Jeremy Clarkson rakes in ANOTHER £300,000 from Top Gear

Jeremy Clarkson has sparked controversy after it was revealed he has pocketed another £300,000 from Top Gear on top of his estimated £2m BBC salary.

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The 48-year-old presenter has cashed in on an unprecedented deal with bosses, allowing him to make money from merchandising and overseas sales.

Accounts filled at Companies House for the joint venture between him, his executive producer and the commercial arm of the BBC, revealed the cash cow.

The company called Bedder 6 generated £8.6m turnover and £1.8million post tax profit, as it makes money from the international success of the show.

It is understood that Clarkson has earned £200,000 from his dividend and another £117,000 for 'payment as services'.

People have become alarmed at the way the BBC have allowed Clarkson to make even more money out of the Top Gear brand, on top of his generous pay.

Last November the BBC let Clarkson take a direct personal stake in the brand along with his executive producer Andy Wilman.

BBC Worldwide owns 50 per cent of the company, which had already been set up by Clarkson and Wilman.

The Top Gear presenter owns 3,000 shares in the company and his producer 2,000 allowing them to take revenues from the hit show.

The accounts also show that about 912,000 was paid by BBC Worldwide to the public service part of the BBC as an investment in the show.

This comes just days after Clarkson and fellow presenters Richard Hammond and James May launched a £20million world tour.

That is being seen as a model for other BBC 'superbrands' to follow.

Clarkson is understood to have inked a new deal with the corporation earlier this year, after ITV and pop mogul Simon Fuller were said to be wooing him.

A BBC Worldwide spokesman told MediaGuardian.co.uk : "Remunerating talent for their creative input into expanding the success of the Top Gear brand globally is appropriate and, in this case, extremely good value for money.

"Without their involvement, the success and the resulting profits, which help offset the licence fee, would be diminished substantially. This joint venture ensures we can drive more money back into the programme and maintain its quality and longevity."