Director general quashes plea for disciplinary action rather than just final warning over use of N-word

BBC director general Tony Hall saved Jeremy Clarkson from disciplinary action over his use of the N-word, overruling one of his top executives who wanted more than just a final warning for the Top Gear host.

Last week Clarkson revealed in his column in The Sun that he had been "told by the BBC that if I make one more offensive remark, anywhere, at any time, I will be sacked" after footage of him mumbling the N-word during the rhyme 'Eeny, meeny, miny moe' in an outtake was leaked.

Clarkson subsequently apologised and asked for forgiveness and was called in to see Hall and Danny Cohen, the BBC's director of television, at the corporation's headquarters in London.

It is understood that Cohen wanted to take some form of disciplinary action over the incident, which could have ranged from a suspension to terminating his contract.

Cohen has been behind moves to try and make the BBC more diverse, and both he and Hall have spoken with comedian Lenny Henry about his proposals to increase the number of black, Asian and minority workers in the television industry.

However, Hall made the final decision on Clarkson's fate and decided the presenter should be given a reprieve and final warning.

A BBC source said of Hall and Cohen: "They've obviously been working together and you saw the statement which was issued last week."

The BBC statement said the corporation had left Clarkson "in no doubt about how seriously we view this".

Hall is a non-executive director of the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, and would no doubt have been aware of the financial implications of Clarkson being suspended or sacked from Top Gear.

BBC Worldwide earns in excess of £150m in revenue from the show and related activities such as merchandising and live tours.

Also, as the footage was not broadcast, Clarkson was not in breach of the BBC's editorial guidelines (which states that the word is "potentially extremely offensive") or regulator Ofcom's code, but there is usually a general phrase in presenters' contracts about not bringing the BBC into disrepute, and this element could have been the basis of any disciplinary action against him.

Negotiations for a new long-term deal for Clarkson and his co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond are taking place with BBC Worldwide and filming is due to start on the next series of Top Gear soon.

Meanwhile, the production team is trying to find out how the footage was leaked amid speculation as to the timing of it emerging.

Despite being filmed 18 months ago it was released just after Top Gear producer Andy Wilman expressed regret for any offence caused by the remark Clarkson made about a "slope" on a bridge over the River Kwai in the motoring show's Burma special broadcast in March. Ofcom is now investigating after two complaints were made.

Clarkson's first test of his new vocal abstinence will be at a Top Gear festival in Barbados on 17 May.

He is due to appear with co-hosts May and Hammond and racing driver Lewis Hamilton and his every word is likely to be monitored as local press there have already written about the N-word incident.

Some publications have been contacted by lawyers Equal Justice who have made a formal complaint to Ofcom and the BBC about Clarkson on behalf of its clients calling for Clarkson and several of his BBC colleagues to be sacked for "gross misconduct". Equal Justice has also written to ambassadors and president Obama about the incident.

The BBC declined to comment.

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