The Grand Tour is slammed after broadcasting a 'how to guide' for smuggling migrants into Britain in an Audi TT

Jeremy Clarkson introduced the stunt on the Amazon Prime show this week
He joked he was about show 'a better way for immigrants of getting into Britain'
Clarkson challenged audience to find co-host Richard Hammond in an Audi TT
Hammond was revealed lying in the frame of the car under the back bumper
Charities have blasted the show for showing people how to smuggle migrants

By Anthony Joseph for MailOnline

Published: 01:15 GMT, 13 December 2016 | Updated: 11:25 GMT, 13 December 2016

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The Grand Tour has been slammed for showing how to smuggle migrants into the the UK in a car.

Jeremy Clarkson introduced the stunt on the Amazon Prime show, which was filmed in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

He joked that he was about show 'a better way for immigrants of getting into Britain'.

The Grand Tour has been slammed for showing how to smuggle migrants into the the UK in a car

Jeremy Clarkson introduced the stunt on the Amazon Prime show, which was filmed in Whitby, North Yorkshire

He told the audience: 'When immigrants try to get into the country they always come in the back of a container lorry and that is the world's worst game of hide and seek.

'If you work for Border Force you open the doors and go, "well there you are".

'Surely, there must be a better way of getting into Britain. And I think I've worked it out.'

Clarkson challenged the audience to find his co-host Richard Hammond in an Audi TT.

Fellow presenter James May removed the back bumper, which revealed Hammond lying inside the frame of the car.

The trio were criticised for the stunt, with some calling it 'irresponsible'.

Barbara Drozdowicz, from the East European Resource Centre, told the Daily Star: 'We are appalled by the portrayal of migrants as an illegal cargo.'

Clarkson challenged the audience to find his co-host Richard Hammond in an Audi TT

Fellow presenter James May removed the back bumper, which revealed Hammond lying inside the frame of the car

The trio were criticised for the stunt, with some calling it 'irresponsible'

Kate Gibbs from the Road Haulage Association added: 'To demonstrate what is, in effect, little more than a "how to" guide is just irresponsible.'

The Grand Tour declined to comment when approached by the newspaper.

With an astonishing £160 million budget, Jeremy Clarkson's TV comeback is among the most expensive series of all time.

But on Sunday it was revealed The Grand Tour notched up another record – as the most illegally downloaded show in history.

Official figures for the series have not been revealed by maker Amazon.

But since its launch on November 18, the first episode had been illegally downloaded 7.9 million times. Episode two has been ripped off 6.4 million times, and the figure for the third episode is 4.6 million. Viewers in Britain are the worst culprits, making up 13.7 per cent of the total.

The Grand Tour has become the most illegally downloaded show in history

Episode two has been ripped off 6.4 million times, and the third 4.6 million

Viewers in Britain are the worst culprits, making up 13.7 per cent of the total

Online pirates log on to websites that have stolen the Grand Tour – for which Clarkson is paid £10 million a year to make – instead of subscribing to Amazon.

It is estimated that Amazon lost a potential £3.2 million in revenue in Britain alone on episode one. The rip-off statistics, seen exclusively by The Mail on Sunday, have been compiled by MUSO, the leading data analysts of the piracy market.

Chris Elkins, its chief commercial officer, described the findings as 'absolutely incredible'.

He added: 'It is the most illegally downloaded programme ever. It is off the scale in terms of volume.

'It has overtaken every big show, including Game Of Thrones, for the totals across different platforms.

'We monitor thousands of campaigns and this one really stands out.'

Amazon has spent millions advertising The Grand Tour after signing up Clarkson following his sacking by the BBC in a row over a fracas with a producer.

The show was a major hook to get people to sign up for its streaming service Amazon Prime, which costs £79 a year.