Jeremy Clarkson 'apologised' to Top Gear bosses for fracas with producer
JEREMY Clarkson has apologised to BBC bosses over the 'fracas' which led to his suspension, a friend of the Top Gear star has said.
Jeremy reported the incident.
Sunday Times columnist AA Gill wrote that Clarkson, whose row with producer Oisin Tymon led to him to allegedly hit the 36-year-old, had reported the incident himself.
Mr Gill wrote: "Jeremy reported the incident. It was over the absence of hot food at the end of a long and frustrating day with the prospect of another early start in the morning.
"The producer, Oisin Tymon, had not made a complaint. Jeremy called Danny Cohen, the director of BBC television, directly and explained he had lost his rag. Sources close to Top Gear say that Clarkson wanted to apologise and make amends, not least for the hundreds of people standing by to carry on with the rest of the show.
"Cohen had a choice: to do the right thing or the bureaucratic thing, but at the BBC no good intention goes unquestioned."
Defending Clarkson, he said: "People work long hours with a great deal of stress, and small things - almost invariably food - are tetchy trip-wires. "Whatever did happen, in mitigation to Jeremy, nobody works harder or under more stress than he."
Meanwhile, Clarkson - also writing in the Sunday Times - wrote that he had tried to take up cooking to fill the time.
He said his work in the kitchen had not gone well, and, in what could be taken to be a joking reference to his alleged bust up - which is said to have taken place because no hot food was available at Simonstone Hall Hotel, North Yorkshire, where the Top Gear crew were staying after filming - wrote: "So my new hobby is called 'going out to restaurants and letting people who know what they're doing cook my food'."
Shortly after news of the suspension broke last week, the presenter's daughter Em Clarkson tweeted: "Oh God, BBC please take him back... He's started cooking..."
It could be weeks until Clarkson's fate is decided and it is understood not all the potential witnesses to the row have yet been contacted ahead of the hearing.
He is scheduled to appear alongside co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond at four live shows in Norway on March 27 and 28 and a decision on whether to go ahead is expected early next week.
All three presenters' contracts expire three days after the Norway gigs, which could render any disciplinary hearings redundant.
The BBC panel will be led by Ken MacQuarrie, the head of BBC Scotland, who carried out the investigation into Newsnight's false expose of Lord McAlpine.
The last three episodes of the series have currently been put on hold.
The corporation has apologised to viewers who complained about the postponed episodes.
In a statement it said: "We do hope you'll understand that we value this reaction, but the investigation is still under way. Until more is known, we're therefore unable to say anything further in response and will not yet be making further statements about the issue.
"We realise you'll be disappointed that we can't respond to you in any more detail but thank you for contacting us."
A lawyer for Mr Tymon said his client 'intends to await the outcome of the BBC investigation and will make no comment until that investigation is complete'.
