Ex Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson reveals truth behind famous stunt

The Reliant Robin stunt was staged. Photo: Top Gear/YouTube

Remember that famous episode where Jeremy Clarkson's tiny little Reliant Robin toppled over at every turn? Well that was fake.

The former BBC presenter, who was axed from the show during a controversy last year, revealed that he had asked the Top Gear crew to tamper with the motor to make it roll.

So his rolling Reliant Robin move wasn't all that after all.

Clarkson told Sunday Times Driving that he'd "ask the back room boys to play around with the differential so that the poor little thing rolled over every time I turned the steering wheel.

"Naturally, the health and safety department was very worried about this and insisted that the car be fitted with a small hammer that I could use, in case I was trapped after the roll, to break what was left of the glass".

Clarkson said he liked the Reliant Robin so much that when he, Richard Hammond, James May and Andy Wilman formed a new production company, he rushed out immediately and bought one as a company car.

"Interestingly, the other three did exactly the same. So now we have a fleet sitting in the executive car parking spaces at our offices."

Clarkson was still able to talk during the stunt. Photo: Top Gear/YouTube

Despite the revelation, Clarkson did perform the stunt incredibly well so you could argue it was still pretty impressive.