So now it’s Clarkson’s turn, is it? The timid, soft spoken presenter of BBC2′s Top Gear finds himself in hot water for suggesting that lorry drivers murder prostitutes, writes our news blogger David Burrows.

Did he say this at an Oxford University debate? Err, no. Did he offer his opinions to a Commons Select Committee? Nope.
He made the, admittedly near-the-knuckle, comments during a segment on his irreverent motoring show.

Aunty Beeb received 188 complaints. Who from!?

Was it the truck drivers themselves, because if it was then guys, honestly, grow some thicker skin.

Sensitive truck drivers? Whatever next? A slump in sales of Yorkie as they all switch to the crumbliest flakiest chocolate?

Oh and while you’re getting over yourselves, could you also please stop tailgating me on the motorway, pulling out to overtake other lorries that are going the same speed as you and driving nose-to-tail so no-one can pull back in when they need to leave the dual-carriageway. Ta.

Maybe it was Mr and Mrs Daily Mail – the kind of people who boosted the complaint ration against Jonathan Ross And Russell Brand from two on the day their ill-advised “prank” phonecall was broadcast to 3.7 billion by the time Middle England had finished reading about it over their muesli (obviously I’ve exaggerated. I think it was only 1.4 billion).

What do you expect from Top Gear? At one point diminutive Richard Hammond launched into a diatribe against his co-presenter. Presumably when Clarkson watched it back at the weekend he was so shocked and stunned he was immediately on the blower to Ofcom to complain.

For anyone who didn’t get it – it was a joke!

Does Clarkson believe all lorry drivers are murderers? No. Does the general public? No. Was it funny? That’s a matter of taste but for the love of God get over it.

Had dear Jeremy made these comments a few weeks back it would have blown over in days. But the secret of comedy asides is . . . altogether now: Timing; and hot on the heels of the Brand/Ross debacle I suspect this will run for longer than Forest Gump.
While we’re on the subject of the phonecall I might as well have my say, as I’m the only person in Britain who hasn’t yet.
I’ve heard some media commentators saying that sometimes “edgy” comedy goes awry.

Prank phonecalls? Edgy? Crikey, if I’d known I was THAT edgy when I was at school I’d've chosen a different career path. Something some people have been suggesting I should’ve done anyway.
“Hello is Mr Biggan there? Yeah, I’m after Ivor Biggan.” Edgy!

What Brand and Ross did was juvenile nonsense. But should they have been hung out to dry for it? No.

The “victim” – Andrew Sachs’s grand-daughter Georgina Baillie – has been very dignified. She was dignified when her story was splashed all over the Sun. And I’m sure she will be equally dignified in her special programme on Channel Five.
What’s more I thought she looked very dignified in the pictures I saw of her and her burlesque dance troupe the Satanic Sluts arriving at Secret’s Lap Dancing club, in London that were put out today.

Funny, I don’t remember seeing any pictures of them before last week . . .