Jeremy Clarkson has said a terse exchange with a barrister shown on Clarkson’s Farm “would not have been televised” if he had known the man had dyslexia. Charles Streeten said the former Top Gear host’s mocking comments about his spelling during an episode of the Amazon Prime show had forced him to relive his difficult childhood.
Mr Streeten was representing the local council against Clarkson over planning permission to extend his farm in Oxfordshire in the second series of the programme. During the episode, while walking out of the planning meeting, Clarkson told Mr Streeten he should “learn to spell”.
Mr Streeten subsequently published an open letter to Clarkson, revealing his learning difficulties and explaining they had not affected his career as a barrister, later adding that he had not expected the remark to be televised. In a statement shared with The Times, Clarkson said: “It’s great that Mr Streeten has overcome his dyslexia to such an extent that he’s able to send such a well-spelt letter from Jamaica.
