Jeremy Clarkson is someone who, at best, appears on nodding terms with self restraint.
He’s the sort of guy whose reaction to not getting a steak precipitated a sudden and violent change in the direction of his career.
So it’s been very noticeable that, barring the odd self-deprecating dig in recent Amazon Prime ads for The Grand Tour, the 56-year-old has uncharacteristically kept his counsel over the recent struggles of Top Gear.
And for someone as liberal with his opinions as Clarkson, it must have been excruciatingly tempting.
He watched his former employers hire Chris Evans as his replacement, then saw Top Gear’s ratings dipping to a new average low of 1.9m, before Evans quit in humiliation after one series.
Yet barely a peep from Jez. Until now.
The barb came in the latest episode of The Grand Tour as Clarkson was discussing how the BMW M4 GTS failed to meet expectations after a test drive against the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (yeah, us neither).
See if you can spot the jibe.
“I admire BMW for really trying with that car, I really do. But my god, they made a hash of it.
“I’m trying to think of a metaphor, for someone who’s really tried their hardest with something, and it hasn’t worked.”
Clarkson then looks at Hammond and May, who both stare back blankly. Clarkson then adds: “No, nothing’s coming to mind.”
Viewers were quick to react to the dig.
https://twitter.com/DavidJEWood/status/807013672073789440
https://twitter.com/ihatehiccups1/status/807017153517862913
Clarkson has just mugged off Chris Evans a beaut #TheGrandTour
— Alex (@alex_street3) December 9, 2016
Best Episode yet! That dig at Chris Evans / Top Gear 😂😂👌👌#TheGrandTour#shotsfired
— 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓃𝑒 (@SmushS) December 9, 2016
WOW. Nice little dig at Chris Evans there! Unbelievable 😂😂😂😂😂 #TheGrandTour
— Daniel Fawcett (@DanTheManF1) December 9, 2016
Ouch, knife twisted.
