Talking backstage at the National Television Awards about the row which has seen Andy Gray and Richard Keys leave the channel, he said: ''We've arrived at a stage where you actually can be busted by heresy by thought, which is a terrifying place to live.
''While we try very hard on Top Gear not to be sexist... if a man wants to think that... that's fine. You should be allowed to think what you think.''
Both Keys and Gray, who worked together on Sky for almost 20 years, apologised for their comments, made offair but leaked onto the internet. Nevertheless that was not enough to save their jobs, with Gray being sacked on Tuesday and Keys resigning a day later.
Clarkson added he did not feel added pressure to include more women on screen.
He said: ''We don't feel under pressure. I just think we've got a guest and if it's a man it's a man and if it's a woman it's a woman.''
