Clarkson criticised for prostitute joke

A lorry drivers' union has demanded an apology from Jeremy Clarkson after he joked about murdering prostitutes.

The United Road Transport Union (URTU) took offence to a jibe made by the presenter on Sunday night's edition of Top Gear.

Clarkson said: "This is a hard job, and I'm not just saying that to win favour with lorry drivers - it's a hard job. Change gear, change gear, change gear, check mirror, murder a prostitute, change gear, change gear, murder."

URTU spokesperson James Bower said it "beggars belief" that the joke was allowed to be transmitted, adding: "We would absolutely condemn what he said about murdering prostitutes."

However, the BBC has not criticised Clarkson for the joke, despite receiving 188 complaints from viewers.

"The vast majority of Top Gear viewers have clear expectations of Jeremy Clarkson's long-established and frequently provocative on-screen persona," said a spokeswoman.

"This particular reference was used to comically exaggerate and make ridiculous an unfair urban myth about the world of lorry driving."