Jeremy Clarkson has reignited debate around his time at the BBC after recalling the moment he was accused of racism over the name he gave his dog – an episode he now describes as emblematic of what he sees as the broadcaster’s skewed priorities.
Writing in his latest column for The Sunday Times, the former Top Gear presenter said he was repeatedly reprimanded for comparatively minor controversies while far more serious wrongdoing by others went unchecked.
Clarkson, 65, argued that his reputation as the BBC’s “ultimate bad boy” was overstated, describing himself instead as “nothing more than a naughty scallywag”.
🐾 The Dog Name That Sparked The Row
The incident dates back to 2014, when Clarkson revealed he had named his new black dog “Didier Dogba”, a pun on the name of former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba.
The name drew backlash online, with some critics accusing the presenter of racism. Clarkson responded publicly at the time, questioning why naming a dog after a prominent footballer could be considered offensive.
“Why is it racist to name our amazingly brilliant dog after a footballer?” he wrote on social media, pushing back against the allegations.
The BBC later looked into the matter as part of an internal process examining the culture surrounding Top Gear. Clarkson has said the scrutiny he faced felt disproportionate compared with other issues inside the corporation.
🏛️ What The BBC Investigation Concluded
Despite the online criticism, a BBC review at the time concluded there was no evidence Clarkson had acted in a racist manner.
The corporation’s then director of television, Danny Cohen, later confirmed that the investigation did not find Clarkson to be racist over the dog’s name.
Clarkson has now referenced that outcome as part of his broader argument that he was targeted for incidents which, in his view, did not match the severity of other problems within the broadcaster.
📺 Clarkson’s Criticism Of BBC Priorities
In his column, Clarkson contrasted the reprimand he received with what he described as the BBC’s historical failure to act sooner in relation to individuals later disgraced by serious allegations.
He wrote that while he was being reprimanded over the dog’s name, figures such as Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris and, more recently, Huw Edwards were continuing their careers within the broadcaster.
“Savile and Harris and Edwards were going about their business while I was being reprimanded for calling my new dog Didier Dogba,” Clarkson wrote, adding: “And it just keeps getting worse.”
His remarks form part of a long-running grievance about what he views as selective enforcement of standards during his time at the BBC.
🚪 The Top Gear Exit And What Came Next
The dog-name controversy came a year before Clarkson’s departure from Top Gear in 2015, after an altercation with a producer led to the BBC deciding not to renew his contract.
Reflecting on his exit, Clarkson wrote that his life had “improved immeasurably” since leaving the corporation, and suggested subsequent events inside the BBC left him feeling “just a tiny bit smug”.
Following their departure, Clarkson and long-time co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May went on to front The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime Video, where the trio continued to draw large audiences.
🧯 How Top Gear Ended
Top Gear later came off air following a serious on-set crash involving presenter Freddie Flintoff, who had been hosting alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.
The incident prompted wider questions about production safety and risk, and the BBC ultimately halted the programme.
Clarkson’s column arrives amid ongoing scrutiny of historic culture at major broadcasters, particularly around how complaints were handled and which behaviours were challenged – or ignored – at the time.
While critics continue to argue Clarkson’s language and behaviour has often crossed lines, he maintains that the dog-naming episode illustrates what he sees as disproportionate outrage, especially when set against more serious institutional failures.
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