Top Gear in trouble over Porsche pipe-smoking
Clarkson smokes a Porsche pipe during the news segment
Author: Robin Brown
Published: 16 October 2007
Top Gear may be in trouble over a segment on Sunday night´s episode where Jeremy Clarkson and James May lit pipes, in apparent contravention of the smoking ban.
The two presenters lit Porsche-branded pipes and smoked them during the news section, apparently using a herbal mixture that the BBC believed to be legal under the smoking ban.
But the show will face an investigation from Waverley Borough Council in Surrey as smoking any substance in a workplace is illegal.
The BBC has received a number of complaints and anti-smoking groups have called for an apology.
Richard Hammond did not smoke during the segment.
Businesses can face a fine of up to £2,500 if they fail to prevent smoking on their premises.
Clarkson went on to put the lit bowl of the pipe in his mouth, claiming: 'This is the 911 version - the hot bit goes at the back'.
Typical Clarkson - why not a Mondeo pipe?
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This is government bureacracy gone mad---would this happen in italy/france etc? mAYBE THE POLICE SHOULD INVESTIGATE SOME REAL CRIMES....
Why not give them each a £50 fine. Serves ´em right and makes the point the antis want. And it would be quite funny too!
As if people complain, it was only a joke afterall its not like they spark up every show. This country is sad.
There are far more important problems in this country and the world than this.. good grief, get a grip ppl
So the do gooders are at it again! my god what a sad bunch of w****rs, good on you clarkson & co, the best show on tv ever.
Glad the boys did it, I bet the anti-smoking brigade loved it so they could protest again after getting their own way in July. Country has gone mad, I see a lot of criminal acts on tv but no one says anything. Perhaps we should get the death penalty back for smoking and a slap on the wrist for murder
well done standing up to the anti-smoking fascists wish i had the balls to do it.
We didn´t even notice they had broken the law which I think says it all! Brilliant show keep up the good work guys :-):-)
How interesting that this investigation is going to be yet another waste of tax payers money. It´s time to ban the nanny state we live in.
How exactly do you ´ban´ a nanny state?
ppl who haev the time to pick up on these things have no life at all! its a tv show about cars the people who watch it love it so envirometalists and the like go shove yourself
What a thoroughly well reasoned and executed argument.
How bloody pathetic, i personaly found that "stunt" hilarious. Almost as good as the Bugatti aftershave incident.
Whatever happened to Freedom and Democracy, the right to choose what you do and enjoy your possessions. This Government is turning into a Dictatorship telling everyone in the Country how to live their lives. Thousands of people fought and died fighting two World Wars to keep Dictators out of Britain. It´s about time the British Government had a total re-think about what they are doing. They have driven in the thin end of the wedge into Democracy, don´t let them drive it in any further.
Gandalph - you know nothing about democracy. One of the most fundamental points of a democratic country is to do what you please, so long as it does not harm anyone else and abides by the common law. You´re an idiot.
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A silly stunt from the Top Gear chaps I think. You break the law on telly you should expect to be punished, regardless of whether you pride yourself on rebelling against ´the nanny state´.