Clarkson complaints: Your views

The BBC has received more than 21,000 complaints over Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson's remarks on The One Show, including comments that striking public sector workers should be shot.

Trade union Unison had called for the presenter to be sacked and he later apologised.

During the programme Mr Clarkson also made a remark about people who threw themselves in front of trains. One Show presenter Matt Baker made an apology during the show about those comments.

BBC News website readers have been reacting to the row, and many have voiced their support for Clarkson, saying they viewed his comments as a "joke" and "tongue-in-cheek".

Others have expressed anger and disappointment at his comments. Below is a selection of views from both sides of the debate.

Critical of Clarkson's comments

Definitely the reaction is justified, and no way on earth has it been dealt with appropriately. This was not "humour" or a "silly thing". Stating that people should be executed in front of their families is horrific. More so because it was on at a time when children were watching. People were given jail sentences for advocating riots on Facebook. Clarkson advocates mass execution to millions on TV and gets away with a "sorry". He has a history of these obnoxious remarks. He does not deserve his job and should be sacked immediately. Michael, Hartlepool

Jeremy Clarkson should know better. He picks up his salary from the BBC - taxpayers' money. All this talk about shooting and executions, albeit tongue-in-cheek sets a grave precedent for the future. Melanie Watson Holmes, Belfast

I'm afraid the BBC is showing a misguided loyalty to Mr Clarkson. I'm sure this is fear on their part that if they sack him, which they undoubtedly should, ratings for Top Gear will plummet. Come on BBC, show some back bone. Philip Collier, Romford

Not only Mr Clarkson, but also the BBC deserves censure. Must the BBC plumb the very depths of depravity? JK Anand, Peterborough

Jeremy Clarkson's comments are not worth the air they are spoken with. More to the point, this tasteless, arrogant, overgrown child should just be dropped from TV. Ruth Currie, Glasgow

Clarkson's behaviour was worse than Jonathan Ross's. He should therefore be sacked by the BBC, a public service organisation paid for by the taxpayer. Anon, Edinburgh

I was sickened by Clarkson's comments about strikers, but I was even more sickened by what he said about suicide victims. I only hope that victims of this - and by this I mean those left behind - did not have to endure this very painful rant. Ruth Pearce, Wales

Talking of Top Gear, Mr Clarkson should put his brain into gear before opening his mouth. Does he realise how hard these people work? Just let him do one day working in a hospital. It might open his eyes. R Travis, Lincoln

Jeremy Clarkson's comments on the One Show were very disappointing and for my seven-year-old daughter, extremely upsetting. Her mood has noticeably changed days after his "silly remarks". Jeremy Clarkson is a seasoned presenter, and considering when the show was aired and the audience viewing, should have tailored his remarks accordingly. I won't be watching him again. Peter C, London

An apology is not good enough. A line has to be drawn. Clarkson has to go, and if he does, at least he will have a BBC pay-off to help him through his later years. Maurice Potts, London

Support for Clarkson

I was one of the millions of strikers on Wednesday, and would gladly strike again as I believe it is important to stand up for what you believe is right. I am embarrassed by the reaction to Jeremy Clarkson's comments on the One Show. I thought that this type of knee-jerk hysterical moral outrage was the preserve of Daily Mail readers. I saw the show, in full, and thought Clarkson was very funny. I can tell when someone means what they say and when they are making a joke, and it was clearly a joke. All this hysteria over something and nothing has devalued the strike and is making us look like idiots. I bet Cameron can't believe his luck. Neil N Forne, Oldham

I didn't take his comments seriously. We know what he is like. I am sure he was just joking. Andy, England

He was making fun of BBC neutrality. Actually it was pretty funny, as was evidenced by the laughter in the studio. For goodness sake, get a sense of humour. Alastair Bruce, Herts

I think that the reaction to Clarkson's tongue-in-cheek comments has been completely over the top. The comments were obviously not intended literally, so why all the fuss? People should just calm down, accept the apology and move on. James Paterson, Cheltenham

I think this has been blown out of all proportion and I would wager that the majority of complaints have come from people who didn't even watch the show. Does the one show even have 23,000 viewers? They therefore have no idea of the context of the joke about BBC impartiality. Humphrey Pemberton-Smythe, Glasgow

The whole thing is ridiculous, a storm in a teacup. I saw the programme - it was a silly comment, but he was obviously just being light-hearted, trying to make a joke. I've never heard such a fuss about nothing. Philip Godfrey, London

People should get a life and accept that Clarkson was being humorous. No-one could take these remarks as being serious. This is a storm in a teacup. Bruce Chisholm, Aberdeen

The reaction is typically disproportionate to the remarks and the more the statistics are reported the more people jump on the bandwagon. The media have typically only reported the one phrase from the discussion rather than the whole discussion which provides additional context. Neil, Southsea

Jeremy has the unfortunate ability to express views in a shocking (and sometimes wholly unacceptable) way, but from the context of the interview, it's clear these comments were two radical opposing statements, given in a glib and joking manner. I think people should grow up, and see past the "shock factor". Tony Beddard, Newton Aycliffe

Anyone who has seen Jeremy would absolutely know it was a flippant joke and should be viewed as such. His apology should be the end of it. Peter White, South Yorkshire

What JC said was for comic effect. He's a popular broadcaster and people expect harsh comments from him. He's insulted a country (Mexico) before. That is part of his appeal. The reaction by Unison was over the top, he's apologised, now so let it go. There is an upside to it for Unison, in that there is no such thing as bad publicity, JC's comments can only have increased public awareness to their plight. Henry Pugh, Southampton