Top Gear boss Andy Wilman said last year was "an annus horribilis" for the controversial motoring show after it came under fire over claims of racism and caused a near-riot while filming in Argentina.

Presenter Jeremy Clarkson had to apologise when unscreened footage emerged of him mumbling the n-word while reciting the children's nursery rhyme "eeny, meeny, miny, moe" to choose between two cars and the show was also censured by Ofcom for breaching broadcasting rules after Clarkson used a "racial" term during the programme's Burma special.

The year ended with the motoring show's crew forced to flee Argentina after trouble erupted when it emerged they were using a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, which some people suggested could refer to the Falklands conflict of 1982.

Protests were organised by Argentinian veterans and stones were thrown at vehicles being used by cast and crew.

Mr Wilman told Broadcast Magazine's Talking TV podcast: "We're knackered after last year because last year was a horrible year. I think it was a, what did the Queen say, an annus horribilis, I think it was."

The Queen famously used the phrase in a 1992 speech after the fire at Windsor Castle.

Mr Wilman, who was in Argentina when trouble erupted, also criticised the country's ambassador to the UK who has demanded an apology from the BBC.

He said: "She had every right to protect her country's good name, but she really now needs to have a good think about the accusations she is throwing around."

Asked if he thought the BBC trusted the programme's makers, he said: "Sometimes yes, sometime no", adding: "Sometimes I feel they don't trust us at heart and actually apart from the very odd occasion we can be trusted".

Mr Wilman said the team behind the show were in talks with the corporation about signing a new deal.

The latest series of the show starts on BBC2 on January 25.