Updated 10.31 pm
JEREMY CLARKSON WAS fired by the BBC after he punched and verbally abused his producer and could now face a police investigation.
The damning findings of Ken MacQuarrie’s probe left the Beeb’s Director-General, Tony Hall, with no alternative but to sack his star man.
“I cannot condone what has happened on this occasion,” Hall said in his statement today. “A member of staff – who is a completely innocent party – took himself to Accident and Emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature.
For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.
Hall also released the findings of MacQuarrie’s investigation into the 4 March incident, stating the main facts were not disputed by those involved, including Clarkson himself.
North Yorkshire Police have now confirmed that is liaising with the BBC and is seeking a copy of MacQuarrie’s report.
“We have asked the BBC for the report which details the findings of their internal investigation into the matter, ” according to a statement.
“The investigation will be assessed appropriately an action will be taken by North Yorkshire Police where necessary. It would not be appropriate for North Yorkshire Police to comments further at this time.”
MacQuarrie, who is the director of BBC Scotland, interviewed a number of witnesses and concluded that producer Oisin Tymon was subjected to an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack by Jeremy Clarkson”.
“During the physical attack Oisin Tymon was struck, resulting in swelling and bleeding to his lip. The verbal abuse was sustained over a longer period, both at the time of the physical attack and subsequently.”
MacQuarrie noted that the attack lasted 30 seconds and was stopped only when a witness intervened.
It has been established that the assault was entirely unprovoked and that the producer offered no retaliation.
In the case of the verbal assault, Clarkson directed “the strongest expletives” at Tymon on more than on occasion, as well as threats to sack him.
It is understood that Clarkson called Tymon a “lazy Irish c**t”.
“The abuse was at such volume as to be heard in the dining room, and the shouting was audible in a hotel bedroom,” said MacQuarrie, who added that “derogatory and abusive language, relating to Oisin Tymon and other members of the Top Gear team, continued to be used by Clarkson inside the hotel, in the presence of others, for a sustained period of time”.
Tymon was said to have been shocked and distressed by the incident, and also believed that he had lost his job.
He drove himself to a nearby Emergency Department for an doctor’s exam.
Over the coming days, Clarkson made a number of attempts to apologise to Tymon through text, email and in person. The presenter then reported the incident to BBC management.
MacQuarrie concluded: “It was not disputed by Jeremy Clarkson or any witness that Oisin Tymon was the victim of an unprovoked physical and verbal attack.
“It is also clear to me that Oisin Tymon is an important creative member of the Top Gear team who is well-valued and respected. He has suffered significant personal distress as a result of this incident, through no fault of his own.”
Tymon also issued his own statement after the publication of the report. He thanked the BBC for its “thorough and swift investigation” and described Clarkson as a “unique talent”:
“I’ve worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love. Over that time Jeremy and I had a positive and successful working relationship, making some landmark projects together. He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in this show should end in this way.”
- With reporting by Rónán Duffy
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