Jeremy Clarkson and James May filmed joking about Oscar Pistorius shooting Reeva Steenkamp during live show in South Africa

Pair joked about shooting at their show in Johannesburg

Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May (PA)

Jeremy Clarkson and James May were apparently filmed joking about the killing of Reeva Steenkamp by the Paralympian athlete Oscar Pistorius during their live show in South Africa.

Clarkson pretended to have ‘shot’ an audience member after accidentally hitting him with a paintball pellet during their Clarkson, Hammond & May Live show in Johannesburg.

A video of the exchange filmed by a member of the audience showed the former Top Gear presenter saying: “I’ve hit someone in the audience. […] I thought he was a burglar”. His co-host May responded: “Was that a member of the audience that you shot in the bathroom? It can’t be a burglar then can it.” Clarkson then quipped: “I may have to go to prison for 20 seconds for that.”

The joke appears to be a reference to Steenkamp’s death, who was fatally shot by Pistorius in the bathroom of his home. The athlete was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of culpable homicide over her death but could be released on parole as soon as August.

Clarkson was sacked from Top Gear for attacking a BBC producer and replaced by the BBC Radio 2 and One Show presenter Chris Evans. May and Richard Hammond have chosen not to return to the motoring show, but all three are expected to announce a new TV show within the forthcoming weeks.

Clarkson also hinted about working with a rival broadcaster in a recent column for The Sun, where he wrote: "I won't miss making a car show. Because other broadcasters are available so I don't have to stop doing that. See you on the flip side."