Top Gear bosses apologise over Jeremy Clarkson's 'casual racism' joke #CarryGobySeanKellz #FutureGroupNG via @i_amreginaldjr

TOP GEAR bosses have apologised after a "light-hearted" joke by Jeremy Clarkson was broadcast last month, sparking a complaint of racism.

Top Gear producers have apologised after broadcasting an apparent racist comment by Jeremy Clarkson[WENN]

The episode, which was filmed in Burma and Thailand, featured a scene where the motoring show's stars built a bridge over the River Kwai, and as an Asian man walked over it Clarkson said: "That is a proud moment, but there's a slope on it."
Many fans took to Twitter to air their disgust over the remark, which is believed to be a derogatory term for men of Asian decent.
One viewer wrote at the time: "Unbelievable that @BBC_TopGear are allowed to broadcast such racist and disrespectful rubbish so proudly on the #bbc."

The comment was made during an episode in Thailand [BBC]

If we had known that at the time we would not have broadcast the word in this context and regret any offence caused."

Meanwhile, Somi Guha, an actress who complained to the BBC, said the use of the phrase was an example of "casual racism" and "gross misconduct".
The BBC2 show's executive producer, Andy Wilman, made a statement following the complaints, admitting that they were not aware that the joke was inappropriate.
He said in a statement: "When we used the word slope in the recent Top Gear Burma Special it was a light-hearted word play joke referencing both the build quality of the bridge and the local Asian man who was crossing it.

This is certainly not the first time the motoring show has come under fire [BBC]

"We were not aware at the time, and it has subsequently been brought to our attention, that the word slope is considered by some to be offensive and although it might not be widely recognised in the UK, we appreciate that it can be considered offensive to some here and overseas, for example in Australia and the USA.
He added: "If we had known that at the time we would not have broadcast the word in this context and regret any offence caused."
This is not the first time the popular TV show has been shrouded in controversy.
Jeremy was recently cleared of breaching the broadcasting code by watchdog Ofcom after comparing a Japanese car to people with growths on their faces.

Executive producer, Andy Wilman, released a statement apologising about the remark, made in March [BBC]

While previously facing a storm of protest from mental health charities after he branded people who throw themselves under trains as "selfish".
And in February 2011, it issued an apology after Hammond made a joke about Mexican cars reflecting Mexican stereotypes who were, "just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat".