Jeremy Clarkson issues grovelling apology for comments on Meghan Markle - ‘I’m horrified to have caused so much hurt’

Jeremy Clarkson has apologised for comments he made about Meghan Markle in a column over the weekend.

The former Top Gear presenter wrote in The Sun: “I hate her. Not like I hate Nicola Sturgeon or Rose West. I hate her on a cellular level.

"At night, I’m unable to sleep as I lie there, grinding my teeth and dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant, 'Shame!' and throw lumps of excrement at her.”

The Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) has received more than 6,000 complaints over the article.

The number is almost half the total number of complaints the media regulator received in 2021, a spokesman confirmed.

It follows the recent broadcast of Harry and Meghan’s explosive six-part Netflix documentary, in which the couple made allegations of mistreatment by the royal family.

Clarkson was hounded online for the comments and today took to Twitter to apologise for the “hurt” he has caused.

He wrote: “Oh dear. I’ve rather put my foot in it. In a column I wrote about Meghan, I made a clumsy reference to a scene in Game of Thrones and this has gone down badly with a great many people. I’m horrified to have caused so much hurt and I shall be more careful in future.”

Some were not happy with the apology and urged him to reach out to Meghan Markle directly.

One user replied: “Sorry Jeremy, but this doesn't come across very genuine. maybe you should apologise to Meghan rather than the public you may have offended. I understood the Game of thrones reference but it was very unnecessary and didn't come across as a joke in my opinion.”

Another wrote: “Sounds a lot like ‘I’m sorry you’re offended’ rather than ‘I’m sorry’.”