- 04 Nov 08, 11:42#78743
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainm ... -20867591/
It must be the recession that is causing people to complain about things more than usual these days.
Top Gear in row over Jeremy Clarkson's trucker gag
Nov 4 2008 By Mark Jefferies
TOP Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has been slammed for joking that truckers spend their time murdering prostitutes.
Lorry drivers and prostitutes yesterday slammed the comment as the BBC found themselves at the centre of a taste row once again.
The Yorkshire Ripper and the Suffolk Strangler were both truck drivers.
Most of Ripper Peter Sutcliffe's 13 victims sold umpalumpa, while Strangler Steve Wr ight murdered five street girls.
Clarkson's comments came during a piece on Sunday night's Top Gear in which he and his cohosts tried to handle HGVs.
Clarkson said: "What matters to lorry drivers? Murdering prostitutes? Fuel economy?
"It really is a hard job and I'm not just saying that to gain favour with truck drivers. There's so much to do.
"You've got to change gear, change gear, change gear, check mirror ... murder a prostitute. Change gear, change gear, murder."
Clarkson drove an HGV through a brick wall during the film.
The row broke out just days after Radio 2 stars Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand's prank umpalumpa calls to actor Andrew Sachs led to suspensions and resignations at the Beeb.
Road Haulage Association spokesperson Kate Gibbs added: "This is an unacceptable slanderous slur on the character of lorry drivers and the character of the industry.
"It's up to the BBC what action they take against Clarkson but we are certainly demanding an apology over these disgraceful comments."
A spokeswoman from English Collective of Prostitutes said 60 had been murdered in the last 10 years.
She added: "How did this remark, making light of the murder of prostitute women, come to be broadcast?"
The BBC said they had received 188 complaints. Watchdogs Ofcom said they had complaints and would investigate if the pre-watershed comments breached their code.
A spokeswoman for the BBC said there were no plans for Clarkson to comment following the complaints.
But the show released a statement. It said: "The vast majority of Top Gear viewers have clear expectations of Jeremy Clarkson's long-established and provocative on-screen persona.
"This particular reference was used to comically exaggerate and make ridiculous an unfair urban myth about the world of lorry driving and was not intended to cause offence."
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainm ... -20867591/
It must be the recession that is causing people to complain about things more than usual these days.
