Piers Morgan Says Jeremy Clarkson “Hit Me in the Head — And I Have No Complaints”
A Long-Running Feud Revisited
Piers Morgan has opened up about the moment Jeremy Clarkson struck him in the head during a heated dispute over photographs Morgan had published in the Daily Mirror.
The outspoken broadcaster revealed how Clarkson “lashed out” at him after Morgan ran pictures of Clarkson with a woman who wasn’t his wife back in 2004 — despite Clarkson pleading with him not to publish them.
The Incident at the British Press Awards
In his new book Woke Is Dead, Morgan recalls the confrontation:
“He ended up hitting me before we settled things at the British Press Awards.
I’ve still got the scar on my forehead… and it wasn’t entirely unjustified.”
Morgan added that Clarkson’s “strike” felt surprisingly weak — and that Clarkson broke his finger when his hand connected with Morgan’s forehead.
A Peace Agreement Years Later
Despite their public clashes, Morgan says the pair have now smoothed things over.
Clarkson reached out unexpectedly, saying:
“Morgan, Clarkson here — drink?”
They met at a pub and agreed to a playful “peace treaty,” officiated by Clarkson’s daughter and Morgan’s son.
“We’re never going to be best buddies,” Morgan admits,
“but we can tolerate each other now without wanting to hit one another. That’s progress.”
Clarkson’s Side of the Story
Clarkson previously discussed the altercation in The Times, describing how the tension escalated and how he kept “taking swings” at Morgan out of anger — eventually breaking his finger in the process.
Clarkson’s New Chapter: Farming and Feeling ‘Old and Broken’
Recently, Clarkson has been more focused on life at Diddly Squat Farm.
He jokes that farming is “ideal for people who don’t like to sweat,” despite the physical demands. His most unusual piece of equipment — a six-wheel-drive, semi-amphibious Supacat originally designed for military recovery missions — remains a challenge.
Clarkson admits:
“It’s quite difficult to get in and out of… if you’re old and broken.”
