Top Gearhost Jeremy Clarkson today apologised after calling Prime Minister Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot".
The presenter came under fire from politicians and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) for the comments he made in Australia.
In a statement issued through BBC Worldwide today he 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 BBC later issued a brief statement in the wake of the Clarkson apology.
A spokesman said: “We note that Jeremy has issued an apology for the personal remarks he made about the Prime Minister.” Mr Brown lost his sight in one eye after an accident playing rugby as a teenager.
Clarkson, speaking at a press conference in Sydney, compared Mr Brown with Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, after Mr Rudd had just addressed the country on the global financial crisis.
A video of the press conference has been posted on YouTube.
During it Clarkson said: “It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a world leader admit we really are in deep s***. He genuinely looked terrified. I thought, the poor man, he’s actually seen the books.
“In England we have this one-eyed Scottish idiot, the one-eyed Scottish man, he keeps telling us everything’s fine and he’s saved the world and we know he’s lying, but he’s smooth at telling us.”
During the press conference, Clarkson put his hand over his mouth after calling Mr Brown a “one-eyed Scottish idiot” and said: “Oh I’ve said that now...”
His co-presenter Richard Hammond added: “You’ve said that out loud as well.”
But Clarkson was undeterred and carried on with his comments about Mr Brown.
A Downing Street spokesman later declined to respond to Clarkson’s remarks, saying only: “I don’t think I’m going to get into those comments.”
Asked at a daily briefing of Westminster reporters how the Prime Minister would respond to the Top Gearpresenter's suggestion that Mr Rudd was being more honest with voters about the economic crisis, the spokesman said: "Mr Clarkson is entitled to his own interpretation of the economic circumstances."
PA