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Top Gear - Mexico Complaints

Mexico's ambassador in London has complained to the BBC over "offensive, xenophobic and humiliating" comments made about his country on Top Gear.

Eduardo Medina Mora has written to the BBC about "insults" made by Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

Discussing a Mexican sports car, Hammond said vehicles reflected national characteristics so "Mexican cars are just going to be lazy".

Whilst reviewing the car on Sunday, Hammond said: "Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat."

The presenters then described Mexican food as "refried sick".

Clarkson said he was confident he would not receive any complaints about their comments because the Mexican ambassador would be asleep.

However, the ambassador did complain, and demanded an apology from the BBC.

"The presenters of the programme resorted to outrageous, vulgar and inexcusable insults to stir bigoted feelings against the Mexican people, their culture, as well as their official representative in the United Kingdom," he wrote.

"These offensive, xenophobic and humiliating remarks only serve to reinforce negative stereotypes and perpetuate prejudice against Mexico and its people."

waveguide.co.uk

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At the Chortle comedy website's awards in Soho last night, May said Coogan was his favourite comic and added: "Intelligent criticism from intelligent people who are masters of their craft should be taken seriously, and I welcome it." www.thisislondon.co.uk

Top Gear Comments To Be Cut

An episode of Top Gear in which its presenters mocked Mexicans will be edited before the show is broadcast in the US.

Last week the BBC apologised for the show, in which Richard Hammond alleged they were "feckless [and] flatulent" and Jeremy Clarkson poked fun at the Mexican ambassador to London.

Eduardo Medina Mora later complained to the corporation about the comments.

A BBC spokeswoman said shows like Top Gear were "routinely edited for international transmission".

Top Gear is shown in the US on the BBC America channel. The episode in question will be broadcast next week, without the "news" section in which the comments were made.

The section in question sees the trio of presenters discuss new cars and indulge in light-hearted banter.

waveguide.co.uk

Top Gear Death Threats

The presenters of BBC Two's Top Gear have reportedly received death threats after poking fun at Welsh people during a recent edition.

James May told the News Of The World that he and co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond were targeted after the Welsh "really took offence" at the remarks.

Their comments included suggestions that motorists should test drive fast cars on rural Welsh roads, "because no-one wants to live there".

"It isn't the Mexicans we have to worry about - it is the Welsh," May said. "They really took offence.

"We received quite a few threats on our lives. People shouldn't take what we say seriously."

They recently came under fire for making jibes at Mexicans, calling them "lazy, feckless, flatulent and overweight" on the show a fortnight ago.

It led to Britain's Mexican ambassador Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza called their comments "xenophobic" and "humiliating".

However a BBC spokesperson said that the presenters were referring to the "perceived characteristics of nationalities when talking about cars made in those countries" and added, "Mexico was not singled out."

waveguide.co.uk

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Top Gear - India Complains

The High Commission of India (HCI) in London has complained that a Top Gear special in India was "offensive" and full of "toilet humour".

The programme shown in December featured jokes about food and trains and a Jaguar car fitted with a toilet seat on its boot.

The HCI has written to the BBC after it was contacted by "too many people" who were "very upset" by the programme.

The BBC, which received 188 complaints about the show, said it would respond directly to the HCI in due course.

In the letter, published in the Daily Telegraph, the HCI criticised a lack of cultural sensitivity and called on the BBC to take action to pacify those offended.

An HCI spokesman said he had yet to hear back from the BBC and added: "In the letter, we did convey our disappointment because we have a long-standing relationship with the BBC which is one of admiration and co-operation."

"I look forward to seeing some response from them."
waveguide.co.uk

The ugly face of TV: How Jeremy Clarkson brought facial prejudice to a head

By Rich McEachran Independent

Jeremy Clarkson Signs New Top Gear Deal To Keep Him On BBC For Three More Years www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

'Offensive (and not funny)' After years of insults, BBC finally censures Jeremy Clarkson

Presenter's remark that car looked like 'person with facial growths' breached Corporation's guidelines
Ian Burrell www.independent.co.uk