A REPRESENTATIVE of Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has declared the star will never be returning to Australia, after what was supposed to be a private dinner at Sydney's exclusive Otto restaurant descended into a paparazzi frenzy on the glitzy Woolloomoolloo wharf.
Clarkson and Top Gear co-host James May, both in Australia to promote a motoring festival and shoot for Top Gear in Sydney, as well as a posse of glamorous women - including 43-year-old former beautician Phillipa Sage - were left seething after being accosted by photographers soon after arriving for their dinner at 8.30pm, leading Clarkson to declare one photographer "should be thrown into the river".
After an ugly verbal stoush,a representative of Clarkson told a group of nearby paparazzi: "You're the reason we won't come back to Australia," before the party ascended to the upstairs level of Otto as a visibly confused John Laws walked past his usually peaceful haunt.
A party of around 10, including Clarkson and May, turned up for dinner by water taxi, having crossed Sydney Harbour from their hotel.
But their night quickly turned from serenity to chaos when top celebrity paparazzo Jamie Fawcett began taking snaps as they made their way up a boat ramp in front of Otto.
"How did they know? Someone at the restaurant's told them," a shocked and furious Clarkson blared. "You can take them out of England, but you just can't take the convict out of them."
Clarkson then approached Fawcett - nose to nose - and said "I write for The Sun, we work for the same company, why are you doing this?"
Mr Fawcett then replied that: "News Limited sacked me years ago."
Jeremy Clarkson suggested the dinner guests move on to another location, before an Otto staff member assured them the restaurant hadn't leaked their whereabouts.
"Then how do they know? Somebody has told them," Clarkson said.
The internationally famous face of Top Gear then added: "(Fawcett) is all right, but that bald-headed bloke, I was getting ready to throw him into the river" - apparently referring to another nearby member of the press pack.
Clarkson was being followed by celebrity photographers due to rumors of a romance with Sage after being spotted with the single mother in Rome in November last year, sparking rumors Clarkson's marriage with Francis had come to an end.
Clarkson, who arrived alone earlier this week, was joined in Sydney by co-presenter May yesterday, to film segments for the top rating Top Gear program at Sydney's Eastern Creek racetrack.
The group spent a leisurely Thursday afternoon on Sydney Harbour and were joined by the buxom mother of one Phillipa Sage, who was photographed in a bikini on board the luxury charter vessel Flying Fish.
Also in the party and at Otto last night, was actor Shane Jacobsen, the Australian Top Gear host.
They were joined by a number of other unidentified men and women for the boat trip and boozy dinner.
No expense is being spared on the production of the top rating show, or to cater for the needs of the celebrity hosts.
Jeremy Clarkson is being flown to and from the western Sydney filming location by a chartered helicopter to avoid delays in Sydney's gridlocked traffic.
