He has been hailed as a hero of political incorrectness and derided as deeply offensive, but during his long career on Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson has been anything but dull.

In the 21 years since he first appeared on the BBC motoring show, the TV presenter and Sunday Times columnist has raised the ire of the Poles, the Germans, the residents of Norfolk, prostitute welfare organisations, gay rights groups and environmentalists to name but a few.

On occasion, the 49-year-old has apologised after whipping up storms of protest, but mostly he has stood firm, arguing for the right to express his opinions and make jokes without fear of being gagged.

As Clarkson sparks new controversy after joking about the German invasion of Poland, we bring you his ten most controversial Top Gear moments.

10. Jeremy Clarkson versus Gordon Brown

Five months after calling Gordon Brown a “one-eyed Scottish idiot” and then apologising, Clarkson was back in the headlines last month after telling a Top Gear live audience, between shots, that the prime minister was a “c***”.

9. Jeremy Clarkson versus conservationists

In November 2004, Clarkson boasted of being the first person to drive a vehicle to the summit of Ben Tongue, a Highland peak on a private estate on the Cromarty Firth near Inverness, Scotland.

Top Gear showed Clarkson piloting a large 4x4 over heather and bogland, sparking outrage by conservationists who said it could take years to recover.

The Scottish Ramblers Association and the president of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland were among his critics, but the BBC defended Clarkson saying Top Gear had researched the site before allowing the presenter onto it.

8. Jeremy Clarkson versus Gordon Brown... again

During a Top Gear tour of Australia in February, Clarkson drew criticism from the National Institute of Blind People and MPs when he mocked Gordon Brown for having no sight in one eye.

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