Jeremy Clarkson 'will sue' BBC if he is sacked - and says comments about boss were in jest
JEREMY Clarkson today claimed he was joking when he appeared to criticise BBC bosses during an expletive-laden rant - as friends said he will sue the corporation if he is sacked over punching a producer.
Sources close to the star have said that he will not go down without a fight if BBC bosses wield the axe, and that his co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May could join in with any legal action.
The controversial star was filmed at a charity gala in London telling the audience Top Gear was a "great show" and that the BBC had "f***** it up".
However, the famously outspoken host has now claimed that his comments were made "in jest" in an effort to raise bidding on an auction item - a lap of the Top Gear test track.
Writing in his Sunday Times column, the suspended star said he had been told off by his lawyer after video footage of the foul-mouthed speech appeared online the next day.
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."
There is no doubt that if Jeremy is fired it won’t be the end of it
Clarkson, who was suspended after allegedly punching producer Oisin Tymon during a row which took place after filming, had also appeared to suggest he may be sacked from the popular show and criticised the corporation's executives.
He told those gathered at the charity event for young people, being held at London's Roundhouse: "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."
Today Clarkson told the Sunday Mirror that he has been "put on silence" about the so-called 'fracas' until BBC disciplinary proceedings against him have finished.
He said: "I’ve been put on silence. There are very good reasons from my point of view why I simply can’t say a word."
Sources close to the star told the paper he intends to come out fighting if the corporation chooses to sack him and has not ruled out legal action.
Hammond and May, who have refused to carry on making the show without their co-host, could also call in the lawyers over the huge impact such a decision would have on their earnings.
A source said: “There is no doubt that if Jeremy is fired it won’t be the end of it. Lawyers will be involved.
The revelation comes amid reports that the BBC are filming a pilot of a new motoring show called The Getaway, which will see contestants travel abroad to take part in driving challenges.
A petition to have the popular presenter re-instated on Top Gear has gathered almost one million signatures and was delivered by tank to BBC headquarters in London on Friday.
Clarkson tweeted his thanks to supporters but declared in his column in The Sun yesterday that "protest never works".
His future at the BBC is likely to be decided this week when the corporation's internal investigation into his behaviour is handed over to the director-general.
