Viewers who are offended by jokes on motoring show Top Gear must accept such remarks will remain "an integral part of the programme", the BBC has said.

The corporation has issued a statement on its complaints website after receiving 500 objections in six months.

 

"Provocative comments" by hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May must not be taken seriously, it said.

 

The BBC said the audience should be "familiar enough" with Top Gear's tone to be able to cope with the jibes.

 

Sarcasm was part of Top Gear's appeal, the statement stressed, and members of the public and participants were never immune "from the team's acerbic comments and observations".

 

Last month, BBC governors rejected one viewer's objection to a Nazi salute by Clarkson on an edition broadcast last November.

 

They did admit there had been "a real potential to offend" but said most viewers would have known Clarkson often used "the most exaggerated stereotypes to support or defend his opinions".

 

They would not have taken his comments seriously for that reason, the governors added.

 

A BBC spokeswoman said there had also been "a number of calls" about a report on caravans broadcast on 16 July from "viewers who were taking issue with various aspects" of the feature.

 

The statement on the complaints website said Top Gear's format would not be changed.

 

But it reassured viewers that the corporation would continue to monitor the tone of the show.

 

"Were the presenters' comments and pranks carried out with any degree of seriousness, rather than being clearly tongue-in-cheek or adopting the deliberate overstatement that is the programme's trademark, we would of course take issue with them," it added.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk

long live top gear

Hear Hear, Top Gear, best program on TV.

 

I loved when Richard's Van flipped over

same! the best part was when Jeremy's door fell off though, proves that black tape just doesn't cut it.....

The Shows fantastic and i dont even like cars.

 

Does anyone know who the Stig is? Is it still Perry McCarthy?

The Shows fantastic and i dont even like cars.

 

Does anyone know who the Stig is? Is it still Perry McCarthy?

 

I totally agree. I just finished watching it. The great thing is that you don't need to be a car enthusiast to enjoy the show - it's hilarious.

 

However, the Nazi salute was maybe going a bit too far as it is officially regarded as "offensive" and in some countries you can even be arrested for giving it.

In retrospect, maybe it would have been a good idea for JC to apologise on that occasion................................

The Shows fantastic and i dont even like cars.

 

Does anyone know who the Stig is? Is it still Perry McCarthy?

 

Nope, Perry McCarthy was the orginal black stig.

 

The White Stig is a number of different people.

Well done the beeb for sticking with it and not bowing to the pressure from those whiney complainers.

I love top gear, have watched it for years. Its so funny with what comments are made. I loved the caravaning episode, though richard hammonds van flip was a classic moment!!!

Well done the beeb for sticking with it and not bowing to the pressure from those whiney complainers.

 

Here Here.

 

The BBC should be awarded for not bowing to the pressure from the people who want to see the car banned and for everybody to go back to live in a cave.