Building bridges? Jeremy Clarkson gets back to work on Top Gear Down Under after causing scandal by labelling Australians 'convicts'

He's had a less than successful trip to Australia so far, after labelling citizens of the country ''convicts' and lashing out at local photographers.
But on Sunday, Jeremy Clarkson appeared to be doing his best to build bridges and got back to work filming scenes for Top Gear Australia at the Top Gear Festival.
The 52-year-old presenter put the scandal behind him as he and co-presenter James May chatted to drivers at the event, held at the Sydney Motorsport Park.

Trying to build bridges? Jeremy Clarkson has had a less than successful trip to Australia, but tried to get back to work at the Top Gear Festival in Sydney on Sunday

Clarkson's comments about Australians have not gone down well with locals, with publications in the country labelling him 'obnoxious' and 'gutless'.
After he was pictured leaving a restaurant with former mistress Phillipa Sage, Clarkson is alleged to have said to photographers: 'You can take them out of England, but you just can't take the convict out of them.'
He is then said to have furthered angers locals by calling Sydney Harbour a 'river'.

Bright and bold: Jeremy wore a brightly-coloured floral shirt and jeans for the occasion

Peeling: Jeremy's skin on his nose appeared to be peeling after days of sunbathing on a yacht

Doing the rounds: Clarkson and Mark Webber of Australia and Infiniti Red Bull Racing speak during the event

However, despite claims that Clarkson had vowed never to return to Australia following the incident, it has since been revealed that the admission 'We will never return to Australia again' was actually made by James Cooke-Priest, CEO of Top Gear Live.
Explaining exactly what happened, Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman said: 'I would like to address the matter of the comment made by a man in Sydney Harbour, stating that Top Gear would never be coming back to Australia.
'That comment was made by a halfwit who has absolutely nothing to do with the TV show, and nor is he a spokesman for Jeremy or any of the other presenters.

Taking it all in: Clarkson's time in Australia has seen him anger locals by calling them 'convicts' as well as labelling Sydney Harbour a 'river'

Back to the day job: Clarkson was also seen powering around the race track in a vehicle of his own design

'He had no right to make any comment in relation to the show, and his remarks most certainly do not reflect our views in any way.'
But despite Wilman's statement, it seems Clarkson's reputation in the country has already been irreparably damaged, with local paper Courier Mail even going as far as to publish an article pleading with Clarkson not to return to Australia.
And despite Clarkson hitting headlines with his behaviour Down Under, no expense is being spared on the production of the top rated BBC show.
According to reports, Clarkson is being flown to and from the western Sydney filming location by a chartered helicopter to avoid delays in the city's gridlocked traffic.

Come fly with me: Jeremy Clarkson and James May were spotted boarding a helicopter