You guys are ridiculous! Why on earth do you have to complain? It was a joke people. You're not meant to take offence. Seriously where is your sense of humour. Clarkson and Top Gear is awesome. Those of you who are complaining need to sort your lifes out.

Richard, Durham, UK

What on earth is going on? have we become a nation of "Witch Hunters" with this holier than thou attitude pity we do not show the same outrage for all the disgusting swearing that is used by so called celebrities.Some of these people need to get a life!!!

Dianne George, Launceston, Cornwall

This is what happens now thanks to the New Labour nanny state. The answer is very simple, if you are offended by a TV show, then turn it off! Mr Clarkson will be Mr Clarkson, and I'm sure most will agree, that he would be far less amusing if his hands were tied.

Colin Green, Auckland, New Zealand

It seems like were going back to the days of Mary Whitehouse. Britain is slowly losing its sense of humour thanks to a small minority who can't take a joke and feel compelled to complain whenever they get the chance. Well I hope your proud of yourselves.

Gregg, Chingford,

Surely the difference here is obvious: The Ross/Brand incident was personal. The Clarkson incident was generic. They are not at all analogous so to make a comparison is invalid.

Steve Buckel, Braunau-am-Inn, Austria

If offensive material was broadcast, it was the BBC, not Clarkeson that was at fault - this was a recorded program.

The same goes for the Brand/Ross fiasco - the BBC had plenty of opportunity to cancel the broadcast after Sacks complained.

Robert , Boshops Stortford, UK

cant wack a bit of jeremys humour , oh my thats terrible ,get a life , my kids even new it was in good taste , keep them coming guys ,we love you, n Jeremy your the man

ALAN HUDSON, LANARKSHIRE, SCOTLAND

who cares , it was in good humour , n we all love jeremy ,n the guys , so , button up n get on with it ,

ALAN HUDSON, LANARKSHIRE, SCOTLAND

This is crazy.... it was a joke !!!!
Dont like it dont watch it, It's Clarksons humour and its brilliant... there is alot worse aired on the tv that people dont compain at, keep it up Jeremy!

Simon, Salisbury, wiltshire

This is what happens when you cave in to the mob mentality that got Brand sacked and Ross suspended. Ludicrous but you can bet that they'll be looking to hi-jack the media again with lazy journalism if they read about something that was said yet complain as if they were a viewer...Very sad.

Christian, Blackpool UK,

Its absolutely rediculous that people have complained about Jeremy Clarksons comment. It was a joke, and a funny one at that. People who have watched him for a number of years should know that this is his sense of humour and if they dont like it, change the channel! simple! Keep it coming Jeremy!!!

Matty B, Bradford, West Yorkshire

517 complaints: can we deduct this from the number that watched TG - we then have the number who didn't find it offensive - i suspect a larger figures - let's go with that and focus on the majority for once.

richard sullivan, chislehurst, kent

Clarkson for PM

James, South Hams,

hey thompson in cornwall - so do you let your children watch neighbours and home and away were the teachers are allways fighting, peeple getting killed. drugs fights galore?

Top gear is a tongue in cheek programme about vehicles , it is satire.
Get a grip and stick to blue peter if you can

leon, manchester, england

Ahhh Jeremy. The knight who defends against political correctness, which some have defined as "a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and by the mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition
that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
Jeremy my hero.

A G HAMILTON, Looe, UK

top gear isn't actually promoting murder in anyway. whereas the brand/ross distasteful phone call clearly endorsed its contents.

Lucy, Birmingham,

wooo 500 complaints out of 7million viewers.
How many found it funny?
I did.

Sam, Vancouver, Canada

Have these bleeding hearts and do gooder ever heard of the phrase "FREEDOM OF SPEECH" The remark was not aimed at any single individual with any malice, just a bit of tongue in cheek humour. The bleeding hearts and do gooder should all be made to listen to CHUBBY BROWN for 72 hours non stop, BLISS

Jefers, Paphos, Cyprus

Nearly every joke in existance is at the expense of a group of people. If we were to ban everyone from saying anything remotely funny then the world would be a very boring place. People should just take it in the manner that it was said, a light-hearted comic sentence. Keep the comedy coming...

Dave, London,

So its ok 2 make jokes about murdering women who sell their bodies 2 men who use the service! As for Shears is it THAT difficult to drive a truck? As for the Stobart quote having a laugh has made them a joke-the 21st century one! I allowed my kids to watch the programme, not now.

thompson, cornwall, uk

I've watched Top Gear for years and it hasn't done me any harm

P. Sutcliffe, Leeds, England

You are lucky to have JC here in auistralia we have a poor copy of the programme and a pain to watch bring back the BBC, at least we get to see some parts of the UK

Eric Cyril Adams, Gold Coast , Australia

He was clearly complimenting lorry drivers, and ridiculing what people think of them.

Have the people reading this wouldn't let a lorry driver in their house. That's bigotted.

Charles, London,

Just a casual and funny joke in his usual style, unlike Ross/Brand who picked on a single innocent victim who had asked for the scene not to be aired. Leave the guy alone before all humour on TV stops.

Yunus, Leicester,

I am not a JC fan but the comment is what is known as humour. If you don't like it then don't watch. Don't ruin it for the rest of us who watch television for entertainment and to get away from reality for a while.

The BBC should create a new channel which is sanitised for these people.

Craig, Halifax , West Yorkshire

I don't live in the UK, but the way things are going, could I ask you guys who do live in the UK if I can smile on the street the next time I go there, without getting arrested?
And I'm talking about the land many in Europe have held as a beacon of liberty and humour for a long time.

Robert, Madrid, Spain

Leave Jeremy alone.He has a real BRITISH sense of humour which is enjoyed by millions.Just because a few hundred dont like it-TOUGH.I agree with everything he says-except his opinion of the BMW Mini Clubman-but I won't hold that against him!Keep the jokes coming-especially those involving Germans!

Sarah-Jane, Felixstowe,

Some people really need to get a life. Most jokes offend someone and Clarkson is not known for subtlety. Maybe if we stopped complaining about everything we'd get som really good comedy on TV and Radio.

Stick at it Clarkson, donlt give in to the wimps and do gooders

Richard Harvey, Neath, Wales

No one cares about Ross or Brand. Clarkson is an institution and can never be brought down.

Long may his reign continue.

Ash McDonald, bolton,

I am 13 years old and love TOP GEAR and I am so pleased it is back on BBC2 for the new series. I have been to the MPH show last year in BIRMINGHAM and I am going again this year and I can't wait. I know Jeremy Clarkson didn't mean to offend anyone it is just his humerous ways. He is a legend!

THOMAS PARKIN AGE , RICHMOND, NORTH YORKSHIRE

Clarkson is an absolute legend and people should understand that if it wasn't for his banter every week TG wouldn't be as successful as what it is. everyones just been pathetic over the Ross/Brand thing which is far worse than clarkson having a laugh.

Jade, Leeds,

This may not be Jeremy's funniest comment but really, let us not get too excited. Jeremy is a TV genius and I easily forgive him for this small mishap.

Morten, Zürich, CH

I'm outraged, if I had my way comedy would be banned from all forms of media.

Steve, Birmingham,

Once upon a time this country prided itself on our right of freedom of speech and sense of humour. Now the 'thought police' have taken over and Big Brother of 1984 reigns, albeit a few years later than predicted. Come on people, lighten up!

AD, Binfield, UK

It seems that a trivial "victory" against the BBC has given our prudish friends of middle England momentum. "Lets complain about everything and see what we can get taken off the air" they snort.

This is tiresome. Mary Whitehouse is dead, the rest of the UK has moved on, no more of this nonsense.

Jackson Mahr, London, United Kingdom

What a bunch of whiners. Isn't obvious by now that close to nothing that leaves Clarkson's mouth is serious?

B M Bloomquist, Portland, United States

Why do so many people defend Jeremy Clarkson because he's Jeremy Clarkson and "that's what he does"? What a feeble excuse! I used to find him amusing but his ego has taken over. Those young women and girls were vulnerable human beings with families just like yours, not comedy material.

Gillian, lausanne, Switzerland

Clarkson is funny and Top Gear is an excellent programme. I thought the joke was qute funny. I feel that the press have jumped on a small incident and are trying to make it bigger. If Clarkson is sacked/suspended over this then we all need to get a grip.

E, London,

The comments on here are about what you would could expect from people who believe that as it is Jeremy Clarkson he can say what he likes and if I don't find it funny it's my fault. Using the brutal murders of women prostitutes in order to make a cheap shot joke is neither clever excusable or funny.

evan , Cheltenham, England

i await next week's scandal about an offhand comment on cbbc. this is getting tiresome.

Dean, Coventry,

What ever is the matter with these people who clearly lead such dull,boring,grey humourless lives that they have nothing better to do with their time than complain about TV personalities who bring a great deal of pleasure to the overwhelming majority of us who DO have a sense of humour.Get a life.

Andy, Bristol, UK

This is a storm in a teacup. Clarkson generally says a few things every week to get a rise out of someone. It is the reason he is not bland. BUT it was not personally malicious. I was much more concerned with why it was a good idea to drive a lorry through a brick wall.

CH , Farnham Common,

The world has gone mad! Why are people dtermined to take the fun out of this world?
Political correctness vs Clarkson - I know who my vote goes to - keep up the good work Jeremy. My advice to these whingers is: if you don't like it, don't watch it!

C Rees, Llanelli, Wales

It isn't always the risque jokes that offend, rather the person telling them. Comedians who have won our hearts can often push the boundaries without offending. As for some of the recent perpetrstors - I don't rate them so don't even listen.

DHL, Leigh,

Get a bloody life people, I think EastEnders is an insult to intelligence but I don't complain about it.

Mark Websper, Margate, UK

This sick man is another example of the state this nation has been reduced to by TV, surely it's time for a blanket ban on all television broadcasting before we end up even further down the drain.

David, London, UK

Clarkson's joke was pulled from high profile cases of lorry drivers actually killing prostitutes and thereforehad an element of thought out humour and wit, which I together with the rest of my family found hilarious.

Also the humour was not harshly or childlishly directed a sole individual.

Rob, Carlisle,

I really do wonder if a person is sitting expectatntly with a pen in hand waiting to complain about an off hand joke that they've seen, if they need to reflect quitely within and wonder if there is something wrong with their lives.

The need to blame is what ultimately will kill this great country

David Carroll, Derby,

I watched Jeremy's show, to be honest, I found the joke very funny and made me lough my lungs out. I dont think he really meant that all Lorry drivers are muderers or use prostitutes and of course they dont keep changing gears as frequently when driving at constant speed on a stright road.

Francis, Banbury, UK

After all the seriousness we endure, what treat to watch three big kids entertaining one of the biggest TV audiences on Sunday night. The other 30+ channels carry rubbish so just like Fridays are Ross & Co, Sundays are for Jezza & Co. The rest of you moaners should get a life, ditto JC for PM

richard brown, Oxford, UK

Would have been in bad taste if no lorry drivers had ever killed a prostitute......

James, Glasgow,

The structure of the joke could have been substantiated by any one of a number of false 'trucker' stereotypes. There's no need to choose the least relevant one. In fact, it's a bit crass to do so, and even stretches the stereotype a little too far.

Kevin Sweeney, Edinburgh, UK

Judging from the complaints, the British sense of humor thrives.

Mike, Pittsburgh,

its about time this country stopped being so politically correct. people are going to create a type of witch hunt at anyone who makes a rude joke or non pc remark. let them do their job as entertainers and stop complaining.

Ian Acreman, gloucestershire,

Top Gear generates a PROFIT for the BBC. So stop complaining about his paycheque!

Pete, Coventry,

Brand and Ross were out of line. Unfortunately, the bandwagon of spoonfed outrage which followed has now created a situation where every slightly risque joke will attract a huge barrage of idiotic complaints to the Beeb and Ofcom.

Michael Galvan, Folkestone, UK

Keep it up Jeremy the show is for thouse of us with a sence of humour not moaning old gits they can go back to the dark places they normals hide in untill its time to dust of the soap box. Tim K . Newbury

Tim karpinski, Newbury, U K

Thank god! at least ofcom have some common sense who realise this was a joke, all the people complaining carry a notebook in their hands whilst watching TV and then look for things to complain about.

Jeremy Clarkson for PM!

A Khan, Luton,

Both Jonathan Ross and Jeremy Clarkson are paid fortunes to be outrageous, laddish, boorish, oafish, and insensitive - because that's what the public seems to want.

MaxC, London,

Lets stop this sillyness before it turns into a full blown Witch hunt. No offence meant to the Witch communtiy (he sya fearing for his job)

Roger Comer, Southampton, England

This PC brigade are really getting boring.
Did you know there are problems with a remake of the film "The Dambusters" because of the name of Guy Gibson's dog !!

Roger, Briouze, France

How cares who said what anybody who watches Top Gear know what Clarkson is like and its great, people like him and Russel Brand only say what others are thinking. If you dont like it dont watch all the do gooders should go back to their knitting needles.

Steven, Catford, England

So it's official, Britain has finally lost its sense of humour, drilled out of us by overly sensitive, PC obsessed idiots and newspapers with a grudge against the BBC. It was a joke. Any reasonably intelligent viewer would see it for what it is. Move on.

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK

This is stupid, the people that complain need to get a life.

As said before

Clarkson for PM

Colin Buttle, kent,

No, it wasn't. What it was, was a joke. For comic effect. To make people laugh. If people are offended then it is a failing on their part.

Harry, Oxford,

Perhaps people are losing sight of what the Brand/Ross controversery was about. It wasn't about whether the joke was in bad taste, it was about personally abusing someone. If Sachs had been consulted and if he had allowed that joke to air, there would not have been any of this outrage.

Mike Bennett, Runnymede, England

No it wasnt, a well placed joke!

Nice one Jezza!

Chris, London,

I'd like to meet these people who are complaining. I imagine they have little else to do and probably don't enjoy the show either. Maybe they would be better complaining that aid isn't reaching the DRC fast enough.....please please please lets get things into some perspective.

Keep it up Jezza!

Mark, Manchester, UK

Oh for god's sake...this is getting completely ridiculous now...any time anyone famous makes a joke about a certain part of society, their welfare group is gonna complain now and cash in on the publicity...is that really the stage our society has got to? GROW UP!

Can we please ban welfare groups?

Salih, Cambridge, UK

Why do some people on here think that just because they find Clarkson funny then others should also. How arrogant! Sense of humour is a very personal thing. You lot don't set the benchmark by which standards or political correctness should be measured.

Dee, Epping, UK

This is probably hopeless as the adjudicators obviously have zero sense of humor. Clarkson was funny, Brand and Ross were malicious. End of story,

Jon Keaty, Milford, UK

It was a good joke. I was slightly uncomfortable watching it with my ten year old daughter pre-watershed, but I think it went over her head so no harm done. It's ridiculous for prostitutes or lorry drivers to be offended. By the way, my dog's got no nose - does that offend animal rights campaigners?

Tim, Leeds,

The Ross /Brand action was a dispicable , cowardly and personal act aimed at embarrasing an individual person. Clarkson's comments were at worst ill timed and indiscreet.

For crying out loud let's get a sense of proportion. Have lorry drivers suddenly become such sensitive flowers ?

Peter, Ipswich, UK

what is happening with people today?

Is everbody jumping on the PC Britain band wagon? (no pun intended)

Danny, Liverpool,

wow---lighten up people! clarkson is being clarkson--as anyone who has watched top gear knows. if you don't like the humor, turn the off the show.

jonquil, hamden, usa

517 divided by Total Number of Viewers multiplied by 100 = ?%

Is this figure significant enough to get concerned about? Or are we going to pander to the insinificant few?

Loz, Cambridge,

This whole nonsense is really getting out of control. People who complain over these things either have a political agenda or sit by their TV's and radios waiting for the next topic to complain about. I hope Clarkson has a section of his show attacking the complainers and concludes with 'Jog On'

James Cullup, Oxford,

I'm sure these people have a remote. Why don't they just simply change channel?

Or do they get a kick out of destroying someones career? Take a joke for Petes sake. Could not agree with Jonathan more!

Ruan, Cornwall,

I know I should probably expect a knock on my door from the the Thought Police, for saying this, but ...

It made me laugh!

Gavin, Faversham, UK

sounds a bit in bad taste but nothing on a par with Brand and Ross------an apology would be nice appreciated and sufficient-----Clarkson is genuinely funny most of the time and maybe put brain in gear before shifting to mouth

PATRICK RIORDAN, Swansea, UK

Will people just calm down! We'll be banning bonfire night next on the basis that the catholics are offended!!

Lee, North Yorkshire,

I completely agree, get over it and get a life ! What on earth is happening to us in this country ? Why this sense of moral outrage over silly remarks by one of the best presenters on any channel ?

Wade Hampton, Southampton, UK

get a grip people. Don't make this into something it isn't. Jezza is merely having a laugh about things that most people in this country have joked about..... The only difference is he is in the public eye and on TV.

neale evison, alloa,

More politically incorrect than tasteless and hardly in the Brand/Ross category of lewdness.

Where on earth is this "moral outrage" taking us. Are we going to see the end of programs like "Have i got News for You" & "Mock the Week" because we have stopped having the ability to laugh with comedians?

George Brink, Hinckley, Leics, UK

Clarkson for PM!

Dean, Southampton, England

a welfare group for prostitutes! for christ sake,what is the world coming to.the guy was having a laugh.and as for the 517 people who are sad enough to pick up the phone to complain here is a tip.next sunday at 8pm tune into songs of praise instead of top gear and do us all a favour.

tony shepherd, thornaby, england

For the love of God! what happened to the famous 'British sense of humour'??

Besides, its Clarkson, he spouts this kind of drivel on a regular basis and if you're offended by it, then its very easy not to watch Top Gear rather than waste energy and time getting all worked up about it.

Nick, The Shire,

It's Top Gear for goodness sake, we watch if for the bad taste, save our politically incorrect programming for those of us with a sense of humour!!

Glenn, Birmingham,

I'm no Clarkson fan but we've got to be careful here that comedians don't start having to do an equalities assessment on every joke they tell.

Rich, London,

I found the joke to be very funny,some people get to easily offended and if you dont like what you here on the show then dont watch it its as simple as that.If you watch top gear then you should expect to here some jokes that may offend some people, to the people that complaind, lighten up a bit

rachel pritchett, baldock, uk

We are becoming a nation of "Politically correct bores"

It was a bad joke just like every other cringe worthy bad joke that is used in every text/conversation throughout the land.

Clarkson is probably the only reason I every watch BBC 2

Come on .......

Vince, Yarm,

Bad joke, maybe. He and the others have said worse. Surely the point is that it was pre-watershed. Not easy to explain to a youngster...

Richard, Guildford,

wise up! Jeremy Clarkson is a legend ! ! !

gary kirkpatrick, belfast, n. ireland

would people calm down and take a joke. for god's sake everyone is too over-sensitive. soon britain will be so politically correct that comedians will be out of a job for fear of offending the public and everything on the bbc will be read in a monotone by straight-faced newsreaders

Alison Potter, Brentwood, Essex, England

It's seems a lot of people in this country need to get a sense of humour - life is hard enough at the moment without banning all laughter because one pressure group or another thinks we should all be as miserable as them

jonathan, London,

It was a bad joke and no more. Dont end the best thing on bbc2 over it. Do these people who complain just want no comedy? Bet they never seen a stand up act in their life!!!!

ian, ashford, kent

It seems that a certain minority of the British public have a taste for moral outrage at the moment so doubt the complaints will come pouring in to the BBC. (No doubt led by people who didn't watch the programme but don't like Clarkson). Develop a backbone BBC, & stand by the presenter!

Simon, Sheffield, South Yorkshire