A touching gesture made by Jeremy Clarkson in 2014 has resurfaced following the death of Make Me Smile singer and Cockney Rebel frontman Steve Harley.

Mr Harley reportedly passed away at home with his family around him at the age of 73.

The musician, whose rock band rose to prominence in the 1970s, died “peacefully at home” aged 73, his family announced.

Mr Harley was touring until late 2023 but had to cancel dates in November and December as he underwent treatment for what he called a “nasty cancer”.

A statement from his wife, Dorothy, and children, Kerr and Greta, released on Sunday said he had “passed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side” and he would be “desperately missed by people all over the world”.

But in 2014, Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson stepped in to encourage the show’s viewers to download Make Me Smile to raise money for Mr Harley who had been fined £1,000 after being caught driving at 70mph on the M25 in Kent in an area where the limit had been temporarily reduced to 40mph.

As a result, the song re-entered the iTunes top 30.

Mr Clarkson said on the show: “He’s made a meagre living out of, let’s be honest, one hit single.

“Everybody loves that song – you can’t trust someone who doesn’t like that song."

Also paying tribute to Mr Harley, following his death, Paul Henderson, former editor of the Sunday Mirror, said: “I am stunned by the death of my lovely friend Steve Harley.

“He was a great musician and singer and in many ways more importantly a deep thinking, compassionate man who wanted the best for his family and friends.

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“Your live music and beautiful smile will be deeply missed"

“That’s way he wrote and sung such wonderful songs.

“My dearest memories are of Steve walking into the tiny East London Advertiser newsroom on Mile End Road, where we were cub reporters in the early 70s, with his guitar slung over his shoulder.

“Then, he’d play a few tunes and we would have a good laugh.

“He gave up journalism and became a busker on the London Underground while trying to make his way in the world of rock music.

“Steve, you were always going to surprise us all and made your dreams come true despite your childhood polio which I never once heard you complain about.

“Your live music and beautiful smile will be deeply missed.”