Jeremy Clarkson to Remain as Host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Despite Controversy

Jeremy Clarkson, former Top Gear host and presenter of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, has caused outrage with his column in The Sun last December, in which he expressed his hatred for the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.

Despite the backlash, a petition asking ITV not to fire him has received more than 30,000 signatures, with more than 22,000 people urging the broadcaster not to drop him from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Clarkson's column sparked widespread condemnation, with celebrities such as Carol Vonerman and John Bishop speaking out against his words.

The article became the most complained about column ever, leading to The Sun eventually removing it and apologizing.

On January 15, Clarkson posted a lengthy apology on his Instagram account, revealing that he had emailed Markle and her husband Prince Harry on Christmas Day to apologize for his language in the column, which he described as disgraceful.

He said he was profoundly sorry and that he had written the piece in a hurry and just pressed send.

Since then, reports have emerged claiming that Clarkson is to be axed from his role presenting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on ITV.

However, some fans have set up a petition on Change.org urging the broadcaster not to sack him.

Entitled “To the CEO of ITV, Don't Cancel Jeremy Clarkson,” the petition is addressed to ITV boss Carolyn McCall and states that the negative reaction to Clarkson's column has been completely disproportionate.

The petition also notes that the Grand Tour presenter had asked for the column to be taken down and that he had apologized to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“If people make mistakes and then apologize for them, we should give them the benefit of the doubt, not seek to destroy their livelihoods and turn them into social pariahs,” the petition said.

“After all, we believe in the possibility of redemption for even the most hardened criminals.

Why can't we extend the same charity to people whose only crime is to have said something offensive?”

Earlier this month, ITV boss Carolyn McCall distanced the broadcaster from Clarkson's comments.

It is also reported that Amazon will not be working with the TV personality beyond seasons of The Grand Tour and Clarkson's Farm that have already been commissioned, so he may not be appearing in any new shows on Prime Video beyond 2024.

TV's media and entertainment boss Kevin Ligo has addressed Jeremy Clarkson's future on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Speaking at a Broadcast Press Guild event in London on Tuesday, Kevin said he had no control over what Jeremy wrote in the newspaper columns.

“We hire him as a consummate broadcaster of the most famous quiz on television, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” he said.

“So it's not quite our wheelhouse, but I don't know what he was thinking when he wrote that.

It was awful.”

When asked if ITV will keep Jeremy as a host, Kevin said, “Yes, at the moment we are.”

Notably, the news of Clarkson remaining on air comes a day after the host said he was horrified by the response to his column, in which he said he hates Meghan Markle on a cellular level and fantasized that she would be marched through the streets and shamed like Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones.

In addition, a source added that Netflix would insist on more access and presumably more juicy exclusive content if the Sussexes wanted to greenlight a reality show project.

The controversy surrounding Clarkson's column has sparked a wider debate about free speech and the right to express opinions, with some arguing that people should not be punished for expressing their views, no matter how controversial or offensive they may be.