Top Gear frontman Jeremy Clarkson has sparked outrage after using a live TV interview to call for Britain's striking public sector workers to be shot in front of their families.

In an appearance on BBC's The One Show, the 51-year-old presenter and columnist condemned the two million workers on strike over the British Government slashing their pensions.

"I would have them all shot," he said.

"I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families. I mean how dare they go on strike when they have these gilt-edged pensions that have to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to work for a living."

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Though some of the studio audience laughed, BBC presenters Alex Jones and Matt Baker were visibly shocked by Clarkson's comments.

Within minutes, the station has been flooded by complaints from furious TV viewers on social media sites Twitter and Facebook.

The presenters were forced to issue a swift on-air apology at the end of the show.

They explained that Clarkson sometimes exaggerated his views for comic effect.

A statement issued to the Daily Telegraph by a BBC spokeswoman said: "The One Show apologised at the end of the show to viewers who may have been offended by Jeremy Clarkson's comments."

She declined further comment.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE