Top gear host Jeremy Clarkson

Top Gear has got itself into another controversy by baiting rival show Strictly Come Dancing in Morse code.

The motoring show played the code over footage of in-house racing driver "The Stig" driving a Lambourghini - and eagle-eared viewers identified that it was spelling out "Strictly Come Dancing is crap".

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson was in the headlines last week for a joke about lorry drivers murdering prostitutes.

The Strictly jibe is pertinent because the results show clashes with Top Gear on Sunday evening, potentially leading to family arguments about which one to watch.

A BBC insider said: "It’s all just a bit of fun. Top Gear is known for being irreverent so this is just the producers' idea of a joke."