Jeremy Clarkson reveals cancer scare days before punching producer
Jeremy Clarkson has said he was told he “probably” had cancer days before he punched a producer on Top Gear, which led to his contract not being renewed.
Announcing the sacking last month, BBC director-general Lord Hall said that Clarkson had failed to maintain“standards of decency and respect” whilst working after an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack” on producer Oisin Tymon.
Now Clarkson has revealed that he was told he “probably” had cancer, after a lump was discovered on his tongue. He has since been given the all clear.
He also said he became “obsessed” with working on Top Gear after his marriage broke down.
Writing in his column in the Sunday Times, he also said he definitely wouldn’t return to Top Gear, but that he wants to start another “car show”.
He said: “I have lost my baby but I shall create another.
“I don’t know who the other parent will be or what the baby will look like, but I cannot sit around any more organising my photograph album.
“Let’s stop being silly and pick up the pieces and start again … I just know I’m going to do another car show.”
Despite not returning to Top Gear, Clarkson is already set for his BBC return less than a month after the incident as he will host an episode of Have I Got News for You.
Top Gear will continue, although it is unclear whether James May and Richard Hammond will remain.
A petition set up by Guido Fawkes blogger on Change.org to bring back Clarkson has been signed by over a million people.
Clarkson has been accused of homophobia in the past.
He apologised last year for a tweet he sent containing a picture of himself with a sign saying “gay c*nt”.
Clarkson tweeted the image featuring fellow Top Gear host James May, along with the caption “Sadly, I fell asleep on the plane.”
Piers Morgan tweeted to criticise the Top Gear presenter for the tweet, noting his “flabby neck”.
In 2010, Clarkson was criticised for appearing on the show with Alistair Campbell, and in a scene which was deleted saying: “I demand the right not to be bummed.”
