Jeremy Clarkson gathers sea of support but warns 'protest never works'

Embattled Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has claimed that "protest never works" in an apparent reference to the backing he has received after his suspension from the BBC over a "fracas" with a producer a fortnight ago.

A Change.org petition calling for Clarkson's reinstatement on the popular motoring show garnered a million signatures and was delivered by tank to the BBC's headquarters in London on Friday. Clarkson was suspended following a row over a hot meal at a hotel where he allegedly punched producer Oisin Tymon.

Writing in his column in The Sun, Clarkson alluded to himself as "plankton" and said: "The simple truth of the matter is this: Protest never works. Because we are all plankton. And the world is run by whales. Oh, you can be a big and important plankton but that doesn't make a jot of difference if a whale has decided to eat you up.

"You can get a million other plankton to dress up and wave banners but Mr Whale won't even notice."

The BBC is weighing up Clarkson's future and a decision is likely to be reached next week when the organisation's internal investigation into the matter is handed over to Director-General, Tony Hall.

The remaining episodes of Top Gear are currently on hold after Clarkson's co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond refused to present the show without him. The programme is watched by an estimated 350 million people in 214 territories around the world and reportedly makes over £150m ($224.3m) in revenue.

During a charity event at London's Roundhouse on Thursday, Clarkson delivered an expletive-laden rant against BBC executives, labelling them "f****** b*******" who had "f***** Top Gear" and added that he was on the brink of dismissal.

Clarkson was spotted leaving the function with his girlfriend, Phillipa Sage for the first time since the row erupted.