Jeremy Clarkson, one of Britain’s most recognisable television presenters, has built a long career through programmes such as Top Gear, The Grand Tour, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and more recently Clarkson’s Farm. Alongside his popularity, however, Clarkson has also faced repeated criticism over remarks and incidents that have sparked public debate over the past 25 years.
One of the earliest controversies dates back to 1998, when Hyundai UK complained to the BBC about comments Clarkson allegedly made about employees at a Hyundai stand during a motor show in Birmingham. A company spokesperson said Clarkson suggested staff had eaten dog and mocked the designer of one of the brand’s cars. Hyundai described the remarks as offensive and raised concerns with the broadcaster.
In 2005, Clarkson drew criticism after making a mock Nazi salute during a Top Gear segment about a BMW vehicle. He also joked that the car’s navigation system would “only go to Poland,” referencing Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939. The comments led to backlash from some viewers and public figures who argued the jokes were inappropriate.
Further controversy followed in 2008 when Clarkson made a joke on Top Gear about truck drivers murdering sex workers while describing a driver’s daily routine. More than 500 complaints were submitted to the BBC, and a member of parliament called for Clarkson to be dismissed from the programme. Clarkson later responded in a newspaper column, dismissing the reaction as exaggerated.
In 2010, a remark about gay rights made during a deleted Top Gear segment also drew criticism after it was reported publicly. The comment was described by some campaigners as offensive, adding to the growing list of remarks that had sparked debate about Clarkson’s on-screen humour.
A year later, Clarkson again apologised after saying striking public sector workers should be “shot” during an appearance on the BBC’s The One Show while discussing pension disputes. Trade unions condemned the remark, and Clarkson later issued an apology.
The Top Gear presenter faced additional criticism in 2012 during a Christmas special filmed in India, where jokes about Indian culture, food and infrastructure prompted complaints from Indian diplomats. Officials said they were disappointed by how the country had been portrayed in the programme.
In 2014, another Top Gear special filmed in Thailand sparked controversy after Clarkson used a word during a bridge-building scene that some viewers interpreted as an offensive slur. The programme’s producers later said the remark had been intended as wordplay and expressed regret if any offence had been caused.
The same year, previously unaired footage surfaced that appeared to show Clarkson reciting a nursery rhyme containing a racial slur. Clarkson said he had attempted to mumble the word rather than say it fully.
The most significant turning point in Clarkson’s BBC career came in 2015 when he was dismissed from Top Gear after an altercation with producer Oisin Tymon. The incident, which reportedly followed a disagreement after filming, led to an internal investigation and ultimately ended Clarkson’s long run as host of the show. Clarkson later apologised and settled a legal claim related to the incident.
Despite leaving the BBC programme, Clarkson quickly returned to television through new projects including The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm, both of which have attracted large audiences.
More recently, Clarkson faced criticism again in 2022 after writing a column in The Sun about Meghan Markle. The article drew tens of thousands of complaints, and in 2023 the press regulator Ipso ruled that the piece was sexist and degrading. Clarkson and the newspaper later apologised, and Clarkson’s daughter Emily publicly criticised the column.
While Clarkson remains one of the most recognisable figures in British television, the controversies surrounding his remarks and actions have continued to shape public discussion about his career alongside his entertainment success.
