Clarkson Down Under
Holding court on a £1.3million powerboat surrounded by attractive young colleagues, here’s under-fire Jeremy Clarkson taking refuge... 9,000 miles away Down Under.
Without, it would seem, a care in the world, Clarkson, 51, looked on smiling and enthralled as a group of young women joined him on the vessel in Perth, Western Australia.
Under clear-blue skies as his boat bobbed in the Indian Ocean, he appeared to have little more to fret about than a dose of sunburn in the 30C (86F) heat.
Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear colleague James May
He is in Australia with the spin-off from his BBC2 motoring show, the Top Gear Live tour, from which he receives a share of the profits in addition to his estimated £1million a year salary from the BBC.
Driven yesterday morning to his sportscruiser’s berth in a Range Rover, he was joined on board by Top Gear pal James May and around 10 much younger companions.
They spent three hours cruising down Perth’s spectacular Swan River.
Then the intrepid explorers headed out on to the choppy open sea to head to picturesque tourist spot Rottnest Island, eleven miles away. Millionaire Clarkson, seen earlier gazing out to see with a pronounced belly spilling out from under his blue T-shirt, had spent five hours on Friday evening on a trip to the local casino with May.
Clarkson in Perth, Western Australia
At 3am, looking weary and both wearing bizarrely identical outfits of unflattering white floral shirts and faded jeans, they were photographed leaving the casino.
Clarkson has been said to be in a troubled state of mind following 21,000 complaints to the BBC over his remarks about public sector strikers and suicide victims.
But yesterday lunchtime he looked carefree on board the gleaming hi-tech Targa 58 craft, which has a top speed of 38 knots and comes complete with a range of gadgets he and May would love.
Boat manufacturer Fairline’s description of it says: “Stunningly beautiful exterior lines, proportions and styling give this muscular new sportscruiser an unequalled presence, both at sea and at rest.”
After lolling around on boat Jeremy spent five hours in a casino
But there was no rest for Clarkson the expansive host as he regaled his young audience during the three-hour cruise down Perth’s spectacular Swan River –before they headed out to seaand tourist spot Rottnest Island 11 miles away.
It was clearly a raucous afternoon on the ocean wave as a hoarse Clarkson had to croak his way through last night’s final show in the tour.
The last time father-of-three Clarkson went on an international jaunt with Top Gear he was caught having an affair with blonde colleague Phillipa Sage, 42.
His 18-year marriage to wife Frances has been left under considerable strain since the revelation in April.
The couple are still together, although he has been spending much of his time alone at his London flat.
Popular Frances, 50, has remained at their Cotswolds family home during this latest tour which went to Australia after a stint in Beijing, China. Phillipa is no longer part of the tour’s team.
Clarkson has declined to do interviews in Australia following the outrage over his BBC comments.
He issued a formal apology for his remarks on The One Show, when he said that public sector strikers should be taken out and shot in front of their families – but only after being ordered to do by BBC Director General Mark Thompson, according to sources.
But Clarkson provoked further outrage when he returned to the issue of suicide in his newspaper column, making his remarks about suicides on railway lines which prompted mental health charities to lodge formal complaints.
On Friday the BBC pulled an episode of BBC2’s Stephen Fry-hosted quiz QI that featured Clarkson.
Recorded earlier this year, it will now be broadcast at a later date.
An industry source said: “It’s not to do with anything specific that Clarkson said on QI.
“It is more a case of the BBC not wanting to look as though it didn’t care about the storm and putting Clarkson back on screen as if nothing had happened.”
Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
Without, it would seem, a care in the world, Clarkson, 51, looked on smiling and enthralled as a group of young women joined him on the vessel in Perth, Western Australia.
Under clear-blue skies as his boat bobbed in the Indian Ocean, he appeared to have little more to fret about than a dose of sunburn in the 30C (86F) heat.
Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear colleague James May
He is in Australia with the spin-off from his BBC2 motoring show, the Top Gear Live tour, from which he receives a share of the profits in addition to his estimated £1million a year salary from the BBC.
Driven yesterday morning to his sportscruiser’s berth in a Range Rover, he was joined on board by Top Gear pal James May and around 10 much younger companions.
They spent three hours cruising down Perth’s spectacular Swan River.
Then the intrepid explorers headed out on to the choppy open sea to head to picturesque tourist spot Rottnest Island, eleven miles away. Millionaire Clarkson, seen earlier gazing out to see with a pronounced belly spilling out from under his blue T-shirt, had spent five hours on Friday evening on a trip to the local casino with May.
Clarkson in Perth, Western Australia
At 3am, looking weary and both wearing bizarrely identical outfits of unflattering white floral shirts and faded jeans, they were photographed leaving the casino.
Clarkson has been said to be in a troubled state of mind following 21,000 complaints to the BBC over his remarks about public sector strikers and suicide victims.
But yesterday lunchtime he looked carefree on board the gleaming hi-tech Targa 58 craft, which has a top speed of 38 knots and comes complete with a range of gadgets he and May would love.
Boat manufacturer Fairline’s description of it says: “Stunningly beautiful exterior lines, proportions and styling give this muscular new sportscruiser an unequalled presence, both at sea and at rest.”
After lolling around on boat Jeremy spent five hours in a casino
But there was no rest for Clarkson the expansive host as he regaled his young audience during the three-hour cruise down Perth’s spectacular Swan River –before they headed out to seaand tourist spot Rottnest Island 11 miles away.
It was clearly a raucous afternoon on the ocean wave as a hoarse Clarkson had to croak his way through last night’s final show in the tour.
The last time father-of-three Clarkson went on an international jaunt with Top Gear he was caught having an affair with blonde colleague Phillipa Sage, 42.
His 18-year marriage to wife Frances has been left under considerable strain since the revelation in April.
The couple are still together, although he has been spending much of his time alone at his London flat.
Popular Frances, 50, has remained at their Cotswolds family home during this latest tour which went to Australia after a stint in Beijing, China. Phillipa is no longer part of the tour’s team.
Clarkson has declined to do interviews in Australia following the outrage over his BBC comments.
He issued a formal apology for his remarks on The One Show, when he said that public sector strikers should be taken out and shot in front of their families – but only after being ordered to do by BBC Director General Mark Thompson, according to sources.
But Clarkson provoked further outrage when he returned to the issue of suicide in his newspaper column, making his remarks about suicides on railway lines which prompted mental health charities to lodge formal complaints.
On Friday the BBC pulled an episode of BBC2’s Stephen Fry-hosted quiz QI that featured Clarkson.
Recorded earlier this year, it will now be broadcast at a later date.
An industry source said: “It’s not to do with anything specific that Clarkson said on QI.
“It is more a case of the BBC not wanting to look as though it didn’t care about the storm and putting Clarkson back on screen as if nothing had happened.”
Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.
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