Jeremy Clarkson is under fire again after the Daily Mirror accused him of using the word "nigger" in previously unbroadcast footage from his BBC programme Top Gear. The presenter strongly denies the allegations. In footage published on the newspaper's website, Clarkson appears to recite the beginning of  the children's nursery rhyme, "Eeeny, meeny, miny, moe." before appearing to mumble, "Catch a nigger by his toe."

Jeremy ClarksonJeremy Clarkson Could Be In Trouble...

The BBC has launched an urgent investigation into the allegations, with Clarkson's job believed to be on the line.

The presenter told his 3.2 million Twitter followers, "I did not use the n-word. Never use it. The Mirror has gone way too far this time."

The BBC said: "We've seen the story. The Mirror didn't approach us before publication. Clearly we will establish the facts before commenting."

The newspaper said that it hired a firm of audio forensic experts to analyse the clip, which is taken from the recording of the third episode of series 19 of Top Gear, which aired in February 2013.

More: Jeremy Clarkson's most offensive remarks

The footage shows Clarkson standing between a Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ, saying, "Both cost the same, they have the same bodies and the same interiors with the same equipment. They are even built by the same people in the same factory. You might imagine then that it's quite hard to choose between them, but actually, it isn't. Watch, because this is how you do it."

In the unaired footage, the presenter then appears to recite the nursery rhyme, use the n-word, then shrugging, "Toyota it is."

The allegations comes just weeks after Top Gear executives expressed regret over a remark made by Clarkson on the show's Burma special. During the programme, Clarkson saw an Asian man walking along a bridge, saying, "That is a proud moment, but there's a slope on it."

More: Piers Morgan to fight Jeremy Clarkson