Jeremy Clarkson in new BBC row

Here we go again. Days after the humiliating suspension of Jonathan Ross and the resignation of Russell Brand, the BBC is having to deal with another lapse of taste and judgment. The culprit this time is Jeremy Clarkson (pictured), who let rip against Britain’s lorry drivers in his laddish car programme Top Gear on Sunday, claiming that their job was undemanding apart from the fact it involved "murdering prostitutes".

The pre-recorded remarks made by Clarkson, which were cleared for broadcast by senior BBC executives, have already garnered 200 viewer complaints (not a patch on the 35,000 for Ross/Brand, but these things have a way of snowballing, as the Beeb has discovered) and a furious response from victim support groups and road hauliers. Ofcom, the media regulator, has also received complaints and is considering an investigation.

Clarkson and his co-presenters, James May and Richard Hammond, were taking part in a stunt for the BBC2 show which involved driving lorries around an obstacle course. Climbing behind the wheel, Clarkson mused: "What matters to lorry drivers? Murdering prostitutes? Fuel economy?"

He went on: "This is a hard job, and I'm not just saying this to win favour with lorry drivers. It's a hard job - change gear, change gear, change gear, check your mirrors, murder a prostitute, change gear, change gear, murder. That's a lot of effort in a day."

Clarkson's remarks are thought to be a reference to 'Suffolk Strangler' Steve Wright, jailed earlier this year for the murder of five Ipswich prostitutes. The Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, who killed 13 women, was also a lorry driver.

The Road Haulage Association, which represents Britain's 9,000 haulage companies, has demanded a public apology from the presenter. A spokesman said: " This is an unacceptable slur on the character of lorry drivers and the character of the industry, and it is grossly unfair. It's up to the BBC what action they take against Clarkson but we are certainly demanding an apology over these disgraceful comments." Victim Support, the charity that helps the victims of crime, said that "making light of the murder of women" was unacceptable as light entertainment.

Meanwhile, Russell Brand has turned up in Los Angeles to perform a televised stand-up comedy routine in his bid to crack America. When a member of the audience asked him about the ‘Manuelgate’ affair, he said: "I won't be talking about for quite a while, thank you."