Jeremy Clarkson news – latest: ITV boss says presenter remains Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host ‘at the moment’

Jeremy Clarkson will remain the host on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? “At the moment”, said ITV boss Kevin Lygo, as he criticised Clarkson’s comments about Meghan Markle as “awful”.

In his op-ed, published on Friday (16 December) the 62-year-old wrote that he dreamt of the day Markle would be made to parade naked through Britain while the crowd chanted “shame” and threw “excrement” at her.

Clarkson claimed that “everyone who’s my age thinks the same way”.

The Sun has now removed Clarkson’s comment piece from its website. “In light of Jeremy Clarkson’s tweet he has asked us to take last week’s column down,” the page now reads.

More than 60 cross-party MPs have written to The Sun’s editor to demand an apology and “action taken” against Clarkson. The SNP’s shadow culture minister also called for Clarkson to be banned from TV altogether.

Ipso confirmed on Tuesday 20 December that it had received over 17,500 complaints about the presenter’s column, more than the total it received in 2021.

Key points

• ITV boss says Clarkson to remain Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host 'for the moment'

• What Clarkson said

• More than 60 MPs complain to The Sun editor

• Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle column breaks Ipso complaints record

10:28 , Louis Chilton

I’m told there’s a lot of search currently in “How to complain about Jeremy Clarkson” on Google.

For anyone curious, Ipso have an explanatory page here.

09:57 , Louis Chilton

Pressure continues to build on the Palace to condemn Clarkson’s words.

A petitioner is raising funds on GoFundMe to ‘bring legal action against Jeremy Clarkson and The Sun'

09:50 , Peony Hirwani

A petitioner named Dr Louise Raw is organising a GoFundMe fundraiser to “bring legal action against Jeremy Clarkson and The Sun.”

“We are not hopeful that Ipso will hold the press accountable for spreading hate,” the petition description reads. “The Ipso Chairman is known to be close to Rupert Murdoch. We have therefore resorted to crowdfunding for legal action to be taken against Jeremy Clarkson and The Sun, and its editor Victoria Newton.

“Although the legal route is expensive, I have received a lot of support already and have a team of lawyers who have agreed to review the case.

“All proceeds will exclusively go towards bringing a legal case against Jeremy Clarkson and/or The Sun and its editor Victoria Newton. Any excess funds will be donated to a domestic violence charity,” the petition says.

So far, Dr Raw’s fundraiser has raised a little over £4,300.

08:45 , Peony Hirwani

Piers Morgan weighs in on Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle column

Piers Morgan has commented on Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial rant about Meghan Markle in a national newspaper.

In an op-ed for The Sun, published 16 December, Clarkson wrote that he loathes the Duchess of Sussex “on a cellular level” and wants people to “throw lumps of excrement” at her.

The article has since been removed from the publication’s website after the column became the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s most complained about article.

Inga Parkel reports:

Piers Morgan weighs in on Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle column

ICYMI: Carol Vorderman says she’s ‘received a lot of abuse’ for criticising Jeremy Clarkson

08:00 , Namita Singh

Carol Vorderman has said she “received a lot of abuse” for criticising Jeremy Clarkson.

The broadcaster was one of many people to condemn the former Top Gear host’s “hateful” rant against Meghan Markle in an op-ed for The Sun.

He wrote on Friday (16 December) that he loathes the Duchess of Sussex “on a cellular level” and wants people to “throw lumps of excrement” at her.

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

In a tweet that went viral, Vorderman wrote: “NO Jeremy Clarkson. Not on any level, in any circumstance, is it OK to write this stuff about any woman and absolutely NO to ‘everyone who’s my age thinks the same’.”

Read the details here:

Carol Vorderman says she’s ‘received a lot of abuse’ for criticising Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson should be banned from TV after ‘grotesque’ Meghan Markle comments, MP says

07:30 , Namita Singh

An MP has written to ITV ‘s chief executive demanding that Jeremy Clarkson be taken off air completely, following his controversial remarks about the Duchess of Sussex.

John Nicolson, SNP shadow culture secretary and MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, shared a letter addressed to Dame Carolyn Julia McCall, who has been chief executive of ITV since 2018, on Twitter.

MP John Nicolson wrote on Twitter: “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.”

Report:

MP says Jeremy Clarkson should be banned from TV after ‘grotesque’ comments

More than 60 MPs complain to The Sun editor about ‘hateful’ Jeremy Clarkson Meghan Markle article

07:00 , Namita Singh

More than 60 MPs have written to the editor of The Sun to condemn “in the strongest terms” an article by Jeremy Clarkson about the Duchess of Sussex.

The cross-party group said the former Top Gear presenter’s “hateful” article had contributed to an “unacceptable climate of hatred and violence”.

In the piece, published in The Sun on Friday, Clarkson wrote that he had dreamed of Markle being paraded through British towns and publicly shamed, adding that “everyone who’s my age thinks the same way”.

Read the details here:

MPs complain to The Sun about ‘hateful’ Jeremy Clarkson Meghan Markle article

ICYMI: What did Jeremy Clarkson say about Meghan Markle? 7 of the TV presenter’s controversial comments

06:30 , Namita Singh

Jeremy Clarkson has come under fire for his most recent comments about Meghan Markle, with a plethora of fellow celebrities criticising his “hateful” rant.

In his column for The Sun, the journalist and former Top Gear presenter said: “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.”

He also said he hated Markle, “not like I hate Nicola Sturgeon or Rose West”, but on a “cellular level”.

Carol Vorderman, John Bishop, and Kathy Burke are among the celebrities to condemn Clarkson’s comments on Twitter, reports Ella Kipling:

7 of Jeremy Clarkson’s most controversial comments about Meghan Markle

Meghan and Harry announce Christmas charity gesture amid Jeremy Clarkson row

06:00 , Namita Singh

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced a charitable Christmas gesture amid a public row over a column written about Meghan Markle in The Sun by Jeremy Clarkson.

A photograph of a pile of presents was shared to the Archewell Foundation’s website on Tuesday (20 December), alongside the news that the couple had “organised gifts for more than 30 different reunified and refugee families” at the US and Mexico border.

A statement reads: “On Friday, the Archewell team including The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio and Archewell Productions gathered to celebrate the holidays and participate in This Is About Humanity’s annual Holiday Party for Reunified Families represented by Immigrant Defenders Law Centre.

More in this report:

Meghan and Harry announce Christmas charity gesture amid Jeremy Clarkson row

Not in my name, Jeremy Clarkson

05:30 , Namita Singh

For the information of Jeremy Clarkson, not everyone of his age thinks the same way.

His latest desperate grab at appeal for his rapidly fading star is unacceptable.

It is in keeping with his arrogance that he considers that such immature, odious and outdated thoughts are the norm in this age group.

Hoping that he is part of a dying breed is probably forlorn. There will always be those who rise to infamy based on transient popular appeal and whose “celebrity” and wealth gives them the false belief that they hold an important role in society.

I would be grateful if he could keep his disgusting thoughts to himself, writes our reader Jane Penson in the letter to The Independent.

Letters: Not in my name, Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson to remain Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host for ‘the moment’

04:30 , Namita Singh

Jeremy Clarkson is going to remain Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host for “the moment”.

ITV boss Kevin Lygo said Clarkson’s comments about Meghan Markle were “awful” but “at the moment” the broadcaster plans to keep him as host of the game show.

In a recent column for The Sun newspaper, Clarkson, 62, said he feels “hate” for Meghan and dreams of seeing her publicly humiliated.

My colleague Peony Hirwani reports:

Jeremy Clarkson to remain Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host for ‘the moment’

Clarkson’s piece becomes most complained about article

04:00 , Namita Singh

The number of complaints made to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) about Jeremy Clarkson‘s The Sun newspaper column about the Duchess of Sussex has risen to more than 20,800 as of 5pm on Tuesday.

A statement from the regulator said: “We will follow our usual processes to examine the complaints we have received. This will take longer than usual because of the volume of complaints.”

Earlier in the day the piece became Ipso’s most complained about article.

A reminder of what Clarkson said

03:28 , Tom Murray

It’s been a few days now since Jeremy Clarkson created a media storm when he made disparaging comments about Meghan Markle in his column for The Sun.

Clarkson wrote that he despises the duchess “on a cellular level” and dreams of people throwing “excrement” at her in the street.

He also said he hated Markle, “not like I hate Nicola Sturgeon or Rose West”, but on a “cellular level”.

In a follow-up to the controversy shared Monday (19 December), Clarkson wrote: “I made a clumsy reference to a scene in Game of Thrones and this has gone down badly... I’m horrified to have caused so much hurt and I shall be more careful in future.”

Carole Vordermon tweets about ‘The Clarkson Effect'

02:28 , Tom Murray

In a tweet that went viral, Vorderman wrote: “NO Jeremy Clarkson. Not on any level, in any circumstance, is it OK to write this stuff about any woman and absolutely NO to ‘everyone who’s my age thinks the same’.”

She continued: “No no no. We absolutely do NOT think the same. Listen to the noise Jeremy. The crowds are chanting ‘shame on YOU.’”

One day after Clarkson said he was “horrified” by the “hurt” he’s caused, Vorderman said in a follow-up tweet: “The Clarkson Effect. I’ve received a lot of abuse obvs, but it’s like watching the last death throes of a dinosaur age.”

Read more

Carol Vorderman says she’s ‘received a lot of abuse’ for criticising Jeremy Clarkson

ITV boss says Clarkson will remain Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host for ‘the moment’

01:24 , Tom Murray

At a Broadcasting Press Guild event in London on Tuesday, ITV boss Kevin Lygo condemned Clarkson’s comments about the Duchess of Sussex but said there are no plans to replace him as host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? “at the moment”.

“I would say what he writes in a newspaper column… We have no control over what he says,” Lygo told journalists.

“... So it’s not quite in our wheelhouse but I don’t know what he was thinking when he wrote that. It was awful.”

Read more

Jeremy Clarkson to remain Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host for ‘the moment’

One reader reported Clarkson to the police

00:08 , Tom Murray

Responding to John Nicolson MP’s letter to the Chief Executive of ITV, one reader shared his response from West Mercia Police after he reported Clarkson to them.

In their reply, the police department wrote that Clarkson’s column does not relate to a “hate crime”.

British-Nigerian writer stuns Twitter users with revelation

Tuesday 20 December 2022 23:15 , Inga Parkel

In a seemingly laudatory post referencing Emily Clarkson’s recent actions against her father Jeremy, British-Nigerian writer Jason Okundaye wrote: “People don’t hold you to who your parents are unless you decide to be insufferable!

He added: “Nigella Lawson’s father was literally Thatcher’s chancellor yet she’s one of the nation’s most universally beloved women, wherever you are on the political compass.”

Many users responded to the second part stunned, unaware of the familial connection between Nigella Lawson and former MP Nigel Lawson, who served as chancellor from 1981 to 1989 to former controversial Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The Independent readers argue against Clarkson

Tuesday 20 December 2022 22:45 , Inga Parkel

In Tuesday’s Letters to the Editor, The Independent readers have refuted Jeremy Clarkson’s claims “everyone who’s my age” feels the same as him about Meghan Markle.

Read more

Not in my name, Jeremy Clark

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Scottish politician to appear on ‘Good Morning Britain’ to speak about ‘Clarkson and misogyny'

Tuesday 20 December 2022 22:16 , Inga Parkel

Scottish politician Hannah Bardell, who serves as a Member of Parliament for Livingston, will join Good Morning Britain presenters Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins tomorrow (21 December) morning to “chat all things Jeremy Clarkson & misogyny”.

Bardell shared the announcement on Twitter, asking those who could to “tune in”.

In a following post, she commented on Caroline Flack’s mother’s recent interview in which she shared an emotional warning about the “harmful” impact of “untrue” press coverage.

“This is utterly heartbreaking,” Bardell wrote, “but so brave and spot on of Caroline Flack’s mum.”

The MP then questioned: “How did we get to this place, that women like Caroline are literally hounded to death by some in the media and tabloid press. It’s sickening.”

Dolly Parton’s sister Stella thanks Clarkson for ‘proving’ Harry and Meghan right

Tuesday 20 December 2022 21:48 , Inga Parkel

Singer Stella Parton, the younger sister of country darling Dolly Parton, has thanked Jeremy Clarkson for his recent controversial column.

“I want to thank Jeremy Clarkson,” she began on Twitter, “for proving once and for all that Meghan and Harry were always telling the truth about everything”.

Parton concluded by wishing Meghan and Harry a Merry Christmas, before adding: “ Wasn’t that brilliant?”

Buckingham Palace reportedly upset with reporting on lunch attended by Camilla and Clarkson

Tuesday 20 December 2022 20:38 , Tom Murray

In a report shared Tuesday, Yahoo News UK says it understands the palace is angry at some of the media coverage of a lunch attended by both Camilla and Clarkson last week.

According to reports, Queen Camilla held the glamorous Christmas lunch on Wednesday (14 December), with attendees including Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, and Claudia Winkleman.

Yahoo reported that the palace feels “any attempt to link Camilla and Clarkson’s comments because they attended the same lunch together are highly misleading”.

Still no public comment from Camilla or the palace, though.

Diane Abbott condemns The Sun editor

Tuesday 20 December 2022 19:37 , Tom Murray

In a tweet shared Tuesday, former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott wrote: “Jeremy Clarkson WROTE his vile column about Meghan Markle naked and pelted with excrement. But the editor of the Sun, Victoria Newton APPROVED it for publication. No apology to Meghan from either yet. #Clarksonracist.”

More than 60 MPs complain to The Sun editor

Tuesday 20 December 2022 19:06 , Tom Murray

64 British MPs have written to the editor of The Sun to condemn Clarkson’s article about Meghan Markle “in the strongest terms”.

The cross-party group said the former Top Gear presenter’s “hateful” article had contributed to an “unacceptable climate of hatred and violence”.

Read more

MPs complain to The Sun about ‘hateful’ Jeremy Clarkson Meghan Markle article

Pressure mounts on royal family to respond

Tuesday 20 December 2022 18:26 , Tom Murray

People on social media are continuing to call on the royal family to condemn Clarkson’s statements.

A separate row erupted after it transpired that Clarkson and Piers Morgan had attended a Christmas lunch hosted by Camilla, Queen Consort days before the offending column was published

So far, no member of the royal family has commented on the article.

John Amaechi OBE labels Clarkson’s op-ed ‘rabid misogyny'

Tuesday 20 December 2022 17:15 , Inga Parkel

British-American psychologist and former pro basketball player John Amaechi OBE said Clarkson’s op-ed and “subsequent rationalisation dressed as an apology should horrify us all”.

“You don’t have to be “pro” Meghan or “woke” to recognise rabid, unhinged misogyny when you see it – and to reject it unequivocally,” he tweeted.

Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle column breaks Ipso complaints record

Tuesday 20 December 2022 16:45 , Isobel Lewis

Jeremy Clarkson’s column about Meghan Markle has meanwhile broken the record for the most complained about article to press watchdog Ipso.

Read more

Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle column breaks Ipso complaints record

Piers Morgan weighs in on Jeremy Clarkson row

Tuesday 20 December 2022 16:04 , Inga Parkel

Piers Morgan has finally voiced his opinion regarding the recent Clarkson op-ed.

The former Good Morning Britain broadcaster, who left the show over his own Meghan Markle controversy, wrote on Twitter: “Imagine if all those screaming with rage about Jeremy Clarkson felt the same protective anger towards those who’ve branded our Royal Family callous lying racist bullies – without producing any actual evidence for these cruel allegations?”

Read more

Piers Morgan weighs in on Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle column

Conservative MP denies Clarkson’s apology

Tuesday 20 December 2022 15:45 , Inga Parkel

Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North in Hampshire, has not accepted Clarkson’s apology over his op-ed, instead branding it as an “acknowledgement that he has caused hurt”.

“I welcome Jeremy Clarkson’s acknowledgement that he has caused hurt #notanapology,” she tweeted, before placing partial blame on “the editorial process” that “allowed his column to be printed unchallenged”.

Nokes shared a personal letter she wrote addressed to The Sun’s Editor-in-Chief, Victoria Newton, saying: “We are horrified at the recent article by Jeremy Clarkson in your publication.

“It is unacceptable that it was allowed to be published in a mainstream newspaper,” she added.

Kathy Burke hits out at Jeremy Clarkson after his Meghan Markle rant

Tuesday 20 December 2022 15:15 , Isobel Lewis

Another critic of Clarkson’s column is Kathy Burke, who didn’t mince her words as she called the presenter a “collosal c***”.

Read more

Kathy Burke hits out at ‘colossal c***’ Jeremy Clarkson after his Meghan Markle rant

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are ‘gifting back'

Tuesday 20 December 2022 14:37 , Inga Parkel

After Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial op-ed taking aim at Meghan Markle has broken complaint records, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell foundation “organised gifts for more than 30 different reunified and refugee families” at the US and Mexico border over the weekend.

The announcement on Monday (19 December) was made on their foundation’s website, alongside a photo of a pile of gifts.

“This Is About Humanity creates a community of allies and advocates dedicated to raising awareness about separated and reunified families and children at the U.S.-Mexican border,” the message read.

Read more

Meghan and Harry announce Christmas charity gesture amid Jeremy Clarkson row

Caroline Flack’s mother condemns Jeremy Clarkson column

Tuesday 20 December 2022 14:15 , Isobel Lewis

One critic of Jeremy Clarkson’s comments is Christine Flack, the mother of the late presenter Caroline Flack.

“I can see even though Meghan and Harry have got all that money... even they said, if they can’t win, how can anyone else win?” she said.

“Someone like Jeremy Clarkson can just say what he wants, but it gets printed, that’s the worst thing.”

Read more

Caroline Flack’s mother condemns Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle column

The Independent readers refute Clarkson’s claims

Tuesday 20 December 2022 13:45 , Isobel Lewis

In Tuesday’s Letters to the Editor, The Independent readers have argued against Jeremy Clarkson’s claims “everyone who’s my age” feels the same as him about Meghan Markle.

Read more

Letters: Not in my name, Jeremy Clarkson

Anger mounts over Camilla lunch attended by Jeremy Clarkson and Piers Morgan

Tuesday 20 December 2022 13:25 , Isobel Lewis

The Queen Consort has come under fierce criticism after hosting a lunch reportedly attended by Clarkson and another of Meghan Markle’s most vocal critics, Piers Morgan.

According to reports, Queen Camilla held the glamorous Christmas lunch on Wednesday (14 December), the day before the Netflix documentary Harry and Meghan was released.

On the Friday (16 December), Clarkson published his much-criticised column in The Sun.

Read more

Anger mounts over Camilla lunch attended by Jeremy Clarkson and Piers Morgan

7 of Jeremy Clarkson’s most controversial comments about Meghan Markle

Tuesday 20 December 2022 12:45 , Peony Hirwani

Here are Clarkson’s most controversial comments about Markle, which cover everything from climate change and polar bears to calling Markle a “silly little cable TV actress”.

7 of Jeremy Clarkson’s most controversial comments about Meghan Markle

Tuesday 20 December 2022 12:15 , Peony Hirwani

Nicola Sturgeon says she “pities” Jeremy Clarkson.

Scotland’s First Minister was among the high-profile figures criticising the former Top Gear host.

“I have to say, taking a step back from it, my overwhelming emotion about guys like Jeremy Clarkson is pity,” she told broadcasters on Monday.

“I mean, what is it that makes somebody so distorted by hate that they end up writing these things?”

Read more

Nicola Sturgeon says she pities Jeremy Clarkson

Tuesday 20 December 2022 11:46 , Peony Hirwani

Jeremy Clarkson’s The Sun newspaper column, in which he said he “hated” Meghan Markle, has become Ipso’s most complained about article, with more than 17,500 complaints.

Read more:

Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle column breaks Ipso complaints record

Tuesday 20 December 2022 11:37 , Peony Hirwani

More than 60 cross-party MPs have written to The Sun’s editor, Victoria Newton, to demand an apology and “action taken” against Jeremy Clarkson.

Jeremy Clarkson responds to outrage over Meghan Markle article

Tuesday 20 December 2022 11:07 , Peony Hirwani

Here’s what Jeremy Clarkson said about the outrage over his article about Meghan Markle.

Jeremy Clarkson vows to ‘be more careful’ as Meghan column gets 12,000 complaints

Author Carol Vorderman criticises Jeremy Clarkson

Tuesday 20 December 2022 10:37 , Peony Hirwani

“NO Jeremy Clarkson. Not on any level, in any circumstance, is it ok to write this stuff about any woman and absolutely NO to ‘everyone who’s my age thinks the same.’ No no no,” Carol Vorderman wrote on Twitter.

“We absolutely do NOT think the same. Listen to the noise Jeremy. The crowds are chanting ‘shame on YOU.’”

Jeremy Clarkson should be banned from TV after ‘grotesque’ Meghan Markle comments, MP says

Tuesday 20 December 2022 10:07 , Peony Hirwani

An MP has written to ITV ‘s chief executive demanding that Jeremy Clarkson be taken off air completely.

Read more:

MP says Jeremy Clarkson should be banned from TV after ‘grotesque’ comments