BBC under fire as Clarkson smokes on TV

The BBC has come under fire after presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May flouted the smoking ban on an episode of Top Gear, causing anti-smoking campaigners to complain.

Both Clarkson and May were seen lighting up Porsche-branded pipes and smoking a herbal honey mixture on the motoring show. Fellow presenter Richard Hammond declined because he had recently given up smoking.

Campaigners asked the BBC to apologise for the programme segment, but the corporation claimed that it had not broken the law because the presenters were not smoking tobacco.

But it was left embarrassed when it was later informed that it was still illegal to light up anything for smoking purposes in a work environment

Spokesperson for anti-smoking group Ash, Amanda Sandford, said: "It was a blatant breach of the law and the BBC should offer an immediate apology that acknowledges what they have done.

"I understand it was meant to be a light-hearted part of the programme but it does not excuse the fact that they were flouting the law. It is inappropriate to have people smoking and breaking the law as blatantly as they did."

A BBC representative said: "During an item in last night's Top Gear, making fun of car merchandise, the presenters lit up branded pipes, which contained herbal tobacco. We are very upfront about the style and tone of the show, so viewers know what to expect.

"There were no complaints from members of the audience present during the filming."