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Related: About this forumJeremy Clarkson's extraordinary rant: 'I'll do one last lap of Top Gear track before f**b** sack me'
Published on Mar 20, 2015: Watch Jeremy Clarkson's extraordinary rant: 'I'll do one last lap of Top Gear track before f****** b******* sack me'
The motormouth presenter insisted he was about to be given his marching orders by the BBC when he appeared on stage at the London Roundhouse
The Top Gear star also said he was set to be sacked over claims he punched a show producer.
On stage at a charity gala in North London, Clarkson said the BBC programme used to be great but bosses had "f***** it up".
Last night, speaking at the Roundhouse, he seemed resigned to his fate after a foulmouthed rant at BBC bosses.
At a charity auction of what he described as his "last ever lap" of the Top Gear track, he said: "I didn't foresee my sacking, but I would like to do one last lap.
"So I'll go down to Surrey and I'll do one last lap of that track before the f****** b***ards sack me."
An apparently emotional Clarkson - suspended over claims he punched a producer - added: "I'll be a bit tearful when I do it, but f*** it, let's do it."
He left the shocked charity gala audience in no doubt about what he thinks of Beeb bosses.
Continuing his rant, he added: "And I'll drive somebody around in whatever I can get hold of.
"I'm sacked so it's probably an Austin Maestro. So who knows? "But anyway it will be my last ever lap of the Top Gear test drive.
"There was an 18-year waiting list to be in the audience of Top Gear, but the BBC has f***ed themselves.
"It was a great show and they've f***ed it up. Tonight's the night when you have the opportunity."
The lap auctioned by Clarkson was snapped up for an amazing £100,000 at the event helping young people get involved in the arts.
After allegedly punching Oisin Tymon in the face, Clarkson apparently tried a new approach - hitting his front door instead.
It is understood the anxious presenter turned up at his colleague's home to apologise for their bust-up.
Sources said Clarkson's stand-off on Oisin's doorstep came four days after allegedly giving him a split lip requiring hospital treatment following a row at a hotel over a hot meal.
Ken MacQuarrie, the BBC executive in charge of the inquiry, has reportedly been shown the contents of emails.
A source said: "In the hours before he reported the matter to the BBC, Clarkson seemed increasingly desperate to apologise to Oisin and persuade him to let the matter blow over. When he arrived on the doorstep that Sunday, Oisin was not ready to face him so didn't answer.
"He just didn't want to speak to him after what had happened. Clarkson could be heard saying that he just wanted to talk. He tried for upto five minutes but in the end had to walk away."
It is thought Clarkson then telephoned the BBC's director of television Danny Cohen to tell him about the hotel "fracas" earlier that week.
Clarkson, 54, was then suspended. He is already on a "final warning" with the BBC after a string of Top Gear controversies - including mumbling the N-word.
He also allegedly called Oisin "a lazy, Irish c***" during the rant at the hotel. Oisin, 36, shares his North London flat with his girlfriend, but is currently staying in a hotel while the probe is going on.
Last night the BBC said the findings of the investigation will be published next week and the decision on Clarkson's future lay with Director-General Tony Hall.
Before Clarkson's rant last night at the Roundhouse in Camden, North London, he looked relaxed as he rubbed shoulders with other celebs.
But his close friend Phillipa Sage looked anxious as she left his West London penthouse yesterday morning.
The last three episodes of the current series of Top Gear were dropped after the fracas. The contracts of the three presenters expire at the end of the month.
Yesterday it also emerged that Clarkson narrowly avoided a second culinary disaster at the hotel where he allegedly hit Oisin due to the lack of hot food.
Staff at the Simonstone Hall hotel near Hawes, North Yorks, said he was lucky not to be served a cold breakfast - when he slept in on the day after the bust-up a fortnight ago.
BBC staff had pleaded with hotel workers not to disconnect the electricity for planned maintenance so the presenter could have hot food when he emerged.
"I got a call to say Clarkson was still in his room and wouldn't be down until 10am," a member of kitchen staff told Sky News.
"I said, 'Well in that case he'll have to have Weetabix' because a sign on reception said the electricity would be cut off."
The worker said power was left on so he could have something hot.
The previous night's alleged assault came after Clarkson had grown enraged after being offered a cold platter after filming.
Last night Clarkson's lawyers said they were "not making any comment".
underpants
(182,803 posts)He demeans his cohorts and almost always "wins" competitions. I understand he is quite the Torey supporter.
sakabatou
(42,152 posts)The simple truth is that show is driven by the three men on it not the cars.
sakabatou
(42,152 posts)1monster
(11,012 posts)They were offered the opportunity. They refused.
sakabatou
(42,152 posts)1monster
(11,012 posts)the show ends.
I can't imagine anyone trying to make it go with other people. It would not be the same show and calling it by the same name would irritate lots of viewers.
BBC has got some problems. The new Dr. Who can't overcome the terrible writing and David Tennet and Matt Smith are very hard acts to follow. I don't know anyone who watches it any more. Now Top Gear is headed into oblivion... Those were the two biggest programs the BBC had. Whats a televison company to do?
sakabatou
(42,152 posts)But you're right about Smith and Tennent.
Flatpicker
(894 posts)If so, then regardless of his popularity, they have to do something.
Can't give JC a pass on violence more than anybody else.
Why is it so hard to keep your hands to yourself?
groundloop
(11,519 posts)IMO Clarkson is very replaceable. Richard Hammonds, I believe, could readily take over the central spot and find someone else to take the third spot.
I've always had a love-hate feeling about Clarkson. He's edgy which is fine, but between being an arrogant ass and seemingly a vocal climate change denier makes me love him less.
Anyway, it'll be interesting to see what happens.
tclambert
(11,086 posts)MisterP
(23,730 posts)oh, wait, Japan doesn't have a raging inferiority complex
Leith
(7,809 posts)He's Britain's answer to Bill O'Reilly.
V0ltairesGh0st
(306 posts)Why is anyone trying to defend him, why would you want him back...? It's people like Clarkson who deserve to be fired. Yet Discovery Channel gets rid of Kari Byron, Tory Ballechi , and Grant Imahara like they were a plague with still no clear explanation.
sakabatou
(42,152 posts)T_i_B
(14,738 posts)Farcebook & tw@tter seem to be full of little else but idle speculation about this.
All I will say is that Top Gear is a show that's past it's best. Increasingly just a parody of itself.