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London - BBC "Top Gear" presenter Jeremy Clarkson apologised on Friday for calling British Prime Minister Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot" at a news conference in Australia.
The outspoken, highly paid presenter drew criticism from a leading charity and Scottish parliamentarians after making the comments in Sydney where he is promoting "Top Gear Live", a stage version of the international hit TV show.
"In the heat of the moment I made a remark about the Prime Minister's personal appearance for which, upon reflection, I apologise," he said in a statement.
A few days ago the corporation dropped the daughter of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher from a TV show after she referred to a tennis player as a "golliwog".
Clarkson was comparing Brown's handling of the deepening financial crisis with that of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd when he made the comments.
"He genuinely looked terrified. The poor man, he's actually seen the books," Clarkson said of Rudd in clips of the news conference that were widely broadcast in Britain.
"(In the UK) we've got this one-eyed Scottish idiot. He keeps telling us everything's fine and he's saved the world and we know he's lying, but he's smooth at telling us."
Brown lost his sight in one eye after an accident playing rugby as a teenager.
Scottish politicians condemned Clarkson's remarks and a charity, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), branded them "offensive".
"Any suggestion that equates disability with incompetence is totally unacceptable," Lesley-Anne Alexander, the RNIB's chief executive, said in a statement.
Gordon Banks, a Scottish Labour MP, said the remarks were "unforgivable".
Clarkson is no stranger to controversy. In December he was cleared by the media watchdog after hundreds of viewers said comments he made about lorry drivers murdering prostitutes during an episode of "Top Gear" were offensive.
Ofcom ruled that his remarks were acceptable if "not to everyone's taste".
