The actual incident was a clear demonstration of someone with an over-developed opinion of his own importance throwing a childish tantrum because he couldn't have his own way. That it was caused by his late arrival due to him being in a pub drinking for hours and was the actual cause of the lateness was overlooked by his temper.

For all we know, his "self-report" to the BBC was either a ploy to get himself out of a hole or an attempt to elevate an increase in payment when his contraact is up for renewal shortly on the basis that if the BBC won't play ball, C4 or Sky might well take him up.

It was reported that last year the BBC paid him £14 million for a dividend and his stake in the company that "owns" the Top Gear "brand", including a "presenters salary" of nearly £1 million soooooo, it's gonna be interesting to see how the BBC choose to play the coming game?

There comes a time when bad behaviour by "stars" reflects badly on those promoting them and repeated incidents sometimes enter the "No More" area and whether that time is now, we shall see?