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Clarkson once demanded helicopter delivery of gravy, cigarettes and Monopoly

Presenter's diva-like behaviour revealed

Clarkson once demanded helicopter delivery of gravy, cigarettes and Monopoly
Danielle de Wolfe
07 December 2015

It's looking like that famous steak dinner was just the tip of the Clarkson iceberg.

After losing his BBC Top Gear job in March following a physical and verbal attack on producer Oisin Tymon when he failed to receive the hot dinner he asked for, a New Zealand hospitality professional has revealed the full extent of the presenter's diva-like demands over the years.

Ed Coutts, owner and managing director of Waiheke Unlimited, discussed his 20-year career dealing with clients who rent his company's secluded, luxury house on Auckland's Waiheke Island in an interview with the New Zealand Herald.

He revealed that Clarkson, who is (or probably was, after this) a regular visitor, once sent a helicopter to Auckland four times to buy items such as cigarettes (as it was "too far to drive to the shop") gravy and a game of Monopoly. 

Coutts said: "The cost was outrageous and the show's promoters were complaining they were going broke."

Another time he demanded a brand new Range Rover Sport with zero miles on clock be delivered to him. Coutts organised the right model, albeit a used one, but then "it sat there and it never got used. I asked him what was the point and he said 'I just wanted to look at it'".

During a stay in 2003 when the America's Sailing Cup was on in Auckland, Clarkson demanded he take a place on a boat during a race. After being informed that this was not possible, he then said he wanted to race around the course in his own boat at the same time.

Coutts also revealed that Lady Gaga once wanted to go fishing in a ridiculous costume, a Russian princess stayed who demanded that fruit and flowers be changed twice a day, and that Charlie Sheen was his most difficult guest: "He had an exhaustive list of wants. Nothing he wanted was available on the island I can assure you."

At least Jezza only wanted fags and gravy eh?

(Image: Rex)