The comment was made off air and was not intended for broadcast

BBC TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has provoked controversy after using a swear word to describe Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a Top Gear recording.

The incident follows his recent apology for calling Brown "a one-eyed Scottish idiot" in Sydney earlier this year.

The offensive four-lettered insult came during the warm-up for the recording on Wednesday and was not for broadcast.

A BBC spokesman said no action would be taken and that the incident would not be referred to the BBC Trust.

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow was at the recording and spoke to Clarkson afterwards.

'High regard'

According to the corporation, however, the presenter did not receive a dressing down as has been reported in several newspapers.

"As controller of BBC Two she holds both the programme and Jeremy in high regard," it said in a statement.

"After the recording she and Jeremy had a discussion about the programme, as controllers and presenters often do."

According to eyewitnesses, Clarkson used the offensive word while making off-the-cuff remarks on government policy.

Last year media watchdog Ofcom ruled that jokes made by Clarkson on Top Gear about lorry drivers murdering prostitutes did not breach the broadcasting code.

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