BBC rant ‘was all meant in jest’, declares Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson has described the past week as “turbulent” and claimed that he was joking when he appeared to criticise BBC bosses in an expletive-laden rant at a charity event.

The suspended Top Gear presenter said he woke up on Friday to the news his on-stage speech at the charity gala for young people at the Roundhouse, north London, the previous evening had been videoed, and was told off by his lawyer.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Clarkson said it had all been in good humour. He wrote: “But it was all meant in jest and anyway it worked.

“By being brief, controversial and a bit sweary I woke the room up and the auction prize I was offering — one last lap of the Top Gear test track — raised £100,000.”

Clarkson, who was suspended after allegedly punching producer Oisin Tymon during a row which took place after filming, had appeared to suggest he may be sacked from the popular show and criticised the corporation’s executives.

Many many thanks to all of the people who have called for my reinstatement. I'm very touched. We shall all learn next week what will happen.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 20, 2015

He told those gathered at the charity event: “To be in the audience of Top Gear there was an 18-year waiting list. You know the BBC has f***** themselves, and so who gives a f***?

It was a great show and they f***** it up.”

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