Britain’s Top Gear Show Not So Top in Argentina After Falklands Gaffe · Global Voices
Laura Schneider

Graffiti in Ushuaia city, Argentina. “English pirate ships are prohibited from mooring.” Photo: Laura Schneider
Since Argentinian troops landed on the Falklands Islands 32 years ago and sparked a war with the United Kingdom in a bid to recover a territory that was under the South American country's control prior to 1833, relations between the two countries have typically been tense
On November 19 the Argentinian parliament passed a law which establishes that all public transportation including sea, land, air transport is obliged to use the legend: “Las Malvinas [The Falklands] son Argentinas” (The Malvinas are Argentine). The fundamental idea behind the law is to strengthen the country's sense of history.
Among islanders the feeling is often different. Kris Thorsen, a Falkland resident recently presented a petition that prohibits the flying of the Argentinian flag on island territory as he claims it generates discomfort among the population. The country's main civilian airport carries a sign that advises all arriving passengers not to use any Argentine insignia in Falkland territory.
But it was the recent and highly controversial visit to Argentina of the British television program Top Gear — a laddish show broadcasted by the BBC and targeted at fast car lovers — that really re-opened old wounds for for many Argentinians.
Central to the controversy over the show's visit was the fact that one of the cars used by Top Gear bore the registration plate H982FLK, which provoked an angry reaction from some locals.
A principios de octubre, los integrantes del programa de la BBC fueron apedreados cuando recorrían la Patagonia con automóviles de lujo. El problema se generó porque el Porsche que utilizó Jeremy Clarkson, el histórico presentador del show de autos más visto del mundo, tenía la matrícula “H982FLK”. El nombre alude inevitablemente a la guerra que enfrentó al Reino Unido con la Argentina en las Islas Malvinas: 82 coincide con el año del conflicto (1982) y FLK, con el nombre del archipiélago en inglés, Falklands.
Jeremy Clarkson, the show's host, has a reputation for being outspoken and politically incorrect, but insisted via Twitter:
The number plate WAS a coincidence. When it was pointed out to us, we changed it. As pics in this morning's Mail show.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) octubre 4, 2014
In another, more sarcastic tweet, Clarkson thanked the Argentine government:
We had planned a good ending for the show. But thanks to the government's foolishness, it's now even better.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) octubre 4, 2014
The program will be shown on the BBC on December 27 and 28.
It is worth recalling that during the 2014 World Cup, FIFA fined the AFA (Argentine Football Association) for displaying an Argentine flag emblazoned “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” during the team's matches in the tournament. And back at the Olympics in 2012 a video filmed in the Falkland Islands and made by the Argentine president's office sparked controversy for promoting the team under the slogan To compete on English soil, we train on Argentine soil.
It would be surprising if the airing of the show this weekend did not cause yet another round of controversy.