Jeremy Clarkson's Grand Tour show grounded after British Airways flight delay

Held up: Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Selwyn
Sebastian Mann15 July 2016

Jeremy Clarkson’s new motoring show The Grand Tour was temporarily grounded today after a flight he was set to catch was hit by major delays.

The desperate presenter asked his 6.3million Twitter followers if they could provide him with a plane as his scheduled flight was struck with a 12-hour wait - threatening to derail plans for filming in South Africa.

He was heading to Johannesburg to film the first studio recording for the show, which also stars Richard Hammond and James May.

The pre-recorded studio segments will be filmed in a large tent in front of a live audience in locations around the world.

Clarkson tweeted: "Dear @British-Airways When you delay a flight by 12 hours - 12 - do you have any idea how much inconvenience that causes?"

The former Top Gear presenter added: "People of South Africa. We still want to do our first show there, But, has anyone got a plane?"

The airline replied: "We're so sorry, Jeremy, we understand the stress it causes. We can see our colleagues at the airport are helping you."

Clarkson wrote back: "Please help as much as you can. We've been working on this show for a whole year."

Three hours later, Clarkson thankfully revealed he was finally on his way to Johannesburg after the airline found a plane.

He tweeted: "Good news. Some clever bods at @British-Airways have found a plane that works and we are on our way."

The Grand Tour will launch on Amazon Prime this autumn.

The show's Facebook page shows the trio have already filmed in Portugal, Germany, Barbados and North Africa.

Clarkson was suspended and then later fired by the BBC last year after a "fracas" that saw him punch Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon.

His co-presenters Hammond and May quit the show shortly after.

Clarkson was replaced on the show by radio DJ Chris Evans, who stood down after just one series at the helm.

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