'Top Gear' rapped over Mexico jibes

The BBC's editorial watchdog has rebuked Top Gear over comments made on the show about Mexico that caused a minor diplomatic storm.

In the January 30 edition of Top Gear, presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond attracted criticism for describing Mexican people as "lazy, feckless, [and] flatulent".

In a segment on a new sports car from Mexico, May said that Mexican food was "like sick with cheese on it", while Clarkson claimed that they would not get any complaints because the Mexican Ambassador would be asleep.

In a letter to the BBC, the Ambassador criticised the presenters for their "outrageous, vulgar and inexcusable insults", which he claimed would "stir bigoted feelings about the Mexican people".

Media regulator Ofcom cleared Top Gear in April for the comments, observing that the programme was noted for its "irreverent style and sometimes outspoken humour".

The BBC investigated 11 complaints from viewers about the jokes, as well as a formal objection from the Mexican Section of the Latin American Studies Association.

The corporation's Editorial Compliance Unit noted that the remarks were "humorously intended" and meant to "call attention to the absurdity of a certain stereotype of Mexicans".

However, the ECU judged that the tone and cumulative effect of the comments seemed to "give the impression of reinforcing, rather than ridiculing, the stereotype".

After deciding to uphold the complaints, the watchdog ordered BBC Vision to discuss the issues arising from the finding with the Top Gear production team.

The new series of Top Gear starts this Sunday at 8pm on BBC Two and BBC HD, promising "some proper demolition" and "some actual racing".