BBC’s director of TV defends Clarkson and Top Gear in racism row
Danny Cohen, the BBC’s director of television, has sprung to the defence of one of his star talents by penning a letter to the guardian in which he outlines his position Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear following a series of racism rows.
In it Cohen said he ‘doesn’t think’ Clarkson or anyone else behind the hit show is racist but conceded he ‘disagrees’ with the presenters choice of language.
An internal investigation ordered by the broadcaster has looked into a number of recent controversies, including an outtake in which Clarkson was apparently heard to utter the N-word and a scene broadcast in a Burma special in which he ‘deliberately’ used a racist term.
Cohen wrote: “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.”