Jeremy Clarkson feared for his life in 'Top Gear' hold up

Jeremy Clarkson has spoken about the time he was held up at gunpoint while filming an episode of Top Gear in Detroit in the 1990s.

The presenter refers to the incident in the forthcoming third series of The Grand Tour, his new show for Amazon, co-presented with James May and Richard Hammond.

Reminiscing, he says he and his crew were ambushed while filming in the city in 1997.

“Somebody held a gun against my head in Detroit. It’s a long, complicated story but we were trying to do some filming and some people thought we were trespassing on their turf,” Clarkson explained.

“It was pretty nasty. And this time, 100 yards from where that happened, I was having dumplings in a goose broth.”

A source filled in the gaps, telling the Daily Mirror: “Jeremy was filming in a ruined railway station but was warned by cops not to go inside as there were warring gang factions operating.

“But he ignored the advice and was surrounded by gangs. Thankfully, he talked himself out of the situation.”

However, he’s said that returning to the city, he’s found it’s changed hugely.

“I’m sure if you actually lived there you wouldn’t call it interesting, you’d call it dangerous,” he said.

“But the chrome shoots of rejuvenation are growing again so you can actually eat quite well there, you can stay in a nice hotel, you can go short distances from A to B without being shot.”

Clarkson and team hit ‘the Motor City’ to investigate muscle cars in the first episode of the new series, driving a Ford Mustang RTR Spec 3, a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and a Hennessey Exorcist Camaro.

It airs on Amazon on January 18.

Read more
Sophie Turner hits out at Piers Morgan
Sopranos cast reunite
Fiona Bruce set for Question Time debut