Jeremy Clarkson opens up about Top Gear suspension

Jeremy Clarkson has opened up about his suspension from BBC’s Top Gear as an online petition for him to be reinstated topped 400,000 signatures.

The Top Gear presenter told reporters he was “just off to the job centre” as he left his home in London on March 11.

Asked if he had any regrets about what had happened, Jeremy Clarkson replied: “Yes.”

Jeremy Clarkson, 54, was suspended on March 10 following what the BBC said was “a fracas” with producer Oisin Tymon.

BBC director-general Tony Hall said an investigation was going on to “gather the facts” about the incident.

“We do not have the facts at the moment,” he said.

“I am a fan of Jeremy Clarkson but this is a serious thing that is alleged to have taken place.”

A lawyer for Oisin Tymon said his client “intends to await the outcome of the BBC investigation and will make no comment until that investigation is complete”.

Sunday’s episode of Top Gear will not be shown, and it is understood the two final episodes in the series will also be dropped.

The online petition in support of Jeremy Clarkson – set up by political blogger Guido Fawkes – was nearing half a million signatures less than 24 hours after it was launched on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier, Jeremy Clarkson’s co-presenter James May said: “I think he’s been involved in a bit of a dust-up and I don’t think it’s that serious.”

He said he had not been present at the alleged incident.

Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most popular and profitable TV shows, with Jeremy Clarkson appearing on it since 1988. The show has an estimated global audience of 350 million.