Jeremy Clarkson steps into sexism row and says: Top Gear stars would have been sacked 100 times

Outspoken: Jeremy Clarkson at O2 TV awards ceremony
12 April 2012

The ousting of Andy Gray and Richard Keys from Sky Sports was compared with Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition sketch as top stars leapt to the former presenters' defence.

Bruce Forsyth said the pair - attacked for their lewd, sexist comments - were merely engaging in the "banter" that is part of everyday life on TV.

And Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond told of their fears other presenters could be sacked for voicing an opinion off-air.

Clarkson, 50, said: "If that's the new benchmark, the three of us would have been sacked probably 100 times for the things we've said. So would everyone.

"It's baffling. It's a very baffling, worrying time if I'm not allowed to say to Richard or James something on my mind for fear I could be sacked for it."

He went on: "In the Spanish Inquisition sketch, the joke was that someone could be charged with heresy by word, heresy by deed and heresy by thought.

"And you think, how funny - you could be done for heresy by thought. But I think we've arrived at the stage now where you actually can be busted for heresy by thought, which is terrifying. You could think a thought and someone could sack you for it.

"While we try very hard on Top Gear not to be sexist, if a man wants to think that, then that's fine. You should be allowed to think what you want to."

Clarkson was speaking backstage with his two colleagues at the National Television Awards in the O2 last night, where their show won Most Popular Factual Programme.

May also joked about Gray's comment regarding his microphone to Sky Sports' Charlotte Jackson, when he said, "Can you tuck that down there?" as he prepared to go on air.

The Top Gear presenter said he "wanted to thank the young lady who stuffed the microphone down my trousers". As the audience laughed, Clarkson said May would soon be out of a job.

May added: "I dislike Jeremy intensely but I'd die for the right for him to continue to be as objectionable as he is." Hammond said: "It's a case of who says it, and who do they say it to."

Keys, 53, quit as Sky Sports football anchorman last night after the sacking of Gray, 55, over disparaging off-air comments about assistant referee Sian Massey and West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady.

His resignation came just hours after he made an appearance on talkSPORT radio, admitting he had behaved in a "prehistoric" way to women.

Forsyth, 83, who had just collected a Special Recognition Award at the O2, last night said the departure of Keys and Gray "isn't right".

He added: "We all say things. We're all cursing and swearing and saying sexist things and that kind of thing. But when you're criticised that way it's wrong.

"When you're off camera we do say these things for a bit of a laugh, but it's just to relax not only yourself but the whole crew. So it isn't right to have all that going on. It should be stopped.

"But of course there are moles in every studio, every hotel, every restaurant. And while we've got moles, we've got trouble."

The stars' comments came as a former Sky Sports producer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told of a sexist culture at the channel.

The source said: "The most surprising aspect of the sexism row at Sky Sports is that it took the best part of 20 years to emerge. These sort of comments to women happen 20 times a day. They are nothing new.

"You have to ask why it has happened and whether the bosses should have ensured that this sort of culture couldn't exist."

* Jonathan Ross claimed sexism is rife within the television industry and that men get "an easier deal" in their careers.

The presenter said: "Sometimes maybe people are let go because they're too old. I don't necessarily think it's fair, but I do think men get an easier deal in every line of work than women.

"We should do something about that. You have so many older men still on TV - Brucie, Parky - there are so many over 60 and not many women. If I was a women I would make a noise about it."

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in