Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson has driven in to another storm of controversy by tweeting that he was driving with a beer close at hand.

Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy has been warned by the BBC over Top Gear (Ian West/PA Wire)

The 54-year-old presenter and his Top Gear co-stars are in Australia’s Top End, in the Northern Territory, shooting a special episode of the BBC2 motoring show.

Carole Whittingham, founder of the anti drink-drive charity group Support and Care After Road Deaths and Injury (Scard), said: “Personally, I think he is an absolute idiot. He is in the media and he should be setting an example for safe driving.

“He likes to be controversial and this is just one in a long line of some of the stupid things that he has done. I just think that he has got an ego that is far too big. He should be making a good impression on people and giving a good example.”

Last week Alicia Castro, the Argentinian ambassador to the UK, demanded a public apology from the BBC following the row over a Top Gear special filmed in the South American country.

The show’s crew had to leave Argentina after trouble erupted when it emerged they were using a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, which some people suggested could refer to the Falklands conflict of 1982.

Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson
Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman has denied the number plate was a “stunt” and Clarkson was “shocked” when someone pointed out the link between the number plate and the Falklands War days into filming.

A statement from the embassy said: “Argentine ambassador to the UK Alicia Castro made a formal complaint to the BBC regarding Jeremy Clarkson’s provocative behaviour and offensive remarks towards the government and the Argentine people, following Top Gear’s recent filming in Argentina, calling for the BBC to make a public apology.”

A BBC spokeswoman said it had received a complaint and “will apply its usual processes”.