Gest That's Why They Call It The Blues

Or Sorry Seems To Be The Finest Word.

I sometimes I think I could write punning headlines for tabloids. I predicted that Fabregas's penalty for Spain v Italy would prompt use of Fab in the back page stories so the boy done good.

While I was looking for the Boris story of the previous post, I came across a vote on This Is London, a companion to The Mail and Evening Standard. Indeed, the reply I received from the Daily Mail last year regarding bias and censorship on their comments section came from a journo who writes for T.I.L.

The vote is about the resignation of James McGrath (see previous post). Not surprisingly about 75% believe he should not have resigned. McGrath, for his part denies making a racist point, claiming the comment was taken out of context. Johnson also defends his friend. Fair enough; comments can be taken out of context and stretched to suit the agenda. Which begs the question - why resign?

Even more interesting though was this little faux-pas. Big shout to the Mailwatch forum for the initial alert. Although not in the Mail itself, unlike the previous examples of grovelling here, it's like the Nigel Dempster days all over again.

In full, in case the blighters take it down:

• DAVID GEST Last updated at 22:43pm on 19.06.08

  In articles published on 23 and 26 May 2008, we gave the impression that Mr Gest had contracted a sexually transmitted infection and alleged that he had Liza Minnelli's dog killed without her knowledge.

  This was wrong. David Gest has never had a sexually transmitted infection and did not have Ms Minnelli's dog killed.

• We apologise to Mr Gest for any embarrassment caused.

But apart from that...............................................................

Top Race Gear

As every petrolhead knows, Jeremy Clarkson is not too proud to spout drivel and ignorance in the name of entertainment: FACT! It's as if a man with half a brain and a large mouth has been given a huge salary and unlimited airtime; and indeed, that's exactly what it is.

Whilst fiddling with the wonderful Play it again, Sam facility of the BBCi player, I stumbled, nay fell into the chasm of un-PC wallpaper that goes under the name of Top Gear.

Now, I like the theme tune - Jessica by the Allman Brothers - but I tend to view Clarkson as a slightly upmarket version of Richard Littlejohn. Surprisingly, he seems very popular in Poland, which, perhaps partly explains some of the driving I witnessed there. However, my interest in cars extends only to the colour and whether it has four wheels, an engine and enough storage space on the mp3 player for the complete Beatles collection.

In fact, I prefer the train or bus as they don't tend to breathalyse you as much. But I digress....

If anyone can bear to see JC waxing manically about the latest Ferrari, there's a clip here (if you have BBCi player and live in the UK, or use proxy), which is available for about a week.

Anyway, forward to about 23 minutes in and correct me if I'm hearing things, but does the boy Jeremy make a reference to wops, albeit as an attempted funny. He appears to be talking about the lack of an audio player and refers to the sound of 'Italian mechanical engineering, or be-wop'.

Clarkson has been in trouble before. His reference to one car model as being 'gay' (or agreeing with an audience member) attracted a host of complaints.

The alleged comment comes days after a Tory candidate, Alun Cairns was forced to withdraw after using the phrase 'greasy wops' about the Italian football team on a radio phone-in.

Then we have the case of Boris 'picaninnies' Johnson's Deputy Chief of Staff, James McGrath. McGrath -himself an Australian migrant - as reported in today's Mirror:

• A top aide to Boris Johnson quit last night after sparking fury by saying black people could "go home" if they did not like having a Tory mayor of London.

  James McGrath, 34, his deputy chief of staff, said he would accept an "exodus" of Caribbean migrants, adding: "Well, let them go if they don't like it here."

I'm following doctor's orders in not reading the Daily Mail much; I shudder to think what I may find there.