Top Gear presenter angered by Mirror story saying he has been told not to cause a ‘diplomatic incident’ on South American trip

There is clearly no love lost between Jeremy Clarkson and his arch-rival Piers Morgan’s former paper the Mirror. The Mirror printed a story on Monday claiming that the Top Gear presenter had been warned by BBC bosses “not to cause a diplomatic row during a Top Gear road trip to Argentina”. It quoted a BBC insider as saying: “There was real panic when bosses learned that Top Gear was going to Argentina of all places. Clarkson and his crew have a record of upsetting foreigners – from Mexicans, the French and Asian – the last thing the BBC needed was a big incident with Argentina. Jeremy has been warned to be on his very best behaviour and to do nothing that would upset his hosts. He has promised to do so.” But on Wednesday, Clarkson tweeted to deny he had been given any such warning, and indeed, judging by his photo, might be in another country completely:

Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) According to the Mirror, the BBC told me not to misbehave while I'm in Argentina. 1) they haven't and 2) see pic pic.twitter.com/bd3erxSsTZ

He later commented “I’m not even in Argentina”, adding an “official response” to the Mirror:

Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) Anyway, this is my official response to the Mirror. pic.twitter.com/PF83GPDg9P

Clarkson’s argument was slightly undermined by the fact that on Saturday he had tweeted that he was in Argentina:

Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) Argentina. In a hotel bar. I am going to fucking live here. pic.twitter.com/TUOKz5Y0rw

Patagonia – where Clarkson is reported to be filming Top Gear’s Christmas special – is shared by Argentina and Chile, so both parties could claim to be right. In any case, it’s clear Clarkson’s spat with the Mirror is entering uncharted territory.

