Top Gear number plate row: Argentina complains to BBC about Jeremy Clarkson

Ambassador visits BBC to demand public apology about Jeremy Clarkson's 'entirely false accusations' after Top Gear number plate row

BBC Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson
BBC Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson Credit: Photo: PA

Argentina’s ambassador to the UK has made a formal complaint to the BBC about Jeremy Clarkson’s “provocative behaviour” in the recent Top Gear special, and demanded a public apology.

Ambassador Alicia Castro visited the BBC on Monday afternoon.

The embassy released details of the ambassador's meeting with the BBC’s director of television, Danny Cohen, in which she condemned the presenter and his team for appearing to taunt Argentinians over the Falklands conflict.

Setting out the ambassador’s case, an embassy spokesman said: “Argentine Ambassador to the UK, Alicia Castro, made a formal complaint to the BBC regarding Jeremy Clarkson's provocative behaviour and offensive remarks towards the Government and the Argentine people, following Top Gear's recent filming in Argentina, calling for the BBC to make a public apology.

"Clarkson arrived in Tierra del Fuego, just 400 miles form the Malvinas Islands, flaunting a car with the number plates H982 FKL, evoking the year and the initials of the territory in which the war took place.

“Subsequently, he claimed it was a ‘mere coincidence’ with no intention of provoking a reaction.”

The ambassador listed a number of the "offensive remarks" in her meeting with Mr Cohen, including Clarkson's description of Tierra del Fuego as "a Mafia state".

Her spokesman said: "The Argentine Ambassador deeply regretted Jeremy Clarkson's entirely false accusations of alleged resentment against British citizens in Argentina. Castro recalled that our country is home to more than 250,000 British descendants, the largest such community in Latin America, including 70,000 of Welsh origin, whose settlement in Patagonia will mark its 150th anniversary in 2014.

"Ambassador Castro noted the excellent degree of cooperation various ongoing BBC projects continue to enjoy in Argentina, stressing her desire for this to remain the case.

"Finally, the Ambassador showed Mr Cohen a great number of letters of support received by many British citizens, including MPs, journalists and other personalities, condemning Clarkson's provocative behaviour.

“The Embassy of Argentina awaits a proper response from the BBC.”

The show has been at the centre of a number of recent controversies with Clarkson said to be on a "final warning" from the BBC.

A BBC spokesman said: "The BBC has received a complaint and will apply its usual processes."