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Fans of the BBC motoring show Top Gear will know that the series is full of fast cars, incredible stunts, plenty of banter, and indelible moments. One of those moments was the highly publicised 2015 altercation involving Jeremy Clarkson and Irish producer Oisín Tymon. This event didn’t only lead to Clarkson’s eventual departure from the show, but it also marked the end of an era for Top Gear fans as they knew it.

Now, an icon from that controversial moment in time is up for auction at Eastbourne Auctions: an autographed racing helmet, signed by none other than The Stig, Jeremy Clarkson, and James May.

The Stig’s Helmet

This helmet is believed to be the one signed for Oisín Tymon, the producer at the centre of the 2015 incident. Clarkson’s message on the helmet is a blunt and unapologetic message reading, “F**k Off.”

Meanwhile, the enigmatic and elusive racing driver, The Stig, added a more cordial touch to his message: “To the Main Man Osh!! Stay Speedy Brother.”

View lot here

Adding to that is a signature from James May, Clarkson’s fellow presenter and part of the classic Top Gear lineup, simply reading, “Go Slow!”

Top Gear

Top Gear debuted in 1977 as a straightforward BBC motoring show, but it found global fame in 2002 with producer Andy Wilman and hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May (who joined in 2003). The show mixed car reviews with daring stunts, compelling challenges, and offbeat road trips. One of its most iconic figures was The Stig, a mysterious, helmeted racing driver.

Although Top Gear continued with different hosts until 2022, the Clarkson-era remains the most iconic chapter in its history.

The Altercation That Shook Top Gear

The incident between Clarkson and Tymon occurred in 2015 during the filming of the show, and it quickly became headline news. After a long day of shooting, Clarkson and the production team returned to their hotel in North Yorkshire. Clarkson discovered that a hot meal had not been arranged for him, which led to a confrontation with Oisín Tymon, a long-serving producer on the show. The disagreement quickly escalated, resulting in a physical altercation in which Clarkson reportedly verbally abused and struck Tymon.

Following the incident, Clarkson, who was already on his final warning, was promptly suspended and subsequently let go by the BBC. It was a shocking end to his tenure on the show and led to a significant shake-up in the Top Gear line-up.

(Previous Top Gear line-up.
From left to right: Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson, and James May, with The Stig in the background.)

An Iconic Keepsake

The helmet is a hugely recognisable icon from Top Gear history. Signed by Clarkson, The Stig, and May, this helmet in particular carries its very own backstory. Left behind in the abandoned Top Gear studios after the fallout, it is one of the few items up for auction that offer a snapshot of a moment where the beloved show was on the brink of an uncertain future.

Provenance

Alongside photos, the helmet was left in the Top Gear offices when the studio was abandoned following the incident and subsequent axing of the show.

Also included in Eastbourne Auctions’ October live auction is a group of BBC Production lanyard straps, Top Gear access cards. This Lot also includes a Top Gear branded USB stick, including production plans for their unaired Australian Road Trip.

View lot here

Register to Bid

This autographed helmet is symbolic of a turbulent time in British TV history; it’s an embodiment of Top Gear’s spirit, controversy, and its boundless legacy. The show thrilled, shocked, and entertained millions around the globe — which makes this an exceptionally rare opportunity.

Don’t stall on your chance to bid! You can find it in Eastbourne Auctions’ October live auction, from the 8^th – 11^th October, from 9:30am BST.

Browse catalogue here.