"Top Gear is NOT racist," says BBC boss who health-checked show after Jeremy Clarkson 'racism storm'
Yesterday the Mirror revealed he had held an internal investigation into Top Gear following complaints and Ofcom rulingins against the show
The BBC’s TV chief says he has given Top Gear a “health check” following an investigation – and has admitted some people found Jeremy Clarkson “very offensive” with his use of racist words.
Director of television Danny Cohen says it is “no secret” that there have been “significant issues” on the BBC2 show recently but insisted the BBC has taken them seriously.
Yesterday the Mirror revealed he had held an internal investigation into Top Gear following complaints and Ofcom rulings against the the show.
But while Cohen said any more controversies on the BBC2 show would “serve no one well” he stressed that he did not think that Clarkson “or anyone on the Top Gear team are racist”.
Cohen spoke out after he ordered a sweeping internal investigation into the show following the leaked outtake earlier this year which apparently showed Clarkson mumbling the N-word.
Last month media regulator Ofcom ruled last week that Clarkson had “deliberately” used a racially offensive term in the Top Gear Burma special.
Cohen described the probe as a “health check” to make sure there are no further incidents on the show.
In a letter to the Guardian, Cohen, who was previously BBC1 controller, wrote: “It’s no secret that there have been some significant issues on Top Gear in recent months.
“The BBC has taken them seriously and has left no one associated with the programme under any illusion just how seriously. I instigated a health check on Top Gear to ensure that there were no further issues.”
He added: “Top Gear is an extraordinary television programme, loved by millions of viewers around the world. I want Top Gear to maintain its unique take on the world but more controversies of this nature would serve no one well.
“Whilst, Jeremy and I disagree on the language some have recently found very offensive I do not think he or anyone on the Top Gear team are racist.
“The focus now is on the future and continuing the great success of Top Gear with audiences. I’m confident the hard-working, high-quality production team will deliver this.”
The corporation’s internal investigation has now been completed, although Cohen is expected to discuss the results with Director General Tony Hall in the future.
It is understood that workers on the show were asked if they thought the programme was racist.
The investigation also explored whether a culture existed where people were afraid to speak out when they found things offensive.
Last month TV watchdogs Ofcom found Top Gear’s Burma special used a racial slur and broke Broadcasting rules.
The show featured a segment showing the hosts looking at a bridge they had built on the River Kwai as a local man walked across it.
Clarkson remarked: “That is a proud moment. But there’s a slope on it.”
In response, a Top Gear spokesman shrugged off the complaint and said: “We dealt with this matter some time ago, the programme apologised at the time and explained the context, and we are now focussing on delivering another series of one of Britain’s best loved shows.”
The Mirror also revealed earlier this year how Clarkson mumbled an offensive version of the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe in a clip that was not broadcast. It contained a racist word but he survived calls to be sacked. He admitted he would be sacked if he made “one more offensive remark, anywhere, at any time”
Comments
Post a Comment