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The angry bust-up that left Jeremy Clarkson suspended from Top Gear was triggered when he got revved up about a steak, a witness has claimed.

Presenter Clarkson, 54, is off air as the BBC investigates claims he hit producer Oisin Tymon, 36, when he returned to his hotel after a long day of filming and found there was only soup and a cold meat platter.

An onlooker said the star, who had been drinking rosé wine, launched into an expletive-filled tirade using “every bad word you could think of” and ranted “so there’s no food” when he was told he would not get the steak he wanted.

The witness said: “We were surprised at his reaction because we were all thinking ‘surely soup is food’.”

The chef was said to have gone home, but the meat platters were available for Clarkson and his co-presenters James May, 52,

and Richard Hammond, 45.

Now details of the bust-up, which happened at Simonstone Hall Hotel near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales, can be fully revealed for the first time.

(Image: MDM)

The witness, who did not want to be named, said: “When they arrived just after 10pm Clarkson got angry.

“It was more like a scuffle. But he did swear using every bad word you could think of.

“The producer stood there looking quiet and embarrassed. He was being blamed for not arranging hot food.

“The general manager ended up cooking himself for the three presenters.”

(Image: Google Maps)

His co-stars sat in the Brasserie looking on in shock and a blond man tried to placate the star as he argued about the lack of food. The bar reportedly went quiet as he started to swear.

The local, who did not wish to be named, said “apparently they all left the next day and Clarkson apologised”.

Another local said: “He didn’t like the idea of sandwiches and demanded the juicy steak. He got his own way.”

In the end the steak, at £21.95 was served with fondant potatoes, cherry tomatoes, pan fried wild mushrooms and green peppercorn sauce, in a private dining room.

There was no sign of the shattered peace in the visitor’s book.

Before they left a BBC crew member wrote: “A wonderful, friendly and extremely accommodating stay. Superstars the lot of you. Thank you so much.”

(Image: Rex)

The hotel’s brochure says how Clarkson often stays with them after a “hard days driving”.

The crew had paid £80 for 11 of the 18 rooms at the hotel in Upper Wensleydale. Clarkson arrived and left by helicopter as the hotel has a helipad.

Robert Scott, the General Manager, refused to comment but confirmed the Top Gear crew had stayed with them last week.

However the fracas looks unlikely to result in police action – unless a complaint is made.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement: “There has been suggestions that the alleged ‘fracas’ occurred in the Hawes area.

"We can confirm that no complaints have been reported to North Yorkshire Police.”

It has emerged that Clarkson may quit the BBC even if he’s cleared of allegedly hitting the producer - as he joked he was “just off to the Job Centre”.

Sources close to the presenter have indicated he could walk away from the show when his contract runs out at the end of the month.

The 54-year-old’s relationship with BBC executives, thought to include BBC boss Danny Cohen, has become increasingly fraught. But his show is making the BBC a lot of money - watch how much money Jeremy Clarkson makes the BBC every second.

The BBC have confirmed they are investigating what happened between Clarkson and Tymon before making any decision as to his future.

But a source said: “Clarkson could easily walk away on his own terms.”

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Both ITV and Channel 4 have previously tried to poach Clarkson from the Beeb and would be waiting in the wings with big-money offers.

Top Gear co-presenter James May confirmed that Clarkson had been “involved in a bit of a dust-up”.

Asked whether he supports Clarkson, he said: “In many ways no, I have said many times before the man is a k**b, but I quite like him. It’s all getting a bit ridiculous.”

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Asked what he understood about what had happened he said: “Not very much, I was blind drunk.”

Clarkson, himself, is understood to have told friends that he did not punch Tymon, but that there had been some “handbags and pushing”.

The BBC has postponed the final three episodes of the current Top Gear series – a decision which could land them with a multi-million pound bill.

The Beeb could be liable for penalty payments for failing to deliver the final episodes of the series on time to other countries.

Clarkson has reportedly consulted his lawyer ahead of any meeting with the BBC.

Such a meeting would include BBC director general Tony Hall and Cohen.

Calls were growing for the BBC to stand by under-fire Clarkson.

(Image: Reuters)

Perry McCarthy, who was the show’s Stig for several years, said there had been a “complete over-reaction” by people “looking to be offended”.

Former culture secretary Maria Miller described Clarkson as a “legend” and insisted the BBC had to improve the way it dealt with “larger than life characters”.

“I think they need to sort this mess about quickly, and not be seen to be punishing the fans,” she told BBC Radio 4’s World at One.

“It’s a fantastic show and I really think the BBC has got an obligation to get this sorted.

“The BBC needs to be better at managing its talent ... there are other organisations that have to deal with larger than life characters.

“Perhaps the BBC needs to pull in some of those skills, perhaps look at our football teams. People like (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger are doing this day in and day out.”

Referring to Clarkson, Ms Miller said: “He is, I think, a legend, not just in this country but around the world.

“But I do think there is a serious point here about people in his position realising that they are a role model for youngsters.

“My 13-year-old is one of his biggest fans and will be bitterly disappointed not to be able to see the show on Sunday, but equally I think will understand that the alleged behaviour that has taken place is very serious.”

And a petition calling for Clarkson to be reinstated had reached a staggering 448,000 signatures.

The presenter’s daughter Em Clarkson also tweeted: “Oh God, BBC please take him back... He’s started cooking...”

The BBC have refused to elaborate on their statement from Tuesday.

It said: “Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation.

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“No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday. The BBC will be making no further comment at this time.”

Clarkson was put on a final warning last year following a racism row after claims he used the N-word while reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe during filming of the BBC2 programme.

Last year, the show was censured by communications regulator Ofcom for breaching broadcasting rules after Clarkson used a “racial” term during the programme’s Burma special, which aired in March 2014.

The year ended with the show’s crew forced to flee Argentina after trouble erupted when it emerged they were using a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, which some people suggested could refer to the Falklands conflict of 1982.

But each episode of the two-part Christmas special attracted more than seven million viewers, with a further three million for each episode on iPlayer.