David Cameron backs 'huge talent' Jeremy Clarkson after Top Gear star's suspension

David Cameron has backed his "good friend" Jeremy Clarkson after the TopGear host was suspended from his hit motoring show.

The prime minister said Clarkson was a "huge talent" and revealed that his children were fans of the hit motoring show.

The Tory and TV presenter are part of the so called "Chipping Norton set", a group of Oxfordshire based powerful friends which also includes former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks.

"He is such a huge talent and he amuses and entertains so many people, including my children, who'd be heartbroken if Top Gear was taken off air, I hope this can be sorted out, because it's a great programme and he's a great talent," Cameron told the BBC.

The comments come after the BBC alleged that he had been caught up in a "fracas" with one of the programme's producers, Oisin Tymon.

Clarkson made light of the incident when he was questioned outside his London home by the media.

"I've been suspended haven't I? I'm just off to the job centre. At least I'm going to be able to get to the Chelsea match tonight," the 54-year-old said.

Elsewhere, more than 690,000 people signed a Change.Org petition to reinstate Clarkson.

The online document was created by Guido Fawkes, a right-wing political website founded by Paul Staines.

"Top Gear is the BBC's greatest export and Jeremy Clarkson is central to the show's success. He's a living legend and the overwhelming success of the petition shows how popular he is with the British people," the fictitious Fawkes said.

"A bunch of left-wing pinkos at the BBC have been out to get him for ages, we want to see him re-instated and the BBC's bed wetters defeated."

The alleged "fracas" also ignited the social media world as the hashtag #BringBackClarkson trended on Twitter.