Piers Morgan Reveals How He Finally Made Peace with Jeremy Clarkson
After nearly two decades of insults, jabs, and a notorious awards-show punch-up, Piers Morgan has revealed that he and Jeremy Clarkson have finally buried the hatchet.
The outspoken broadcaster and the Clarkson’s Farm star were once among Britain’s most public enemies, their feud dominating tabloids through the early 2000s. But according to Morgan, all it took to end years of animosity was a simple text message — and a pint at the local pub.
A Feud Born in the Headlines
Their rivalry began when Piers Morgan, then editor of The Daily Mirror, published several unflattering stories about Clarkson during his Top Gear years.
By 2004, the tension between the two had boiled over. During the British Press Awards that year, the pair’s simmering feud exploded into a full-blown brawl that would go down as one of the most infamous moments in showbiz history.
Reports from the night claimed that a “slightly inebriated” Clarkson approached Morgan’s table before throwing a punch. Morgan later said the Top Gear presenter hit him three times.
“He permanently scarred me above my temple because he had a ring on,” Morgan recalled during a 2015 TV appearance. “But the good news was he broke his little finger hitting my head because I’m that hard.”
At the time, Clarkson’s publicist downplayed the altercation, describing it as nothing more than a “girlie slap.”
But Clarkson himself later admitted the fight was real — and more heated than his PR team suggested. Writing for The Times in 2022, he said:
“Why’s your f****** wife looking at me like that?” [Piers] thundered. So I punched him.
And then I punched him again.
And then I thought, ‘You know what? I don’t think this would ever get boring.’
So I punched him again.
And, annoyingly, broke my finger.”
The clash made national headlines, cementing their mutual dislike for years to come.
Ten Years of “Terrible Abuse”
In a new interview with The Times, Morgan reflected on the aftermath of that infamous night — and how long the hostility truly lasted.
“It all kicked off like the Wild West,” he said. “We feuded for about 10 years. Terrible abuse.”
Both men, known for their fiery tempers and sharp tongues, continued to trade public barbs over the next decade. Clarkson mocked Morgan’s short-lived stint on CNN, while Morgan frequently took aim at Top Gear controversies and Clarkson’s driving bans.
At one point, Morgan even joked that their feud could only end “with one of us behind bars.”
Yet, despite the bitterness, time — and perhaps age — softened their rivalry.
The Text That Changed Everything
According to Morgan, the peace process began with a surprising olive branch.
“Then he texted me,” Morgan recalled. “‘Morgan. Clarkson here. Drink?’”
Curious but cautious, Morgan agreed. The two met at Clarkson’s local pub, where the atmosphere, he said, was thick with anticipation.
“All the locals were like, ‘Holy f***, it’s going to kick off,’” Morgan remembered with a laugh. “Instead, we basically agreed we weren’t going to be best friends, but sort of agreed just not to hit each other.”
The truce marked the end of one of the most public celebrity feuds in British media. While the two still disagree on nearly everything — from cars to politics — they’ve maintained a cordial relationship ever since.
From Brawl to Banter
Their newfound civility was most evident in 2020, when Piers Morgan appeared on the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Christmas Special, hosted by none other than Jeremy Clarkson.
At one point in the show, Morgan used the “Ask the Host” lifeline, prompting the studio audience to gasp in amusement.
“I can think of a million reasons why I shouldn’t trust you,” Morgan quipped, “including this scar on my forehead.”
Clarkson, quick as ever, shot back: “And there’s your broken finger — from when you struck me.”
The exchange was lighthearted, playful, and symbolic. Two men once locked in a tabloid war were now sharing jokes on prime-time television.
Why the Feud Endured So Long
Part of what made the Clarkson–Morgan feud so memorable was how well-matched they were. Both men built reputations on being unapologetically outspoken — and equally unafraid to court controversy.
Morgan’s rise from newspaper editor to television provocateur mirrored Clarkson’s own evolution from petrolhead journalist to global entertainment icon. Their careers often overlapped, their personalities clashed, and their egos — both enormous — collided with predictable force.
For years, tabloids thrived on their feud, framing it as a battle between two of Britain’s loudest personalities. Yet, as time went on, their differences became less about rivalry and more about shared experience. Both had faced cancellations, comebacks, and controversy.
In many ways, their reconciliation reflects a mutual respect — two men who, despite their history, understand each other more than most.
A Lesson in Letting Go
While the pair may never share pints regularly, their truce has become something of a celebrity redemption story — proof that even the fiercest feuds can end with a bit of humour and humility.
Morgan, now host of Piers Morgan Uncensored, admits that life’s too short to hold grudges. Clarkson, meanwhile, remains busy juggling Clarkson’s Farm and his pub venture, The Farmer’s Dog.
They might not agree on much, but they’ve agreed on this: no more punches, no more public barbs — just two veterans of the media circus who’ve learned that sometimes, it’s better to laugh than fight.
“It’s not like we’re going to be best friends,” Morgan said, “but we can share a drink and laugh about it now. And that’s enough.”
From Feud to Folklore
What began as a fistfight at a press awards dinner has evolved into a story of unlikely reconciliation. The image of Clarkson and Morgan sharing a quiet pint, surrounded by stunned locals expecting chaos, has become an almost cinematic ending to one of Britain’s most famous celebrity rivalries.
As Clarkson once put it: “You can’t stay angry forever. Eventually, the joke gets old.”
For fans who grew up watching their war of words, the sight of them joking on television — scar, broken finger, and all — was a reminder that time heals even the most bruised egos.
After all, in the world of British broadcasting, few grudges last forever. But this one? It certainly left a mark.
