Clarkson: 'I'm sorry, but Brown's still an idiot'
Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson watered down his apology today for calling UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown a “one-eyed Scottish idiot” – saying he was not sorry for “the idiot bit”.
Speaking to The Sun – in which the presenter 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 Australia.
In a statement issued yesterday through BBC Worldwide, 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 also said it would be taking no further action against Clarkson.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) welcomed the apology.
Clarkson made the controversial comments at a press conference in Sydney, where he is currently on tour with Top Gear Live, a stage version of the hit TV show.
He compared Mr Brown to Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, after Mr Rudd had just addressed the country on the global financial crisis.
A video of the press conference has been posted on the YouTube website.
During the conference, Clarkson said: “It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a world leader admit we really are in deep s***.
“He genuinely looked terrified. I thought ’The poor man, he’s actually seen the books’.
“In England we have this one-eyed Scottish idiot, the one-eyed Scottish man, he 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 then put his hand over his mouth and said: “Oh, I’ve said that now...”
His co-presenter Richard Hammond added: “You’ve said that out loud as well.”
But Clarkson was undeterred and carried on with his comments about Mr Brown.
A Downing Street spokesman declined to respond to Clarkson’s description of Mr Brown, saying only: “I don’t think I’m going to get into those comments.”
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.
