Clarkson Has Mocked A Series Of Bizarre Tabloid Allegations Involving Gravy And Helicopters

According to the Mail, I once demanded a helicopter to get me some gravy. Where do they come up with this nonsense?

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) December 7, 2015

To be clear, I've also never demanded a game of monopoly or a Range Rover so I could "look at it".

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) December 7, 2015

On Monday the Mail Online - a publication not exactly known for being a bastion of accurate reporting - published a bizarre set of claims levelled at ex-Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson.

The report cites Ed Coutts, owner of a luxury hotel in Waiheke Island, New Zealand, who has claimed that Clarkson set out a series of peculiar demands during his stay. Apparently, he’d insisted that a particular type of gravy mix, a packet of cigarettes and the board game ‘Monopoly’ should be brought to him via helicopter, since the nearest shop was some distance away.

The story seems to be coming from a Kiwi who's promoting his business by making stuff up about people who use it.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) December 7, 2015

My advice to anyone wishing to visit Waiheke Island is: don't.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) December 7, 2015

Since all this sounds like something you might have read on The Onion (before you even get to the bit that alleges Clarkson also asked for a Range Rover Sport with no mileage, just so he could “look at it”), it’s really not worth taking seriously. It didn’t take long for Jeremy to respond either, with the 55-year-old taking to Twitter to rubbish and mock the claims.

It wasn't while we were filming for the BBC though. So none of you should be that bothered.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) December 7, 2015

I did ask the helicopter pilot if he'd get me a game of Risk. Much better than Monopoly. He offered to get gravy as well. I declined.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) December 7, 2015

Back in the real world, the man has been busy filming with fellow ex-Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond and James May for a new Amazon Prime motoring show, which will air next year. The show he departed post-fracas, meanwhile, will return with Chris Evans at the helm on 8 May 2016.