Jeremy Clarkson scandal: ITV boss says ‘there is no place’ for his Meghan Markle comments on her channel

EXCLUSIVE: ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall said there was “no place on ITV” for Jeremy Clarkson’s comments about Meghan Markle, underscoring Who wants to be a millionaire? “doesn’t give his opinion a platform.”

In a December 22 letter, first published by Deadline today, McCall responded to calls from Scottish lawmaker John Nicolson for Clarkson to be removed from office. Who wants to be a millionaire? Hosting duties Clarkson has managed for the past five years. Scroll down for the full letter.

“Your concerns are completely understandable,” McCall wrote. “Everyone at ITV is aware of our responsibilities as a public broadcaster and I want to make it clear that the comments made were Jeremy Clarkson’s own comments and are in no way endorsed by ITV. There is no place on ITV for the comments in this article.”

Deadline revealed McCall’s letter as ITV weigh up Clarkson’s future Who wants to be a millionaire?. Just one series – to be filmed next month and broadcast in the summer – is still under its current deal, although ITV program director Kevin Lygo said he would moderate a press conference at the end of December, around the time McCall announced the letter he had sent.

The December 16 column retracted by The sun and is the UK Newspaper Regulator’s most deployed article of all time, including the first top gear Host said that he “dreamed about the day when [Markle] are made to parade naked through the streets of every city in Britain while the crowd shouts “Shame!” scans”, in a callback to a game of thrones Scene.

McCall, who has not publicly commented on the former top gear Host’s column, said Who wants to be a millionaire? “is not a platform for that [Clarkson’s] Opinions”, emphasizing that he is not employed by the station.

Nicolson, a long-time campaigner for issues in Britain’s cultural and media space, wrote to McCall following the publication of the column calling for Clarkson to be dropped, whose comments he said went against the ITV statement on programming policy and strategy for social violation was in conflict. purposes. About 50 MPs sent a similar open letter to The Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch, on December 18, which quickly withdrew the column.

As ITV ponders Clarkson’s future, Amazon Prime Video is likely to bid farewell to the 62-year-old once the current seasons are over The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s farm according to a report by Variety earlier this week.

On Monday, Clarkson issued a lengthy apology for the column, which was roundly dismissed in a statement by Markle and her husband, Prince Harry.

The letter in full

Dear Mr Nicolson,

Thank you for your recent letter regarding the comments made by Jeremy Clarkson in his column in the Sun newspaper.

Your concerns are completely understandable. ITV has no editorial control over Jeremy Clarkson’s independent journalistic work in The Sun or anywhere else he publishes.

Everyone at ITV is aware of our responsibilities as a public broadcaster and I want to make it clear that the comments made were Jeremy Clarkson’s own comments and are in no way endorsed by ITV. There is no space on ITV for comments on this article.

It is also worth noting that Jeremy Clarkson is not an ITV employee and when he does appear on ITV it is as a quiz show presenter on a show that does not give his views a platform.

I hope this reassures you about ITV’s position and thanks again for raising your concerns.

Regards,