David Cameron distances himself from Top Gear 'India special' after High Commission lodges complaint

Yesterday Mr Cameron's aides stressed Mr Cameron had not staged the meeting with the Top Gear team and had not enjoyed the Indian special "at all". One source said: “He did not like the programme at all. The Indian people should know that the Prime Minister has the utmost respect for them.”

During the programme, Mr Clarkson was filmed speaking to locals while operating a trouser press in his boxer shorts and driving a Jaguar with a lavatory fixed to the boot.

Mr Clarkson and his co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond also tied banners to trains reading: “British IT is good for your company. Another banner said: “Eat English muffins”. The messages became obscene when the carriages parted, ripping the signs.

A Government spokesman said that any apology was a matter for the BBC. He said: “The Government is not responsible for editorial decisions made by the BBC or any media organisation.”

Last month, Lord Patten of Barnes, the chairman of the BBC Trust, described Top Gear as one of the leading “cultural” exports from this country. His spokesman said yesterday that Lord Patten stood by the comments, and was talking about the programme not Jeremy Clarkson.

He said: “Lord Patten’s comment was merely a statement of fact. Top Gear is one of BBC Worldwide’s top global brands. It is shown in 198 territories worldwide, five local editions have been produced outside the UK. There have been more than 350 million views across You Tube.”

Meanwhile, yesterday Mr Clarkson was offered a personal tour of the Isle of Sheppey's by its MP after the presenter suggested the island was one big caravan site.

In the latest issue of Top Gear magazine, he also said Kent was full of immigrants who had travelled from the Sangatte refugee camp in Calais.

Conservative MP Gordon Henderson said he would personally show the presenter the other sights Sheppey had to offer. Publishers BBC Worldwide said the comments were “tongue-in-cheek”.