Controversial motoring show Top Gear has been cleared of breaching broadcasting rules after it was investigated by Ofcom over the use of the word pikey.

A representative of the Traveller Movement complained after a scene where the show’s now ex-host Jeremy Clarkson was seen holding a placard with the words Pikey’s Peak while Richard Hammond drove a car up a mountain.

A similar complaint was lodged with the BBC but eventually not upheld, with the BBC Trust concluding the word had been used to mean “cheap” rather than as a term of racist or ethnic abuse.

Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May in a field
Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May (Ellis O’Brien/BBC)

An Ofcom spokesman said: “We found that, while some in the audience would perceive the word pikey as a derogatory term for Gypsies and Travellers, on balance there was sufficient context in the way the word was used to minimise offence.

“However, we have advised broadcasters this doesn’t mean the use of the word is acceptable in any programme in any context and that it is capable of causing significant offence in certain contexts.”

In its evidence, the BBC admitted the word could be “a derogatory term” but cited online encyclopaedia Wikipedia as proof it also referred to someone who “lives on the cheap”.

A spokesman for the Traveller Movement said it was “appalled” by the decision.

Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson (Anthony Devlin/PA)

He added: “The Top Gear presenters told them that they didn’t mean it to be racist and Ofcom have taken them at their word. The reference to pegs and heather salesmen which we raised has been ignored.

“The viewing public are not that stupid and Ofcom need to give them more credit. The decision is a victory for racist bullies and we will be meeting with our solicitors, Howe & Co, to consider our options.”

It is not the first time the show – and its former presenters – have run into trouble over allegations of racism.

Jeremy had to apologise when unscreened footage emerged of him mumbling the n-word while reciting the children’s nursery rhyme “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” to choose between two cars, and the show was also censured by Ofcom for breaching broadcasting rules after Clarkson used a “racial” term during the programme’s Burma special.