Top Gear presenter, not producer Oisin Tymon, reported the clash that led to his suspension, according to sources

Jeremy Clarkson told BBC bosses himself about the incident that led to his suspension from Top Gear, according to sources.



The Guardian understands that it was not the producer, Oisin Tymon, who reported the alleged ‘fracas’ at a hotel in Newcastle but the Top Gear star.



At a meeting at the beginning of this week Clarkson informed staff working on the hit BBC2 motoring show about the incident – which allegedly involved the presenter manhandling Tymon after filming on location last week – and said that he had contacted BBC director of television Danny Cohen to tell him about it.

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According to one production source there was some disquiet within the team about what had happened.

Filming of the Top Gear studio audience show two days later had to be suspended as once the BBC’s usual disciplinary processes kicked in following Clarkson’s decision to disclose what had happened, Tymon and Clarkson could not work together until the investigation is concluded.

It is not known why Clarkson decided to report the incident himself. Previous incidents such as his mumbled use of the “N-word” in a Top Gear outtakelast year, which lead to a “final warning from the BBC, leaked out to the press.

BBC Scotland director Ken MacQuarrie, who was responsible for the investigation into the disastrous Newsnight edition that falsely accused late Tory peer Lord McAlpine of being involved in the north Wales child abuse scandal, is leading the BBC’s internal inquiry into what happened.

BBC director general Tony Hall said on Thursday there was no timetable for Clarkson’s disciplinary hearing: “We have got to get the people who are impacted by this together. We began that work yesterday. There is a lot of speculation, we have got to establish the facts and I intend to do that before we come to a final decision. That is what we are about to do.”

Further complications for the investigation include the fact that Clarkson’s contract with the BBC runs out later this month and his lawyer Mark Devereux is away until Monday.

The BBC declined to comment and a spokesman for Clarkson had not commented at time of publication.