Key Highlights
- Top Gear co-creator Andy Wilman says the show’s team got “giddy on their own ity” and began writing their own rules.
- The incident involving Jeremy Clarkson’s use of a racial slur in 2014 led to an Ofcom breach ruling.
- Wilman reflects on the moment, expressing regret over the term “slope” used to describe an Asian man.
- The controversy ultimately led to Clarkson leaving the BBC in 2015 after an altercation with a producer.
Top Gear’s Controversial Moments and Their Aftermath
In a recent interview, Andy Wilman, co-creator of Top Gear, reflected on the show’s tumultuous history. Wilman, who served as executive producer between 2002 and 2015 alongside Jeremy Clarkson, explained that the team’s success led them to “get giddy on their own ity” and start “writing our own rules.” This statement comes in the wake of a significant Ofcom breach ruling involving a 2014 episode where Clarkson used a racial slur.
According to Wilman, this incident was just one of several controversies that plagued Top Gear during its long run on BBC. In 2008, the show sparked complaints from viewers after Clarkson made a joke about lorry drivers murdering sex workers. Three years later in 2011, the Mexican government lodged a formal complaint with the BBC over how Mexicans were portrayed on the show as “lazy, feckless, flatulent,” and “overweight.” The presenters also described Mexican cuisine as “refried sick.”
Clarkson’s Use of Racial Slurs
The most egregious incident came in 2014 when Clarkson used the term “slope” to describe an Asian man during a bridge-building episode in Thailand. In response, Wilman stated, “To us, ‘slope’ was just one of those slang terms out of a commando comic. In hindsight it was stupid.
We’d got giddy on our own ity and we were writing our own rules.” This statement has since been widely reported as a sign of the show’s increasingly controversial content.
Wilman further explained that an executive producer was assigned to Top Gear in order “to literally be their watchdog” and ensure they did not “play silly buggers with the content.” At the time, Wilman said, “We were not aware at the time, and it has subsequently been brought to our attention, that the word ‘slope’ is considered by some to be offensive. If we had known that at the time we would not have broadcast the word in this context and regret any offence caused.”
Ofcom’s Ruling and Clarkson’s Departure
The incident involving the use of “slope” resulted in Ofcom ruling that Clarkson’s term breached broadcasting regulations. The ruling stated that Clarkson “deliberately employed the offensive word to refer to the Asian person,” which was not justified by the context of the programme.
In 2015, Jeremy Clarkson faced another controversy when he punched producer Oisin Tymon during an altercation at a hotel in North Yorkshire over hot food. Following this incident, an investigation was launched and, as a result, Top Gear came to an end on BBC after its most successful period.
The show moved to Amazon Prime Video with Wilman producing “The Grand Tour” alongside Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.
Clarkson’s exit from the BBC marked a significant shift in the show’s direction, reflecting broader changes within the network. Wilman also mentioned that these changes were partly due to a “regime change” at the BBC, with new bosses who had different views on the brand of humor the show was known for.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Top Gear’s use of racial slurs and other offensive language highlights the complex relationship between media content, cultural sensitivity, and regulatory oversight. As Wilman reflects on these events, it is clear that the show’s popularity brought both success and criticism. The incident involving Jeremy Clarkson in 2014 remains a significant moment in British broadcasting history, serving as a reminder of the evolving standards for content regulation.
