Top Gear’s James May has claimed Jeremy Clarkson punched BBC producer Oisin Tymon in 2015 because he was “hangry” – hungry and angry.
The TV star said that Clarkson was being ‘insistent’ during the now infamous attack over a steak.
Clarkson, 60, got ‘hangry’ after being told he couldn’t order a sirloin steak following a day of filming.
Recalling the incident, May, 57, said: “I don’t think [an argument about food] has ever happened apart from on that occasion.”
He added to Radio Times: “We have very long days when we’re doing our specials.
“So when we’re ready to eat we probably do get quite… not bad-tempered but insistent, let’s say, about having something.”
James May said Jeremy Clarkson was ‘hangry’ when the incident took place (Image: PA)
In March 2015 Clarkson was fired by the BBC after he punched Oisin Tymon and was verbally abusive to him.
Reports at the time claimed Clarkson had called Tymon a “lazy Irish ****” during the attack at a North Yorkshire hotel.
After suffering a ‘bloody lip’ Tymon filed a lawsuit against both the BBC and Clarkson.
He was awarded £100,000 as a result before the case reached tribunal.
Hammond, May and Clarkson went on to front The Grand Tour (Image: WireImage)
In a move of solidarity, May and his Top Gear co-star Richard Hammond quit the show shortly after.
They went on to sign a deal with Amazon Prime Video to front new car show The Grand Tour.
Speaking frankly about the decision to cut ties with the BBC, May told the Out To Lunch podcast: “There was a huge amount of pressure at the time.
“I hate the idea of being smug about it, but we were the world’s biggest factual entertainment show – the biggest one in history, possibly.
“At that point [in 2015] it was reckoned it had something like 350-360 million viewers.
“It’s a huge number, and there is a pressure to keep it up.
“Occasionally it will boil over in one way or another.”
Clarkson apologised to Tymon after settling the dispute.
“I would like to say sorry, once again, to Oisin Tymon for the incident and its regrettable aftermath,” Clarkson said.
He added: “I want to reiterate that none of this was in any way his fault.
“I would also like to make it clear that the abuse he has suffered since the incident is unwarranted and I am sorry too that he has had to go through that.
“I am pleased that this matter is now resolved. Oisin was always a creatively exciting part of Top Gear and I wish him every success with his future projects.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
