Jeremy Clarkson 'told colleague he would get him fired then reported HIMSELF to bosses'
OUTSPOKEN Jeremy Clarkson reported HIMSELF to BBC bosses over the alleged fracas with a Top Gear producer, it was claimed last night - as a family who witnessed the incident said the presenter told his colleague he would have him fired.
Amid speculation over who had informed bosses, it was reported Clarkson directly contacted BBC director of television Danny Cohen about the incident.
Clarkson later apparently informed shocked colleagues that he had raised the “manhandling” issue.
Filming of the Top Gear studio audience show two days later was halted as the BBC’s disciplinary processes kicked in.
It is not known why Clarkson would have reported the incident himself – although previous controversies have broken after being leaked to the press.
The move appears to have put the TV personality on a collision course with Mr Cohen, 41.
It has been claimed that their relationship was already at breaking point after previous controversies.
The Oxford-educated boss is said to be unwilling to tolerate Clarkson’s outrageous behaviour.
He’s quite a moral character, so it is very uncomfortable for him
A friend of Mr Cohen said: “He’s quite a moral character, so it is very uncomfortable for him.”
Meanwhile a family staying at the Simonstone Hall Hotel near Hawes, North Yorkshire, where the alleged bust-up took place, revealed that Clarkson warned his colleague that he would have him fired.
In an interview with Sky News, Bob Ward, 60, who was on a trip with his wife wife Denise, brother Alan and his wife Sue, described the incident.
Sue Ward, 54, a medical receptionist, claimed Clarkson then said "it was ridiculous there was nothing to eat".
She said he thought the colleague had not done his job properly and added: "Obviously there lots of expletives in between all this."
Mrs Ward said Clarkson told the colleague "he would see to it that he would be losing his job".
Her sister-in-law Denise was shocked, although she did understand Clarkson turning down the request for a selfie.
She said: "It was just the swearing and the length of time and this poor guy he was ripping into."
Alan Ward, a Top Gear fan, felt Clarkson should not lose his job over the incident.
He said: "He is brash, we know what he is like.
"He has been in trouble before, I think he will be in trouble again.
"But I don't think he will lose his job at the BBC because without Clarkson, there's no Top Gear I don't think."
Over 800,000 people have signed a petition calling for Clarkson to be reinstated since the incident.
