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Top gear presenter under fire over use of racist term

BRITIAN'S education secretary Michael Gove has urged the BBC not to sack Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson for using a racist term "in error" during filming.

The cabinet minister said Clark-son's apologetic explanation that he had tried not to utter the n-word should be enough to draw a line under the controversy.

But David Cameron's official spokesman said the prime minister believed his friend's fate was a matter for the broadcaster to decide.

Clarkson became embroiled in a racism row following claims that he used the n-word while reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny Moe while shooting an episode of the BBC2 programme.

In the footage Clarkson is using the nursery rhyme to compare two sports cars. He said he "mumbled where the offensive word would normally occur" in two takes, and used the word "teacher" in its place in a third.

Last night he posted a video in which he said he "did everything in my power to not use that word" and was now "begging your forgiveness for the fact that obviously my efforts weren't quite good enough".

Asked if he backed calls for Mr Clarkson, well known for courting such controversy, to be axed over the latest episode, Mr Gove told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "No, I don't.

"The word in question is horrendous and shouldn't be used but I have read Jeremy Clarkson's account in the papers today.

"His explanation, and it seems to me that this was a word that he never intended to utter, never intended to broadcast.

"He has been clear in his apology and I think we should leave matters there.

"But it is really important that all of us should appreciate that the use of this type of language is unacceptable and it is right that anyone who uses language like this, even in error, should apologise for doing so."

Asked if Mr Cameron shared his cabinet colleague's opinion, Mr Cameron's official spokesman said: "He does share the education secretary's view: it is absolutely right that there has been an apology."

Pressed on whether he also shared the view he should keep his job, he replied: "His view is that in terms of actions and the like, that's for the BBC."

The claims come days after the motoring show's producer apologised for broadcasting a "light-hearted" joke by Clarkson that sparked a complaint of racism.

An episode, filmed in Burma and Thailand and shown in March, featured a scene in which the presenters built a bridge over the River Kwai, and as an Asian man walked over it Clarkson said: "That is a proud moment, but there's a slope on it."

Somi Guha, an actress who complained to the BBC, said the use of the word "slope" was an example of "casual racism" and "gross misconduct".