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Jeremy Clarkson was suspended from Top Gear after allegedly hitting a producer named as Oisin Tymon.

It is claimed the host, 54, saw red with Tymon, 36, for not getting him dinner in time after filming for the BBC show in Newcastle.

A source said: “Jeremy saw red over a catering issue. He just snapped.”

The BBC initially confirmed the Top Gear host had been suspended following a "fracas" with a producer.

The controversial host was suspended by the BBC after a “fracas”, in which it is alleged that he saw red and hit an assistant producer of the programme for failing to get him his dinner on time.

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It is understood that Oisin Tymon, 36 – who has worked on the show for a decade and knows Clarkson well – was the man involved in the alleged bust-up. It is said to have taken place after filming in Newcastle with co-hosts James May, 52, and Richard Hammond, 45.

One source claimed: “It was all over a catering issue. They came to the end of filming after a long day and Jeremy discovered that no food had been laid on.

“He just saw red and hit the assistant producer, who he blamed for not having organised the food. He snapped.”

The incident was reported to BBC bosses on Monday who then informed the 54-year-old yesterday he was suspended.

A scowling Clarkson, who last year admitted he was “drinking in the last chance saloon” when it came to his Top Gear job, refused to comment outside his West London home yesterday. No one was available for comment at Mr Tymon’s address.

May and Hammond joked about the situation on Twitter last night. May said: “No Top Gear this weekend, apparently. How about 633 Squadron instead?”

Hammond responded: “No, surely, Last of the Summer Wine – no one will notice the difference. Job done.”

Clarkson then joined in, tweeting: “No no no. Where Eagles Dare. Much better.”

(Image: National News and Pictures)

He followed this up with: “I did some pretty good war documentaries. They could screen one of those.”

Clarkson also took a dig at Ed Miliband last night as he gloated about his latest controversy.

“Sorry Ed. It seems I knocked your “I’m a human” piece down the news agenda,” he tweeted.

BBC chiefs confirmed that Sunday’s episode of Top Gear had been pulled. The live sections of the show were due to be filmed today but could not go ahead without Clarkson.

The next two episodes, which are the last in the current series, have also been postponed until the investigation into Clarkson’s misdemeanour has concluded. This could take several weeks.

In a statement, the BBC said: “Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation. No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday. We will be making no further comment at this time.”

It comes just days before the Top Gear presenters’ new contracts were due to be finalised.

Clarkson, May and Hammond were all on the verge of clinching three-year deals but now all negotiations have been suspended. Insiders speculated over whether the series could continue without him if he is sacked.

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One said: “It may be that the show ends on the BBC but continues in terms of Top Gear Live and the DVDs. Nobody knows what will be decided.” It is the latest in a long list of blunders from Clarkson, who is worth an estimated £30million. Last May, we exclusively revealed how the presenter – who is paid nearly £1.5million-a-year to front Top Gear – used the N-word while rehearsing for the show. He later apologised before confessing that one more mistake would leave him jobless. Writing in a newspaper column at the time, he said: “I’ve been told by BBC that I’m drinking at the last chance saloon. If I make one more offensive remark, I’ll be sacked.”

He issued a grovelling apology at the time, after initially denying using the word in front of cameras.

Months earlier, Clarkson sparked outrage when he “joked” about a bridge the team had built being on a “slope” during filming for a Burma special.

Despite initially denying all knowledge that “slope” was a derogatory term for an Asian person, the BBC later admitted it was and issued an apology. And the year ended in disaster after an angry mob in Argentina descended on the Top Gear team when locals felt the number plate on Clarkson’s car – H982 FKL – was a jibe over the Falklands war.

(Image: BBC)

It was also reported last year that Clarkson is heading for divorce from Frances, his wife of 21 years.

He first sparked rumours that his marriage was on the rocks when he

was spotted canoodling with TV colleague Phillipa Sage while on holiday in Greece in 2013.