The BBC and Clarkson have maintained that the plate was a coincidence, saying
that no deliberate offence had been intended.
Ms Castro, who has already
complained to the BBC about the incident, has now written to the BBC
Trust pointing out their previous relationship when it comes to nature
progammes.
According to the
Independent newspaper, her letter to chairman Roha Fairhead said: “There
is a record of excellent cooperation between the BBC and Argentina, with the
BBC Earth’s Walking Giants and BBC Patagonia being only the most recent
examples of production teams that have been enjoying the hospitality and
full cooperation of the Argentine people and Government while working on the
ground.
“I am sure you cherish this relationship as much as we do, and we hope that it
will continue to blossom in the future.”
Walking Giants, a new one-hour documentary, will see Sir David tell the story
of 200 fossils relating to seven dinosaurs found in the deserts of
Patagonia.
Last month, the BBC’s head of television Danny Cohen responded
directly to Ms Castro’s complaint, but confirmed the programme would still
be broadcast.
Writing at the time, he said: “I would like to reassure you again that nothing
we have seen or read since the team returned supports the view that this was
a deliberate act.”
He added: “Like you, I am keen that the excellent degree of co-operation on
various ongoing BBC projects in your country continues.
“In particular, there is some wonderful work taking place presently with the
BBC's Natural History Unit and I am grateful for the support that is being
given to these teams.”
Ms Castro has now rejected Mr Cohen’s “perfunctory” response, saying: “We are
not prepared to accept this as a full and adequate response to this supposed
‘coincidence’.
“We believe that Mr Clarkson’s behaviour fell well below BBC’s editorial
values an standards: his account of what happened when his team were in
Argentina was biased and false – apparently in an attempt to cover-up the
poor behaviour of the BBC team making the Top Gear programme.”
The BBC Trust has confirmed it has received the letter and will now
investigate the matter, as well as the corporation’s own response.
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