Taking offence imay be a choice but not one that should be forced.

That's why we have to have laws on speach that is hateful, racist, homophobic etc - because some people think that they can say what they want, to whoever they wan,t as and when they want without any respsonsibility on their part.

And as a presenter of a worldwide popular programme from what many around the world still consider to be one of the top broadcasting programme providers, he has a responsibility to ensure he doesn't risk going beyond what is generally acceptable.

It's not just that he fails to do this - it's that he actively enjoys being offensive.

I have no idea what is checked or approved in advance but he carries a huge amount of power over what goes on and goes into those shows, and given his behaviour and comments, I would not be at all suprised to find that a lot is aired without proper approval.

There is also probably a failing on the Beeb's part to not rein him in more but as he is getting worse - and he is - and he cannot find more offensive stuff to get away with, something has to change.

It would not surprise me to find that he has engineered this because his contract is due to expire soon and he's trying to drum up support to bring him back.

But whatever is happening or is going on - I think it's been a great shame that he's been allowed to control so much and that there is no new blood in that programme - no-one is allowed to be the next person to take the show forward into the future.