09 February 2023 , 23:02
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ITV is tonight facing new calls to sack Jeremy Clarkson as he was spotted back at work for the first time since his comments about Meghan Markle.
A top lawyer who is part of a campaign exploring legal action against the star said he had damaged the broadcaster’s reputation.
Lawrence Davies, of Equal Justice solicitors, said: “ITV should take the sensible step and terminate his employment, because his conduct has brought them into disrepute.
“If ITV really believe in anti-sexism and diversity they should sack him.”
Mr Davies has been instructed as part of a GoFundMe campaign that has already raised more than £15,000.
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Jeremy Clarkson's column about Meghan Markle sparked huge public backlash (Ian West/PA Wire)
His comments about the Duchess of Sussex sparked 25,000 complaints to IPSO (Getty Images)He has contacted the Duchess’s team to see if she would support a potential class action.
In his newspaper column, Clarkson, 62, had said he “hated” Meghan and wanted her paraded naked through the streets.
Today, industry regulator Ipso launched a probe after it got 25,100 complaints about December’s rant.
It said in a statement: "We are taking forward complaints from two groups, The Fawcett Society and The Wilde Foundation, who said they were affected by breaches of Clause 1 (Accuracy), Clause 3 (Harassment) and Clause 12 (Discrimination) in the article. You can find out more about representative group complaints here: Representative group complaints (ipso.co.uk).
Clarkson arrived in Salford to film Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (Stellify Media)"We will make public the outcome of this investigation through our website and on our social media channels when it is concluded. "
In the lengthy statement shared with his 5.2million Instagram followers in January, Clarkson said that he was "really sorry" and that he is "very angry" with himself.
It came as dishevelled Clarkson arrived in Salford, Gtr Manchester, for a new series of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The Mirror told how a celeb version was axed after a snub by female stars.
ITV has declined to comment on sack calls. ITV sources said while they are contractually obliged to do this series, there are “no further commissioning commitments”.
Clarkson previously revealed that he had issued an apology to Harry and Meghan on his Instagram account and claimed that his ITV and Amazon bosses were "incandescent".
Jeremy said he emailed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to apologise (PA)He said he had emailed the Sussexes to apologise on Christmas Day.
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But a spokesman for the duke and duchess claimed he had only sent the email to Prince Harry.
His words in the column, which was taken down from the Sun's website, prompted fury from the public and his own daughter distanced herself from the rant, saying she stands against everything he wrote.