I'm sorry, but not for calling PM 'an idiot', says Clarkson

TOP Gear host Jeremy Clarkson watered down his apology yesterday for calling Prime Minister Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot" – saying he was not sorry for "the idiot bit".

Speaking to The Sun, in which he writes a weekly column, he said: "I very specifically apologised for making fun of his personal appearance – very specifically.

"I have nothing against the Scottish and of course I regret making any remark that might have upset the disabled. But the idiot bit – there is no chance I'll apologise for that."

Disability groups and politicians reacted with outrage to the BBC presenter's remarks, which he made in Sydney, where he is on tour with Top Gear Live, a stage version of the hit TV show. In a statement issued on Friday, Clarkson said: "In the heat of the moment I made a remark about the Prime Minister's personal appearance for which, upon reflection, I apologise." The broadcaster said it would be taking no further action.

But politicians north of the border called on the presenter to say sorry for using the term "Scottish".

The row is the latest controversy to hit the BBC, coming days after Carol Thatcher was dropped from The One Show for comparing a tennis player to a golliwog.