Jeremy Clarkson’s contract will not be renewed after the Top Gear presenter was involved in a 30-second physical assault on a producer, the BBC announced on Wednesday.
BBC director general Tony Hall said he took the decision to end Clarkson’s BBC career “with great regret”, 16 days after he was suspended following a “fracas” with a member of the Top Gear production team.
A BBC investigation led by BBC Scotland boss Ken MacQuarrie found that Clarkson engaged Oisin Tymon in a 30-second physical assault after a 20-minute verbal tirade. Tymon took himself to the accident and emergency department for treatment after the assault, MacQuarrie’s report found.
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Hall is a Top Gear fan and has previously stood by the presenter following a string of controversies, including an incident last year when he appeared to mumble the N-word in a Top Gear out-take.
The BBC also hugely values the audience that Clarkson and the BBC2 programme – regularly watched by more than 5 million viewers – brings to the BBC.
But Hall conceded that a line had been crossed. “There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations,” he said.
Following the findings of the MacQuarrie inquiry, and the fact that Clarkson was put on a final warning after the N-word controversy last year, Hall had little alternative but to let Clarkson go.
Clarkson’s contract with the BBC was due to expire at the end of of March.
The BBC will attempt to continue with Top Gear, which is BBC2’s most popular show and generates around £50m a year for its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.
The question now for the BBC is what happens to the other Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond and James May.
The Top Gear trio’s contracts run out next week. Negotiations for new deals with May and Hammond have been put on hold during the investigation.
The BBC will look to “reconstruct” the motoring show without Clarkson. May and Hammond both have presenting commitments on the BBC outside of Top Gear.
Negotiations for new deals with May and Hammond have been put on hold during the investigation.
Reports that the BBC has lined up Chris Evans to take over from Clarkson are believed to be incorrect.
The Radio 2 breakfast DJ, who has a huge car collection, told listeners on Wednesday: “This is not true. Not only is it’s not true – it’s absolute nonsense.”
Top Gear has been successfully relaunched before – by Clarkson and his executive producer Andy Wilman at the helm – after its previous presenting and production team jumped ship to Channel 5.
Meanwhile, Clarkson’s stint presenting BBC1 quiz Have I Got News for You is still due to go ahead on 23 April. However, sources say the final decision as to whether or not Clarkson will takes part will be down to him and it may be that he wishes to sever his links with the corporation entirely.
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