I wouldn't say he's an idiot, just a typical bought and paid for politician
38

It's life but not as we know it,

The Oort Clouds 08/02/2009 12:15:28
Surely it's beyond any reasonable dispute that Brown is an idiot.
39

Itchy,

08/02/2009 13:06:56
Clarkson is half right: Brown is an idiot but why did he have to mention that Brown is a Scot?

What does that have to do with it unless Clarkson hates the Scots.
40

St Caledonia,

08/02/2009 13:31:35
It is a pity that there are groups out there who get offended by such tongue and cheeck nonsense.
What is going on in this world?
In a country that offers criminals more respect than law abiding civilians, that offers prisoners better facilities than school children, than fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and have coffins by the dozen coming home each week, savage knife attacks, under age alcoholism and street violence, there are those who cause a bigger scene about Clarkson than any of the above.
WTF is that all about?
41

GMCD,

08/02/2009 14:28:47
He was accurate with Scottish and one-eyed although the remark aimed at GB's disability was pretty low even for Clarkson...
Idiot???
That's a matter of opinion...he is not technically or medically an idiot...
42

qohldr,

08/02/2009 14:45:11
Those who run the BBC must be laughing, they have been let off by the people for their double standards in how they deal with those in the BBCs employ.
They will take heart when they read comments on outlets like this one that the posters are to busy arguing over party politics rather then their policies of discipling their own.
43

Shape to Shoot,

08/02/2009 14:58:53
If some loud mouth said this remark to someone in the street, they'd be arrested for a racially aggravated breach of the peace.

Once again, we see law enforcement shying away from the cloak of celebrity.

I'm no fan of Gordon Brown, but the polis should get in there and nick 'im.
44

,

08/02/2009 15:39:24
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
45

Alan B,

08/02/2009 15:55:45
Can't see anything wrong what Clarkston said.

His mocking of Brown for his claims of saving the world was quite apt. Browns comments were a complete embarrassment.
46

WL,

livingston 08/02/2009 18:19:08
Clarkson is an idiot, and a dangerous one. The BBC must SACK HIM IMMEDIATELY.
47

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 08/02/2009 18:43:56
Fuss about nothing. Move on...

#51: I think it is you who is the dangerous idiot, not Clarkson.
48

Alan B,

08/02/2009 19:37:00
#WL

Why sack him? He should be allowed to voice a political opinion. His opinion of brown being an idiot is hard to argue with given his incompetence running the uk economy and its current meltdown along with the ridiculous and cringing statements about him saving the world. Listening to his commments it did not come across as anti scottish or anything. So what is the big deal.

Whether you personally like his tv show is irrelevent as that is determined by viewing figures.

Are you a labour apologist by any chance?
49

lulach mac gille coemgain,

08/02/2009 21:32:04
Jeremy Clarkson is a Fat English halfwit that resembles a broken loo brush that’s never been cleaned after scrubbing away for years at caked 1966 BBC schit!

And I appologise for insulting the sterling work loo brushes do!

50

lulach mac gille coemgain,

08/02/2009 21:33:40
Can you tell Jeremy Clarksons age by counting the chins?
51

krusty the klown,

08/02/2009 22:24:59
#53 - just voicing a political opinion? He is paid by us to give his opinion on cars - anything else is about as relevant as a pub bore's

His comments were juvenile, un-funny, racist and inappropriate, just like Carol Thatcher's were.

The bbc needs to be strong and stop thinking of the ratings - don't think these people are unique, sack them if they can't keep their feet on the ground. One day the beeb might regain some credibility as a result

52

JulesF,

Kirkliston 09/02/2009 00:24:35
It's funny how we all get fired up about something because the media whip it up into a frenzy, so Jeremy called the Prime Minister names ? Are we upset because he highlighted Mr Brown's disability, his ineptitude as a chancellor and then a Prime Minister or as I suspect because of the 'Scots' element.
Funny how we never got so upset about Mike Myers character in Austin Powers, I believe his name was 'F4t B4st4rd' I personally find this much more insulting and derogartory than the comments made by Jeremy in Australia !
53

M.T.,

09/02/2009 01:23:30
Jeremy Clarkston was in Australia promoting Top Gear. With a single sentence he upset Politicians, the disabled, Scotland and received more publicity than he could have dreamed off. The BBC will not sack him because he was doing what they wanted him to do.
Sometimes this backfires. Personally I have not watched Top Gear since the "change gear, murder a prostitute, check mirrors, murder..." stupidity.
54

xscot,

USofA 09/02/2009 02:32:52
So this is how far political correctness stupidity has gone, we must apologize for calling someone Scottish?
I can see if someone apologizes for calling me English or Irish by mistake, but not Scottish.
I apologize in advance for upsetting the English, Irish or North British or the Welsh who did not even garner an honorable mention.
If people want to see someone sacked then I hope karma kicks you in the ass and during this miserable economic era, you find your lilly livered self out of a job.
55

Dark Lochnagar,

Symington 09/02/2009 06:04:38
Is this all we have to worry about. The country's bankrupt. For God's sake move on.
56

Al's maw,

in the living room 14/02/2009 17:57:56
Aye, jeremy clarkson is a loud, ego-inflated w**ker.
this is blatantly a racist comment, therefore totally unacceptable - not only to us scots, but to the rest of the viewing public in th uk. this is how it starts - prince harry calling someone a racist term, clarkson blatantly slating the scots...if we accept it we are accepting racism.
this has nothing to do with gordon brown being a bit of a tw*t, sure he's f**ked up and most intelligent voters in the uk know this, but it has absolutely nothing to do with his nationality. clarksons comment clearly exposes him for the self-important, narrow-minded t*t that he is.
sack him now.
57

Al's maw,

in your living room 14/02/2009 18:06:16
to comment 59....pull your head outta yer a** man. this has nothing to do with political correctness, it's not un-PC to call someone scottish, it's racist and derogatory to slur someone's nationality. clarksons remark implies that being scottish means being stupid. what difference does it make if gordon brown is welsh, irish, american, israeli, belgian....etc, his nationality is completely irrelevant. the fact that clarkson resorted to including brown's heritage in an insulting manner results in his comment being clearly racist.
58

Al's maw,

14/02/2009 18:15:29
to comment number 57...jules you clearly don't know the difference between racism and satire (yes go and look up satire, i'll wait....). you honestly refer to clarksons racist comment as 'name calling'. f**king hell, i'm so scared that people like you are around. i'm terrified to know how you would categorize the BNP, letme see....oh, just a bunch of people getting together socially who have a common interest.

 

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