Jeremy Clarkson is keen to settle a legal claim by the Top Gear producer he punched in a row over a hot meal - but the BBC won't let him.

Oisin Tymon is suing the TV star for racial harassment and personal injury and is seeking damages of at least £100,000 from the former presenter and the corporation.

The Mirror revealed in March how Clarkson subjected the 36-year-old to a 40-minute rant because there was no hot food available at a hotel they were staying at while filming.

He branded Oisin a “lazy, Irish, c***” before hitting him in the face and threatening to get him sacked.

A panel will decide if the long-serving producer, who is still on full pay from the BBC but has not returned to work since the assault, should be paid damages for his ordeal.

Lawyers for Oisin and the BBC attended a Central London Employment Tribunal today for a preliminary hearing about the legal action.

(Image: Barcroft Media)

It is understood multimillionaire Clarkson, 55, is keen to settle while the Beeb is less inclined to pay out.

An agreement needs to be reached by all three parties.

Clarkson, who signed up to make a new motoring show on Amazon Prime in July, along with former Top Gear co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond, was not required to attend.

Read more:Clarkson could face more legal trouble over Falkands number plate row

He is expected to earn around £10million a year from the new deal.

The host refused to comment tonight, as did representatives for Oisin.

The BBC said: “We will be responding to this claim but will not be commenting further at this time.”

(Image: Daily Mirror)

The bust-up took place when Clarkson, Hammond and May arrived by helicopter at the Simonstone Hotel, near Hawes, North Yorks, from the Top Gear studio in Surrey.

Clarkson blew his top after being offered a cold platter rather than a hot meal.

He split Oisin’s lip. The victim drove himself to A&E for attention. Clarkson eventually had a £21.95 steak cooked for him.

Other guests and hotel staff witnessed the row.

One said Clarkson had complained it was “ridiculous there was nothing to eat” and he thought the producer had not done his job properly.

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Another added: “It was the shock of, how can someone be so rude? It was the swearing and the length of time and this poor guy he ripped into.”

After an internal investigation into the incident, led by BBC Scotland boss Ken MacQuarrie, Clarkson was axed in March.

BBC Director-General Tony Hall said the presenter had subjected an “innocent party to a physical altercation and prolonged verbal abuse”.

How the Mirror has always been out in front in reporting Clarkson bust-up

The Mirror’s TV editor Nicola Methven has led the way in exclusive reports about Clarkson’s bust-up with Oisin Tymon.

March 11: We’re the first to name Tymon and that the row was over no hot food.

March 14: We reveal Tymon went to A&E amid claims that Clarkson had called him a “lazy, Irish c***.

March 17: We tell how a raging Clarkson had to be held back at the hotel.

March 20: Clarkson goes to Tymon’s home to apologise but is snubbed.

March 25: Official BBC report confirms the Mirror’s version of events but does not mention the alleged “lazy, Irish c***” slur.

November 13: Tymon sues BBC and Clarkson for racial discrimination for allegedly calling him a “lazy, Irish c***”.