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Jeremy Clarkson effigy 'likely to be burnt at the stake' in bonfire

The Top Gear presenter is the bookies’ top choice to be thrown in flames

Ella Alexander
Thursday 16 October 2014 06:47 BST
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It really hasn’t been the greatest of years for Jeremy Clarkson.

Now it would seem vitriol for the Top Gear presenter has reached an impressive new level, after bookies have revealed an effigy of him could be burnt at the stake.

William Hill has revealed that he is the favourite to be thrown into the flames of Edenbridge in Kent’s annual bonfire procession.

The presenter is top choice as the 4-1 favourite for the event, ahead of Scottish politician Alex Salmond and former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen.

Every year The Edenbridge Bonfire Society constructs a 30-foot effigy of a high-profile person to be burnt. Former subjects have included Russell Brand, Katie Hopkins, Mario Balotelli and Lance Armstrong.

An estimated 500 to 600 people are expected to join the procession, which has been in existence for over 100 years.

Edenbridge Bonfire Society member Jon Mitchell told the Kent Messenger that he could not confirm Clarkson was this year’s effigy and that the final decision had not yet been made.

The society will cast their votes at a forthcoming meeting. The event will take place on 8 November for any of those who are keen to see the one-man offence machine possibly be thrown into a fire.

Clarkson’s controversies this year have been far ranging. He most recently caused outcry in Argentina after driving through the country with a registration place that allegedly referenced the Falklands war - H982 FKL.

In May, he was forced to apologise after footage appeared of him using the word “n***er” in an unaired episode of Top Gear, sparking widespread accusations of racism.

The same month, the BBC issued a statement over another controversial comment of Clarkson’s, when he appeared to refer to an Asian man as a “slope” on a Top Gear episode.

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