Top Gear host in run-in with paparazzi Friend says they'll never return to Australia BBC says friend 'isn't connected to Top Gear' James May: 'It was probably the beer talking' The Punch: Top sneer host should change gear TOP Gear's top boss says a man who confronted photographers saying Jeremy Clarkson would never return to Australia after a confrontation is a "halfwit" who has "nothing to do with the show." The unnamed man, who is a close friend of Clarkson and travelled with him from the UK, declared the star would 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 Woolloomooloo wharf. The news spread quickly to the UK last night, forcing Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman to throw cold water on the situation, describing Clarkson's dinner associate as a halfwit. "I would like to address the matter of the comment made by a man in Sydney Harbour, stating that Top Gear would never be coming back to Australia," Wilman told News Ltd. That comment was made by a halfwit who has absolutely nothing to do with the TV show, and nor is he a spokesman for Jeremy or any of the other presenters. Hush my mouth ... Jeremy Clarkson had a run-in with photographers at a Sydney restaurant He had no right to make any comment in relation to the show, and his remarks most certainly do not reflect our views in any way. I know there was a stressful situation involving paparazzi, there may have been some puffing up of chests - I neither know nor care. I am absolutely furious about what he said and I would like the viewers who watch and enjoy Top Gear in Australia to know this. Today, Clarkson has tweeted his view of the night, saying: "So I had a conversation last night about how I would never go back to Austria. And NOW look what 's happened. Clarkson's co host James May said his colleague remained "upbeat" during dinner and confirmed the man in the video was a close friend of the group who had travelled with them from the UK. May said unlike his famous co-host, he wasn't bothered by the incident. "They're probably the same everywhere," he told News Ltd. I couldn't give a pig's arse. There was slight hot headedness going on last night, heat of the moment stuff. Asked why the gentleman indicated Clarkson would stay away from these shores, May said: "It was probably the beer talking. Or rather the Margaret River. May said the group enjoyed a lovely dinner of "oysters, fettuccine and Margaret River red" despite the early confrontation with paparazzi. Clarkson then approached Fawcett - nose to nose - and said ... Why are you doing this? The BBC star then suggested the dinner guests move on to another location, before an Otto staff member assured them the restaurant hadn't leaked their whereabouts. Earlier, the outspoken star was in his usual sarcastic form, posting a picture on Twitter of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with the quip: "Anyone else think this is a bit over engineered?" Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson tweeted this photo of Sydney's Harbour Bridge, with the words: "Anyone else think this is a bit over engineered?" Clarkson's clash with the paparazzi comes after a Top Gear stunt planned for Ninety Mile Beach in New Zealand has prompted officials to apologise to Maori locals for not consulting with them before approving it. Producers of the hit BBC motoring show will next week film a car speeding at up to 150km/h on the beach. While they gave the BBC permission, the local council bypassed normal processes to approve it, as the exposure for the Far North would be huge.