Top Gear: BBC apologises for Cenotaph stunt which was ‘at no point intended to feature’ in programme

Apology: BBC bosses have issued a statement following the Top Gear Cenotaph stunt
Rex
Jennifer Ruby14 March 2016
The Weekender

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BBC bosses have apologised for any offence caused by shooting Top Gear stunts near the Cenotaph.

In an official statement, the broadcaster insists that the scenes featuring the memorial were ‘at no point intended to feature’ in the edited programme.

Reiterating host Chris Evans’ apology, the BBC confirmed that no shots of the Cenotaph would appear in the series.

It read: “Top Gear has been on location around central London over the past few days. Ahead of filming, the production team worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Film Unit and the Special Events Unit of Westminster Council.

“This was a large-scale, complex shoot, prepared over a period of four months, which required numerous road closures, health and safety regulations to be in place, and also included full disclosure to local residents, including the Treasury and Foreign Office.”

It continued: “The Cenotaph was at no point intended to feature in the programme and therefore will not appear in the final film.

Top Gear 2016: First Look

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“However, we are acutely aware of how some of the images in the press look today via the angle and distance they were taken and for which, as Chris Evans has already said, we sincerely apologise.

“The driver of the car was briefed by production prior to filming as to where to drive and to not do any manoeuvres close to the monument, an instruction to which he fully adhered.

“We would like to make it absolutely clear that the Top Gear team has the utmost respect for the Cenotaph, what it stands for, and those heroic individuals whose memory it serves so fittingly.”

On his Radio 2 show, Evans said: “It doesn't matter what actually happened, it doesn't matter what the circumstances were that could explain this away, what is important about this is what these images look like and they look entirely disrespectful which is not and would never be the intention of the Top Gear team or Matt (LeBlanc).

"On behalf of the Top Gear team and Matt, I would like to apologise unreservedly for what these images seem to portray.”

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