Russell Crowe has come out in support of Jeremy Clarkson, saying the Top Gear presenter `has a wonderful sensibility.' The actor added that he felt sympathy for Oisin Tymon the Irish-born producer who was involved in the alleged `fracas' with Clarkson.

Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, Crowe was responding to a question about the incident in which Clarkson reportedly reacted furiously because he was offered a cold meat platter instead of a steak after a day of shooting for Top Gear.

“I love watching Jeremy on TV, I think he has a wonderful sensibility," Crowe said.

“Having been in this business for such a long time, I’ve done some pretty heavy days, I did a 24-hour work day with Michael Mann one time . . . so I can understand on the bones of what I know - because I don’t really know the situation - if he’s been head down, a*se up working and he’s requested one little thing which is to be able to eat at the end of the day then I can understand why he’d get upset.”

Crowe added: "I feel for the other guy too because I don’t know what level of experience he’s got or whatever or how much experience he’s had with Jeremy or what else got in his way because he probably was very definitely trying to fulfil that. So the bottom line is, I think it’s a storm in a teacup.”

Click here to watch our interview with Russell Crowe on the red carpet at the Dublin premiere of his new movie The Water Diviner.