First of all, I knew the "piggy" version which makes more sense.....I mean come on, a Tiger roars not squeals.
Secondly this was a non broadcasted edit withdrawn from the final edit by Clarkson himself. It was never intended, or used, for public transmission because the mumbling sounded as if the n word was used (full disclosure, I have only listened to it in a busy office and struggled to hear it fully)
Thirdly, this broke on the website of one of the tabloid papers, who along with the other red-tops have been hammered by the phone tapping enquiry, an enquiry which btw Clarkson was heavily in favour for and campaigned for. Now I'm not possibly suggesting that the Mirror are gunning for Clarkson....nope not me....would never entertain the idea at all......well maybe slightly then.
I'm not particularly found of Clarkson. I think he's a right wing, Tory poster boy, utter Bellend. But not for a second do I think he's a racist. The mumbling of the word was obviously part of a script to try and generate some humour from that line, personally I don't find that funny but then humour is subjective depending upon the individual.....people find different things funny...but in no way should there be a sacking over this.