TOP Gear was last night accused of disrespecting our war dead after filming
a TV stunt by the Cenotaph.
George Osborne also blasted Matt LeBlanc for disturbing his Budget
preparations as he skidded through Westminster for the revamped BBC show.
Roads in central London were shut yesterday morning while rally driver Ken
Block and LeBlanc, 48, powered around in a deafening Ford Mustang which
spewed out smoke.
They were also filmed performing wheel spins near the Cenotaph war memorial on
Whitehall, sparking fury from veterans.
Col Richard Kemp, former commander of UK forces in Afghanistan, said: “It’s
worse than doing a stunt in a cemetery and screaming round people’s graves.
“It’s a shocking desecration of one of our most sacred sites. The BBC should
apologise and cut that part of the show.”
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A large number of ex-servicemen were equally outraged, he said. Tory MP Andrew
Bridgen said: “It is extremely distasteful and disrespectful.”
The Chancellor, who was preparing for Wednesday’s Budget, also blasted the
crew as it filmed on nearby Horse Guards Parade.
He tweeted: “Trying to write my Budget, despite noisy episode of BBC_TopGear
being filmed outside. Keep it down please.”
Co-host LeBlanc gatecrashed a wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral in the Mustang on
Saturday and forced Tower Bridge to close.
A source said they are part of a Hollywood-style sequence for the motoring
show, which Chris Evans will present from May.
The BBC said: “The activity actually took place around 40 metres away from the
Cenotaph. All agreed in advance.”
Retired soldier Colonel Richard Kemp criticised the stunt, calling it “gravely
disrespectful.”
He told the Telegraph: “This is a sacred tribute to millions of people who
have done far more for their country than Chris Evans and Matt Le Blanc ever
will.”
He added: “Jeremy Clarkson was certainly no saint but I don’t believe he would
have ever performed a stunt in such bad taste.”
Chris Evans has apologised “unreservedly” after scenes for the new
Top Gear series were filmed near the Cenotaph in central London.
Host Matt LeBlanc was seen driving around Westminster as shooting took place
for the new series of the BBC Two show, which is due to air in May.
Pictures showing the car near the war memorial in Whitehall were criticised as “gravely
disrespectful” by retired Colonel Richard Kemp.
He told the Telegraph: “This is a sacred tribute to millions of people
who have done far more for their country than Chris Evans and Matt Le Blanc
ever will.”
He added: “Jeremy Clarkson was certainly no saint but I don’t believe he
would have ever performed a stunt in such bad taste.”
Speaking on his Radio 2 breakfast show, Evans, who took over presenting the
show after Clarkson was sacked for hitting a producer, said: “I would
like to apologise unreservedly.”