The Grand Tour

Jeremy Clarkson: MPs Contact ITV Over Controversial Column – “I Do Not Believe That Mr Clarkson Should Appear On Our Television Screens Again”

It’s been reported that an MP has written to ITV on behalf of several MPs across the country to drop Jeremy Clarkson from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. This comes after the Grand Tour presenter took to a column for The Sun to describe his hate of Meghan Markle.

He wrote the following for The Sun:

“At night, I’m unable to sleep as I lie there, grinding my teeth and dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant, ‘Shame!’ and throw lumps of excrement at her.”

“Everyone who’s my age thinks the same way.”

The Clarkson’s Farm presenter received backlash across the board, even from his own daughter, and he eventually acknowledged the mistake in a Tweet yesterday. But despite this, John Nicolson, SNP shadow culture secretary and MP for Ochil and South Perthshire sent a letter to the chief executive of ITV Dame Carolyn Julia McCall to call for the presenter to be fired.

“Following grotesque comments made about the First Minster and The Duchess of Sussex, I do not believe Jeremy Clarkson should be allowed back on our screens. I’ve written to the Chief Executive of ITV.”

It continued:

“As a member of parliament and a journalist by profession, I have consistently defended the freedom of the press. However, this has crossed a line.

“Using the names of a democratically elected First Minister of Scotland and the Duchess of Sussex alongside that of a serial killer is grotesque.

“Expressing a scatological, misogynistic fantasy that Meghan Markle might be assaulted with faeces is an insight into a disturbed mind, openly expressing violence hate speech.

“I do not believe that Mr Clarkson should appear on our television screens again. It would be especially inappropriate for him to be used as a presenter by any Public Service Broadcaster.”

Nicolson then went on to write that he doesn’t believe Clarkson matches the mission statement of ITV: to “connect with millions of people and inspire positive change”.

It has also been reported that the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), has received thousands of complaints after the column was published.

ITV isn’t the only company involved with Clarkson to have received backlash from the event. His own brewery, Hawkstone, has been boycotted by readers of the column, with one posting this on the official Instagram page of the company:

“Will never buy/support a brand associated with a misoginist, violent verbal abuser person, among other crimes that should be held accountable. Stop the misogyny and racism” [sic]“I hope everyone who works for this company feels utterly ashamed for the association with Jeremy Clarkson… and I hope you don’t have wives, girlfriends, sisters, daughters to go home to because I’m not sure how you could possibly look them in the eye. NEVER buying this beer.”

Another added: “So sorry for your association with Jeremy. Unfortunately I can’t support the brand any longer.”

We’ll be covering the subject as more news is published.

Alex Harrington

Alex started racing at a young age so certainly knows his way around a car and a track. He can just about put a sentence together too, which helps. He has a great interest in the latest models, but would throw all of his money at a rusty old French classic and a 300ZX. Contact: [email protected]

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