Sue Perkins joins Twitter exodus after Top Gear death threats

In recent weeks, Perkins has been the subject of much speculation about her replacing Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson.

This morning she announced on Twitter that she was leaving the social media platform.

She wrote a series of tweets saying: “Guys, post the utterly fabricated story about me & Top Gear, my timeline has been full of blokes wishing me dead...

“This morning, someone suggested they’d like to see me burn to death.

“All of which goes to say that I am off Twitter for a bit. Love and peace x.”

Fans took to Twitter to post messages of support and encouragement following her announcement.

Clarkson was dropped from the show by the BBC last month after he punched a producer on the show, Oisin Tymon.

Fans on Twitter supporting Perkins included TV presenter Fearne Cotton who tweeted her writing: “There are some awful and sad humans out there. How pathetic. ps you absolutely rock!”

Before quitting the Social Media site, Perkins had replied to some fan tweets, writing: “Yawn. a/ not up for the job b/ couldn’t imagine anything worse than doing it. Off you pop and troll s/one else.”

Perkins is not the only celebrity to have left Twitter due to bullying and trolling.

Downton Abbey star Lily James quit Twitter after trolling from fans who did not like her Downton storyline.

She told the Radio Times: “I was surprised people had an opinion about me, but now I don’t want to engage with that stuff.”

Near the end of last year, Stephen Fry announced he was leaving Twitter for a month.

He wrote: “Closing down on Twitter while filming. In a place whence I’ve been advised it is safest not to tweet. See you December. Here goes...”

He is now back on the social media site.

Singer Nicki Minaj took a short break before returning to Twitter. At the time she said: “A voice in my head told me to delete my Twitter and that’s what I did.”

In 2012 Little Britain Star Matt Lucas left Twitter for some time after a 16-year-old tweeted him a joke relating to his former partner’s death.

Lucas replied saying: “I’m not joking. I think you should delete that tweet. It really upset me.”

He later announced he was leaving Twitter: “I appreciate all the support on here over the past couple of years but it’s time to shut down my Twitter account.”