Why Jeremy Clarkson should be allowed to open his big mouth

I'm not a huge fan of Jeremy Clarkson, as you can see from this I wrote earlier.

But, much as I think he's an idiot, I defend his right to say idiotic things.

Of course people will disagree with him - I do all the time - but if some take offence, well, I'm sure they'll cope. I would much rather live in a world where people have freedom of speech than one where they are frightened to say anything, for fear of offending someone, somewhere.

I am taken aback that more than 21,000 people bothered to complain to the BBC about Clarkson's comments on The One Show, where he said that strikers should be shot in front of their families.

A silly thing to say, but not so obnoxious when taken in context - and it was clear he was joking.

Yet the official regulating body Ofcom is now investigating his remarks. Really? Have they nothing better to do than that?

It smacks, rather worryingly, of Big Brother. If we're not careful, we'll be heading towards a bland state where nobody is allowed to say anything at all controversial.