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Top Gear's James May tells BBC Trust to 'sod off' show is rapped for 'glamorising drink-driving'

Last updated at 15:19pm on 03.07.08

Top Gear presenter James May has said that the pair deserved their drink on the Arctic trip

Top Gear presenter James May hit back at BBC bosses today after he and co-host Jeremy Clarkson were rapped for drinking while driving during the hit show's 'Polar Special'.

May, 45, said the BBC Trust could "sod off" after its editorial standards committee criticised the pair for sipping gin and tonics during their drive to the Magnetic North Pole.

The report follows a complaint from a viewer who criticised the 'blatant use of alcohol while driving' during an episode of the hit BBC1 show.

The programme – which saw presenters James May and Jeremy Clarkson drinking gin and tonic in the cab of a truck – was described as 'grossly irresponsible'.

At one point, May asked Clarkson to "slow down while I cut the lemon".

But speaking today from his London home, May defended the footage, saying the pair were "hundreds of miles" from the nearest road - and that they deserved their treat.

He said: 'When I saw the ruling in the paper, I thought 'you can sod off'.

'We were in the middle of nowhere - literally in the middle of the sea - and we were neither in any danger, nor posed any danger to anyone or anything for hundreds of miles.

'It's bloody hard work driving to the Pole, and having a nice gin and tonic was something we totally deserved.

Top Gear

Top Gear has been rapped by the BBC Trust's editorial standards committee for showing presenters Jeremy Clarkson (pictured) and James May drinking while driving during the show's hit Polar Special.

'We weren't drunk - we were merely having a drink. It wasn't like we set out to deliberately cause controversy.'

The hour-long episode was a hit with BBC2 audiences, winning 4.5 million viewers.

It showed May and Clarkson's successful attempt to become the first people to drive a car to the Magnetic North Pole in a heavily modified Toyota pick-up truck.

Reader views (7)

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I echo Bobs comment. Sod Off! Top gear is a great show attracting huge audiences, most of which I m sure welcome some entertainment after coming home from working in our over sanitised cotton wool society. Furthermore this does not really condone drink driving does it, last time I checked there were no roads, walls, signs, pedestrians wandering around out there. Get a life, pay your TV licence watch what you like, switch over when you don't and let viewing figures decide what gets broadcast. Enough said!

- Mark Rodgers, Tain, Scotland, 14/07/2008 00:59
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Oh, please.... who's going to kick off next - the RSPC Spam?

- Sall, Peterborough, 08/07/2008 22:18
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Some people just don't have a sense of humour.

- Paul Millar, Sydney Australia, 08/07/2008 04:35
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You have to be joking, they were in the middle of the north pole, hundreds of miles from anybody else, who were they going to hurt, I agree with James, Sod Off!

- Bob, Adelaide Australia., 07/07/2008 09:07
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Please BBC, Get a grip for Gods sake.

- Brian, Wiltshire, 04/07/2008 17:08
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I think people in UK complain about anything, I think common sense is the base for everything, they look like babies always complaining about some stuff that there isn't a point in answering back. If he/she was in the North Pole with that temperature, I bet they would have a drink as well! Some people should shut up, when they open their mouths, only stupid things come out.

You go Top Gear, the best and funniest British motor series!

- Marlene, London, UK, 04/07/2008 13:19
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The Polar Special is one of the funniest Top Gear episodes I've ever seen. As I believe James May mentioned during the G&T piece, they were in "international waters" so no drink drive laws applied. The one single pathetic person who complained should take a reality check and get a life.

Roll on Captain Slow!

- Marianne, SW France, 03/07/2008 22:45
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