Clarkson Sorry For 'Shoot Strikers' Remark

Jeremy Clarkson has apologised for his comments that people who took part in the national public sector strike "should be shot".

It comes after Unison said it was taking urgent legal advice over the Top Gear presenter's "appalling" remarks on BBC1's The One Show.

The union had called for him to be sacked by the corporation but has now told Sky News it accepts Clarkson's apology and has invited him to spend the day with a healthcare assistant on a hospital ward.

On the evening of the strike, Clarkson said on The One Show: "Frankly, I would have them all shot. I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families."

He added: "I mean, how dare they go on strike when they've got these gilt-edged pensions that are going to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to work for a living?"

The BBC has received more than 4,700 complaints about the comments and issued an apology.

The union, which represents more than one million public sector workers, was earlier considering whether the comments should be referred to the police.

General secretary Dave Prentis said before Clarkson's apology: "Clarkson's comments on The One Show were totally outrageous, and they cannot be tolerated.

"Public sector workers and their families are utterly shocked by Jeremy Clarkson's revolting comments. We know that many other licence fee payers share our concerns about his outrageous views.

"The One Show is broadcast at a time when children are watching. They could have been scared and upset by his aggressive statements.

"An apology is not enough. We are calling on the BBC to sack Jeremy Clarkson immediately. Such disgusting statements have no place on our TV screens."

A BBC spokesman said: "The One Show apologised at the end of the show to viewers who may have been offended by Jeremy Clarkson's comments."

Prime Minister David Cameron, a personal friend of the TV host, has dismissed the comments as "silly".

He said: "It was obviously a silly thing to say and I am sure he didn't mean that."

Labour leader Ed Miliband described them as "absolutely disgraceful and disgusting".

He said: "Jeremy Clarkson should apologise for those comments. He obviously does not understand the lives of the people who were going out on strike."

Clarkson has made no comment on the reaction and was filmed preparing to take a flight out of Heathrow airport as he is due to do some filming abroad.