Legalled

High-powered "friends" are being assembled for the BBC Clarkson Cold Collation hearing, according to the Mirror, still plugging away on the story on a Friday night, when the rest of us are watching Comic Relief. Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon is being advised by Paul Daniels (not that one) of Slater & Gordon. The Chambers Independent Legal Guide 2015 ranks Paul as a “Leader in the Field” of Employment Law, describing him as a "fighter who is very good on high-profile cases."

 Jeremy Clarkson is sticking with Mark Devereux of Olswang. "Mark is one of the best connected people in the UK media industry and was the only lawyer listed in the Media Guardian top 100 in 2009 and 2010." Mark returns from holiday on Monday, originally expecting to help with Clarkson's contract re-negotiation, but now has to familiarise himself with the arcane workings of the BBC Agreed Procedures.

With lawyers like that, Ken MacQuarrie, the BBC's "procurator fiscal" will have Sarah Jones BBC Group General Counsel standing by in an ante-room. A team of note-takers will also be required.

• The Mirror is the first to suggest that Clarkson's punch landed, with blood spilt and the recipient taking the 36 mile journey late at night to the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton. In the Mirror's version, Clarkson arrived at the Simonstone Hall Hotel in Hawes by helicopter, from Top Gear's HQ in Dunsfold, Surrey - he'd been expected to arrive at 8pm, but the paper says he kept the aircraft waiting for two hours, while drinking in a pub.