Jeremy Clarkson denies using n-word during filming of Top Gear

Top Gear star denies mumbling offensive term during filming
Racism row: Jeremy Clarkson denied using the word (Picture: Matt Crossick/PA)

Jeremy Clarkson has released a video appeal begging for forgiveness after it appeared he used the n-word during filming for his BBC show Top Gear.

In a video statement posted to his 3.2 million Twitter followers this evening, the TV presenter said he tried to obscure the word “n***r” while reciting a reciting a version of the nursery rhyme Eeny, meeny, miny, moe on camera.

Earlier today he outright denied the claim, which was originally made by The Daily Mirror newspaper, and said: “I did not use the n word. Never use it. The Mirror has gone way too far this time.”

But footage of the incident was later posted on The Daily Mirror website where Clarkson apparently mumbles the n-word.

In the video statement Clarkson said he mumbled the word in two takes and replaced it with teacher in the third, as he was well aware of the racist conations.

After viewing the footage he realised you could hear the offensive term and wrote a note to the production office to avoid using the version with the mumbled word.

His statement said: "Now when I viewed this footage, several weeks later, I realised that in one of the mumbled versions, if you listen very carefully with the sound turned right up, it did appear that I'd actually used the word I was trying to obscure.

"I was mortified by this, horrified, it is a word I loath. And I did everything in my power to make sure that that version did not appear in the programme that was transmitted.

"In fact, I have here the note I sent at the time to the production office. "And it says, 'I didn't use the n-word here but I've just listened through my headphones and it sounds like I did. Is there another take that we could use?'

"Please be assured I did everything in my power to not use that word. And as I'm sitting here begging your forgiveness for that fact that obviously my efforts weren't quite good enough.”

A statement released by the BBC said: “Jeremy Clarkson has set out the background to this regrettable episode.

“We have made it absolutely clear to him, the standards the BBC expects on air and off. We have left him in no doubt about how seriously we view this.”

Care free: Jeremy Clarkson with Jigsaw CEO Peter Ruis at the launch of concept store the Duke Street Emporium in London last night

Downing Street said David Cameron, a friend of Clarkson's, believed the BBC needed to launch an investigation.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Any usage of that word would be quite wrong.

"If there are these reports and allegations, I am sure that is something the BBC would look at."

Asked if he could imagine Mr Cameron using such language, the spokesman replied: "Certainly not."

Clarkson’s Top Gear colleague James May spoke out in his defence today. May wrote on Twitter: “Jeremy Clarkson is not a racist. He is a monumental bellend and many other things, but not a racist. I wouldn’t work with one. #ThatIsAll.”

It comes days after the show’s producer apologised for broadcasting a “light-hearted” joke by Clarkson that sparked a complaint of racism.

An episode of the show, filmed in Burma and Thailand and shown in March, had a scene in which the presenters built a bridge over the River Kwai, and as an Asian man walked over it Clarkson said: “That is a proud moment, but there’s a slope on it.”

Somi Guha, an actress who complained to the BBC, said the use of the phrase was an example of “casual racism” and “gross misconduct”.

The BBC2 show’s executive producer, Andy Wilman, said: “When we used the word slope in the recent Top Gear Burma Special it was a light-hearted word play joke referencing both the build quality of the bridge and the local Asian man who was crossing it.

“We were not aware at the time, and it has subsequently been brought to our attention, that the word slope is considered by some to be offensive and although it might not be widely recognised in the UK, we appreciate that it can be considered offensive to some here and overseas, for example in Australia and the USA.

“If we had known that at the time we would not have broadcast the word in this context and regret any offence caused.”

Clarkson was accused of racism last month for naming his dog after former Chelsea star Didier Drogba.

After tweeting a picture of his black West Highland terrier the presenter revealed that he had named it after the Ivory Coast striker.

Top Gear has also faced complaints from Indian and Mexican politicians over remarks made about their countries during filming on location.

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