BBC director-general Tony Hall has defended Top Gear following a controversial year for the show.

The hit series has been dogged by rows over racism and sparked a near-riot while filming in Argentina.

Now Lord Hall has told Radio Times magazine that the broadcaster should feel proud of the long-running, internationally successful BBC Two show.

Tony Hall
Tony Hall has jumped to the defence of Top Gear (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

“It’s a programme loads of people love and it’s important that the BBC doesn’t have just one voice… and I feel this about Top Gear… it’s a different voice… why wouldn’t the BBC represent (it) on its output and be pleased to have it there?,” he said.

Asked about standing by the show despite it getting into trouble around the world, Lord Hall, who took over from George Entwistle in 2013, said: “My life and the BBC’s life is not to be constantly out of trouble.

“In a way, we should be awkward, push boundaries with our journalism, our drama, our current affairs, our comedy, our entertainment… having things to say. It’s really important, that’s what people expect of the BBC.”

(Rowan Horncastle/BBC)
(Rowan Horncastle/BBC)

In May, Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson 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.

Jeremy later said that he had been given his final warning by his BBC bosses.

Two months later the show was censored by Ofcom for breaching broadcasting rules after Jeremy used a “racial” term during the programme’s Burma special, which had aired in March last year.

Top Gear
(BBC)

The year ended with the motoring show’s crew forced to flee Argentina after trouble erupted when it emerged they were using a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, which some people suggested could refer to the Falklands conflict of 1982.

Each episode in the two-part Christmas special attracted more than seven million viewers last year, with a further three million for each episode on iPlayer.