Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson wasted no time jabbing the knife over the BBC's 'luvvies letter' by hitting out at those at the top of the Corporation

Jeremy Clarkson has taken a swipe at his former bosses after wading into the row about the BBC’s infamous ‘luvvies letter’.

The Corporation came under fire this week for allegedly orchestrating a celebrity letter to the Prime Minister telling him that his plans to reform the BBC would damage Britain.

Twenty-nine celebrities, including Dame Judi Dench and Daniel Craig, put their names to the open letter to David Cameron in which they said the BBC is ‘the envy of the world’.

But the broadcaster was later accused of deceit after presenter Michael Palin let slip that he had been asked to sign the letter by Danny Cohen, the BBC’s director of television.

Clarkson, who was sacked as presenter of the BBC’s Top Gear in March, wasted no time jabbing the knife in as he hit out at those at the top of the Corporation.

‘This week, Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench, Michael Palin and a host of other big-name stars wrote to the Prime Minister pledging their support to the BBC,’ he wrote in his column for The Sun.

‘They believe it’s a great organisation. And I do too.

‘But it would be even better if it were being run properly. And right now, thanks to one or two people at the top, it isn’t.’

Despite overwhelming evidence that Mr Cohen masterminded the involvement of signatories, the BBC has repeatedly refused to admit its involvement.

Clarkson and Mr Cohen have a long-running history which came to a head last year when the latter wanted to suspend or sack Clarkson after he used the racist word 'slope' on a Top Gear special in Burma.

However, Mr Cohen was overruled by director general Lord Hall, forcing him to let Clarkson off with a 'final' warning. 'It was humiliating for him,' said a colleague.

The revelation surrounding the ‘luvvies letter’ led MPs to demand an investigation into whether Mr Cohen had broken BBC rules by secretly asking a host of its stars to front the open letter to David Cameron.

The Corporation’s editorial policy states that BBC output ‘must remain independent and distanced from government initiatives, campaigners, charities and their agendas.’

But the broadcaster was later accused of deceit after presenter Michael Palin (pictured left) let slip that he had been asked to sign the letter by Danny Cohen (right), the BBC’s director of television.

It stipulates: ‘We need to ensure the BBC’s impartiality is not brought into question and presenters or reporters are not exposed to potential conflicts of interest.’

Tory MP Bill Cash said Mr Cohen’s ‘job should be on the line’ and both the Government and the BBC Trust, should investigate.

He added: ‘They even appear to have deceived the people who “wrote” the letter.’

Labour’s Chi Onwurah said: ‘This does seem unnecessary and disingenuous. There is huge support out there. Why orchestrate what’s already out there? It doesn’t do the BBC any favours. It gives the impression of over-management.’

The Daily Mail asked the BBC five times where the letter came from. The BBC insisted – repeatedly – that the letter was from the stars themselves, and said it did not ‘know about the origins of writing it’.

Clarkson and Mr Cohen have a long history which came to a head last year when the latter wanted to suspend or sack Clarkson after he used a racist word on a Top Gear special. But Lord Hall (pictured) overruled him

Luvvies: Twenty-nine celebrities, including Dame Judi Dench (pictured left) and Daniel Craig (right), put their names to the open letter in which they said the BBC is ‘the envy of the world’

‘These are people who clearly want to speak up for the BBC. The letter is from the signatories. It speaks for itself. They have their own strong views,’ it said.

However, the Corporation was left red-faced when two of the signatories revealed it was orchestrated by Mr Cohen.

Michael Palin told a BBC News programme on Wednesday: ‘I was asked to sign it by Danny Cohen. He knows I’m a supporter of the BBC… so he just asked: “Would you sign? The charter’s coming up. We’re a little bit worried the BBC will become smaller and less significant”.’