Clarkson thanks fans for support

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has thanked the hundreds of thousands of fans who have backed him after his suspension.

More than 800,000 people signed a petition demanding he keep his job after he was suspended following the fracas with producer Oisin Tymon which was sparked when Clarkson was told he could not have a £21.95 (€30) hot steak.

Clarkson told BBC News: “I am very grateful to everybody.” He is expected to comment on the incident in his column in The Sun today but it could be weeks until his fate is decided by an internal disciplinary inquiry.