James May: Jeremy Clarkson's Meghan Markle column was 'creepy'

James May has criticised his fellow Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson's column about Meghan Markle.

Earlier this month, Clarkson apologised for saying he "hated" Markle in his column in The Sun and remarking that dreamt of her being paraded through the streets of Britain naked while being pelted with excrement.

May refused to defend his colleague and longtime friend during an interview with the BBC's Today programme.

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Asked about the column, May said: "Well I think he [Clarkson] did say something like: 'All people my age think the same way'. Well I'd like to go on record and say I don't, and I'm only a few years younger than him."

May also said: "I wouldn't have written that."

The broadcaster added: "I think it sounds a little bit too creepy but I'm also very much in favour of free speech and allowing the 'haters to hate' so we can see what they have to say."

Clarkson's original column received over 20,000 complaints and was later removed from the internet by The Sun. The former Top Gear presenter was also criticised by his daughter Emily for his writing.

In an apology posted to his Instagram, Clarkson said he had emailed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to say sorry for the column.

He wrote: "So I'm going to try and buck the trend this morning with an apology for the things I said in a Sun column recently about Meghan Markle. I really am sorry. All the way from the balls of my feet to the follicles on my head. This is me putting my hands up. Its a mea culpa with bells on."

Clarkson also said his employers – Amazon and ITV – were "incandescant" at his remarks and Variety have reported that Amazon will no longer be commissioning shows that feature the current host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

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