Jeremy Clarkson’s new motoring show cannot have a test track, feature the Stig, call the news section “the news”, or even describe Namibia as “beautiful”, for fear of being sued by the BBC, the programme’s producer claimed yesterday.

Andy Wilman, Clarkson’s lifelong friend, and producer of the The Grand Tour, said that lawyers acting for the new Amazon show had warned the presenters that they risked being sued by the BBC if they incorporated elements that were too similar to Top Gear.

Wilman said that the legal discussions became “hilarious”, as the lawyers even insisted on examining whether James May would be able to use the word c**k, as the presenter had frequently referred to the item of male anatomy while working on the BBC show.