The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s first show since they left Top Gear has premiered on the Amazon Prime streaming service.
It is the first show to be fronted by the trio since they parted company with the BBC 18 months ago after Jeremy Clarkson punched a producer.
The Grand Tour will see them present from a different location every week.
Image source Amazon
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will be seen embarking on a series of challenges and stunts in a variety of vehicles around the world in the new show, Amazon have said.
The first episode of the series, which aired on November 18, sees the trio take their travelling studio tent to Dry Rabbit Lake in the Mojave Desert in California.
Vehicles featured in the episode included hybrid hyper-cars such as the McLaren P1, the Porsche 918 Spyder and the Ferrari LaFerrari.
The Grand Tour first series will consist of 12 hour-long episodes – with one being made available each week.
A total of 36 episodes across three years have been commissioned by Amazon.
Currently, only fans in the UK, America, Germany and Japan are able to watch the first episode, but Amazon has announced it will be launching the show globally in December.
The new series does not include features such as “star in a reasonably-priced car” or The Stig – as those belong to the BBC’s Top Gear format.
Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans took over presenting duties on Top Gear after Jeremy Clarkson’s departure, although Evans departed after one series.
Jeremy Clarkson has previously said of The Grand Tour: “I think program one will be all right. I’d be extremely surprised if that was poorly reviewed.”
Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has apologized to Oisin Tymon – the show producer he punched last year – after settling a £100,000 ($140,000) racial discrimination and injury claim.
Oisin Tymon launched the action against Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC after a “fracas” last March that left Tymon with a bloody lip.
“I would like to say sorry, once again, to Oisin Tymon for the incident and its regrettable aftermath,” Jeremy Clarkson said.
Jeremy Clarkson, 55, was dropped by the BBC following the assault.
The former presenter added: “I want to reiterate that none of this was in any way his fault.
“I would also like to make it clear that the abuse he has suffered since the incident is unwarranted and I am sorry too that he has had to go through that.
“I am pleased that this matter is now resolved. Oisin was always a creatively exciting part of Top Gear and I wish him every success with his future projects.”
Oisin Tymon’s lawyers said the case had been settled but did not give details of the settlement.
It is understood to be in excess of $140,000, an amount to which both Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC contributed.
The “fracas” took place at a North Yorkshire hotel after Jeremy Clarkson was told there was no hot food available at the end of a day’s shooting on location.
An internal BBC inquiry found Oisin Tymon was subjected to an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack” by Jeremy Clarkson, who called the producer “lazy” and “Irish” and used a four-letter expletive in the exchange.
At the time of the attack, Oisin Tymon told police he did not wish to press charges. In the days following he was the subject of sustained abuse on social media for his involvement in the dispute.
Matt LeBlanc has joined Chris Evans as the co-presenter of Top Gear.
The motoring show will return to BBC Two in May.
The former Friends star will be Top Gear‘s first non-British host in its 39-year history.
Additional Top Gear cast members will be confirmed shortly, the BBC said.
Photo Top Gear
“As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I’m honored and excited to be a part of this iconic show’s new chapter,” said Matt LeBlanc.
“What a thrill!”
Matt LeBlanc, 48, is best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani in Friends and has more recently been seen, as himself, in BBC Two sitcom Episodes.
He has twice appeared on Top Gear on its popular “star in a reasonably priced car” segment and holds the record for the fastest ever celebrity lap.
Chris Evans was named as Top Gear‘s new host in 2015 after the BBC opted not to renew Jeremy Clarkson’s contract in the wake of his much-publicized “fracas” with a show producer.
Jeremy Clarkson subsequently signed up with streaming service Amazon Prime to present a new motoring show with Richard Hammond and James May, his former Top Gear co-presenters.
Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has unveiled Amazon’s drone delivery project Prime Air.
In a video of the new prototype, the drone could fly for up to 15 miles and deliver a parcel within 30 minutes of the order being placed.
There was no indication of when it might be used by the retail giant.
Photo Amazon
Amazon was given permission to test delivery drones in the US earlier this year.
The company also has drone delivery development centers in the UK and Israel.
Prime Air will be part of a “family” of delivery aircraft, Jeremy Clarkson said in the clip, and is one of around a dozen devices Amazon is developing.
The drone is equipped with “sense and avoid technology” and can fly at a height of 400 feet.
Amazon said it would not launch the service until it was able to “demonstrate safe operations”.
The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has strict criteria for commercial drone use and some American politicians have called for the setting up of a drone register.
The FAA estimates that by 2020 there will be around 30,000 commercial drones and many more civilian devices in use in America.
Oisin Tymon, the Top Gear producer punched by Jeremy Clarkson earlier this year, is suing the former show presenter and the BBC for racial discrimination.
Jeremy Clarkson and BBC’s lawyers attended a closed-door hearing with Oisin Tymon’s legal team at a London employment tribunal on November 13.
The case centers on “verbal abuse” that accompanied a physical attack during which Jeremy Clarkson struck Oisin Tymon in March.
Jeremy Clarkson, who was dropped by the BBC following an internal inquiry, will front a new show on Amazon Prime.
The inquiry, headed up by Ken MacQuarrie, found Oiin Tymon was subject to an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack”.
A statement by the BBC said: “We will be responding to this claim, but will not be commenting further at this time.”
The assault took place at a North Yorkshire hotel, after Jeremy Clarkson was told there was no hot food available at the end of a day’s shooting on location.
As part of the inquiry, statements were given by two unnamed witnesses to the incident on March 4.
Oisin Tymon, who suffered swelling and bleeding to his lip in the altercation, drove himself to hospital after the incident believing he had lost his job.
BBC director general, Tony Hall, said Jeremy Clarkson had subjected an “innocent party [to] a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature”.
At the time of the attack, Oisin Tymon told police he did not wish to press charges.
In the days following the assault, he was the subject of sustained abuse on social media for his involvement in the dispute – prompting Jeremy Clarkson himself to urge his fans to show restraint.
Jeremy Clarkson will be joined by his erstwhile Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May on a new show for Amazon Prime, to be broadcast in 2016.
Jeremy Clarkson will return to the BBC to host an episode of satirical news quiz Have I Got News For You next month.
The former Top Gear presenter will join team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton when the new series returns on October 2.
Jeremy Clarkson pulled out of hosting the BBC One panel show in April, after being sacked from Top Gear after a “fracas” with the show producer Oisin Tymon.
He is set to front a new motoring show for Amazon in 2016, alongside co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond.
Photo BBC One
Jeremy Clarkson’s appearance on Have I Got News For You will be his first on the BBC since his departure from Top Gear.
He was suspended in March after assaulting Oisin Tymon, and the broadcaster later confirmed his contract would not be renewed.
Jeremy Clarkson signed up to present Have I Got News For You on September 18, and his appearance will mark the start of the show’s 50th series.
When he pulled out of hosting in April, production company Hat Trick had suggested the presenter would appear on the show soon.
A statement said: “On reflection, Jeremy Clarkson has decided not to host Have I Got News For You. We fully expect him to resume his hosting duties later in the year.”
Assistant host Richard Osman will be one of the two guests joining Jeremy Clarkson for the opening episode.
Netflix declined to sign up Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May because they “weren’t worth” the £160 million ($256 million) said to have been paid by rival Amazon to air a new version of Top Gear, a senior executive for the streaming service said.
The former presenters of Top Gear left the BBC earlier this year after Jeremy Clarkson was fired for hitting a producer.
Netflix was known to have been in discussions with the former Top Gear trio but decided against taking things further after analyzing its own viewership data of past Top Gear episodes, according to the company chief product officer Neil Hunt.
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May recently signed a “very, very, very expensive” deal with Amazon Prime.
However, Netflix has claimed the presenters “sold themselves for way more money” than they are worth.
“We have past episodes of Top Gear, so we have a pretty good gauge of what audiences like,” Neil Hunt, told Digital Spy in an interview.
“Our buying decisions tend to be somewhat data-driven. We have a lot of data to get the deals we want.
“Clearly it wasn’t worth the money to make the deal.”
Neil Hunt later clarified his comments in a statement, saying: “There is an audience for everything and it is not up to us to judge if Amazon has paid too much or not.”
British broadcaster BT Sport previously said it, too, had declined to bid for the Top Gear trio.
Managing director Delia Bushell told the Guardian: “To be honest I didn’t consider it. It just wasn’t right for us.
“It’s a fantastic franchise, but it made more sense for a global player like Netflix because Top Gear has huge US revenues as well.”
Jeremy Clarkson was suspended in March, following an “unprovoked physical attack” with a Top Gear producer in a Yorkshire hotel. It was said to have occurred because no hot food was provided following a day’s filming.
Following an internal investigation, the BBC decided not to renew the presenter’s contract.
Jeremy Clarkson’s co-hosts then followed him in leaving the show.
They have now signed up to Amazon Prime to make a new car-themed program, along with producer Andy Wilman, who also quit the BBC following Jeremy Clarkson’s “fracas”.
Top Gear will continue on BBC Two, with Chris Evans in charge.
Ex-Top Gear team – Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May – have reportedly signed up to present a new show on Amazon’s streaming video service, Amazon Prime.
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will front three series of a new motoring show for Amazon Prime, with the first season to be made available worldwide in 2016.
The move follows the team’s departure from Top Gear earlier this year.
Jeremy Clarkson’s contract was not renewed following an “unprovoked physical attack” on a Top Gear producer.
His co-hosts then followed him in leaving the show.
They will now make the unnamed new program with former Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman, who also quit the BBC following the “fracas”.
In a statement from Amazon, Jeremy Clarkson said: “I feel like I’ve climbed out of a biplane and into a spaceship.”
Richard Hammond said: “Amazon? Oh yes. I have already been there. I got bitten by a bullet ant.”
James May added: “We have become part of the new age of smart TV. Ironic, isn’t it?”
Amazon Prime Video EU vice-president Jay Marine said: “Customers told us they wanted to see the team back on screen, and we are excited to make that happen.
“We can’t wait to see what Jeremy, Richard, James and the team will create in what is sure to be one of the most globally anticipated shows of 2016.”
The Amazon deal is part of a company’s plan to compete with traditional broadcasters and streaming rivals like Netflix.
Amazon has also signed up Woody Allen to make his first television series; resurrected drama Ripper Street after it was canceled by the BBC; and won awards and acclaim for its dark comedy Transparent.
Meanwhile, Top Gear will continue on BBC Two, with Chris Evans among the new hosts.
The final episode of Top Gear hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond was screened on Sunday, June 28.
The 75-minute special was compiled from footage shot before Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond left Top Gear.
The BBC Two show made no reference to their departure, nor the circumstances.
Closing the show, James May said: “Thank you very much for watching and, well, goodbye.”
Richard Hammond also said goodbye and the credits then rolled in silence.
After the episode ended, Jeremy Clarkson took to Twitter to say: “Many many thanks for all your support and encouragement over the years. So sad and sorry it’s ended like this.”
Richard Hammond also tweeted: “Can’t believe that one life has room to accommodate the first and the last steps of that incredible adventure. Thanks for your company.”
The show was a swansong for Jeremy Clarkson – whose contract was not renewed after he punched a producer – as well as James May and Richard Hammond, who both turned down the opportunity to return to the series.
The final show featured two separate films – in the second installment, Jeremy Clarkson is seen stranded in a river, declaring: “I hate working on Top Gear.”
At the beginning of the show James May welcomed viewers by saying: “Hello, and welcome to what’s left of Top Gear.”
The show format featured James May and Richard Hammond presenting in an empty studio, without Jeremy Clarkson or the usual live audience.
Also visible in the studio was the “elephant in the room”, a 10ft plastic replica elephant from a Hull design company which the show’s makers borrowed, called Jeremy.
The episode is predicted to become the highest-rated episode in Top Gear history, beating the audience of 8.35 million who tuned in to see Lewis Hamilton’s appearance in December 2007.
Jeremy Clarkson recorded a new voiceover for the show, although he was not paid. Richard Hammond and James May filmed new links, but without the traditional Top Gear studio audience.
Writing in the Sun, Jeremy Clarkson had said: “BBC Two is screening an edition of Top Gear cobbled together from two films that were made before I was fired.
Top Gear will keep its “sense of danger” when the show returns with Chris Evans hosting, BBC director general Tony Hall has said.
Tony Hall said he was “thrilled” Chris Evans was replacing Jeremy Clarkson, who was sacked after punching a producer.
He also said he hoped the new Top Gear would appeal to existing fans and bring in people who were “put off by part of how the program was in the past”.
“I’d like to see some women in the presenting team,” Tony Hall added.
Top Gear‘s close-to-the-knuckle humor and high-octane stunts are all part of the attraction to the show’s 6.5 million viewers.
The show, however, has a long history of controversy under its previous stewardship, including accusations of racism and inappropriate comments.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Tony Hall said he believed Chris Evans would be able to reinvent the show as he knew “what makes a good program”.
“I hope that edge will be there and that sense of danger will be there. I need to leave it to Chris and the team to make up their mind about what they think is going to work best,” he said.
“You’ve go to trust the talent and give them confidence to do the things they want to do.”
Tony Hall also denied knowledge of claims Jeremy Clarkson was offered his job back as the host of Top Gear, after the presenter told The Sun an unnamed BBC executive had “asked if I’d come back” last week.
“I have no idea what that’s all about,” the director general said.
“I made it absolutely clear when I said ‘we’re going to part company’ that was it.”
Jeremy Clarkson’s final episode of Top Gear will be broadcast on June 28.
Top Gear new host, Chris Evans, has launched a search for the new show presenters on June 19.
An open audition invites fans to post a short video to the BBC. It should be no longer than 30 seconds, and must not feature cars, stunts or gimmicks – just the applicant talking directly to the camera.
Chris Evans, who was announced on June 17 as the replacement of Jeremy Clarkson on the BBC show, said the hosts could be “male, female, young or old, it doesn’t matter”.
“If you’re up for it, we want to hear from you, but you’ve got to know about cars,” Chris Evans said.
However, Chris Evans clarified, the job on offer was not necessarily that of presenter. “You could be auditioning to be a driver. You could be auditioning to be a film reporter. Or you could be auditioning to be a co-host.
“If we don’t find anybody who’s good enough, if there’s nobody right for this from these videos, we will not be appointing anyone. Or the whole new team might be from these videos. We don’t know.”
Chris Evans added that the age limit had been raised to 17: “Yesterday I said 16, sorry about that.”
Submissions can be made through the Top Gear website: bbc.co.uk/topgear.
Jeremy Clarkson was not offered to take back his Top Gear job, months after he was axed from the job, the BBC confirmed.
The former Top Gear host told the Sun, for whom he writes a regular column, that an unnamed BBC executive had “asked if I’d come back to Top Gear” last week.
However, Jeremy Clarkson, 55, said he refused: “It would have been impossible to make the show I’d want to make.”
Meanwhile, Chris Evans has been announced as Top Gear new host.
A BBC spokesman said: “We haven’t offered another Top Gear contract.
“The BBC had placed on record its thanks to Jeremy for his broadcasting on the program and wish him well for the future.”
Jeremy Clarkson, who was fired for punching the show producer Oisin Tymon in March, told the Sun that returning to the Top Gear role “was never an option”.
He has also revealed plans for a new motoring show to rival Top Gear, which is set to return to BBC screens next April.
It is anticipated that Jeremy Clarkson’s former co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond – who decided against returning to the BBC without him – will also join the new venture.
Former Top Gear co-host James May has been announced as the presenter of BBC Two’s new car show Building Cars Live.
Springwatch‘s Kate Humble will co-host along with Ant Antstead, presenter on Channel 4’s For the Love of Cars.
Building Cars Live will go behind the scenes of the UK’s car manufacturing industry to explain the science and engineering involved.
The new show will consist of two 90 minute live episodes and will air in the autumn.
The programs will track in real time the transformation from raw materials to finished vehicle and will broadcast live from BMW’s Mini plant in Oxford.
A press release from the BBC announcing the show included a quote from James May saying: “I can’t wait to build a car. Live.”
There had been speculation over James May’s future on Top Gear after Jeremy Clarkson was dropped by the broadcaster in March following a “fracas” with the show producer, Oisin Tymon.
There had been reports James May and fellow host Richard Hammond had been offered massive pay deals to stay with the show.
With the announcement this week that Chris Evans will take over Jeremy Clarkson’s role, it was confirmed the two former presenters would not be returning for Top Gear new series.
James May will be seen once more on Top Gear on Jeremy Clarkson’s final episode which will air on June 28.
James May and Richard Hammond will present links from the studio and it will feature two films shot before Clarkson was dropped from the show.
Meanwhile Chris Evans has announced open auditions to find replacements for James May and Richard Hammond.
Chris Evans is replacing Jeremy Clarkson as the host of an all-new Top Gear line-up, the BBC Two has announced.
The TV and radio said he was “thrilled” to get the job, describing Top Gear as his “favorite program of all time”.
Chris Evans said: “I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward.”
Jeremy Clarkson was dropped in March after punching a Top Gear producer while on location.
Car enthusiast Evans, who has signed a three-year deal with the motoring show, had been tipped to replace his good friend Jeremy Clarkson but had previously insisted he was not interested.
An “all-new” line-up means Jeremy Clarkson’s co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May will not be involved.
Top Gear is watched by 350 million viewers worldwide and is one of the BBC’s biggest shows, with overseas sales worth an estimated $75 million a year.
Once the news broke, Chris Evans tweeted: “First tweet as new Top Gear host. I would like to say Jeremy, Richard & James are the greatest. And NO I’m not leaving the R2 Breakfast Show.”
In a statement, Chris Evans said: “I’m thrilled, Top Gear is my favorite program of all time.
“Created by a host of brilliant minds who love cars and understand how to make the massively complicated come across as fun, devil-may-care and effortless.
“When in fact of course, it’s anything but and that’s the genius of Top Gear’s global success.”
Back in March, Chris Evans had denied that he was taking over the show’s presenting duties, tweeting: “I can categorically say I am not and will NEVER be running for office. Pls discount my candidacy.”
Production on the new series of Top Gear will start in the next few weeks and the BBC said more information would be announced in due course.
Jeremy Clarkson’s final appearance on Top Gear will be shown on June 28. The episode will be made up of two films shot before Jeremy Clarkson was suspended, with Richard Hammond and James May presenting links from the studio.
Viewers will see Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May behind the wheel of classic cars and beaten-up 4x4s in their final challenges as a trio.
Top Gear trailer for Jeremy Clarkson’s final appearance has been released by the BBC.
The episode will feature two films shot before Jeremy Clarkson was suspended from Top Gear and eventually sacked.
To Gear co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May return to the studio to present links from the studio, with Jeremy Clarkson noticeably absent.
No date has been given for transmission, and the broadcaster has yet to decide how Top Gear may return.
Top Gear was pulled from the schedules after Jeremy Clarkson’s suspension for attacking a producer earlier this year.
Footage shot for the three remaining episodes has now been compiled in to one extended program.
It contains two films which, in classic Top Gear style, feature cheap bangers, caravans and a race to the finish line for the three presenters to avoid a forfeit.
Earlier this week, rumors circulated that Chris Evans was being groomed to take over the Top Gear hotseat from Jeremy Clarkson, after the Radio 2 DJ revealed he was making a “Top Gear sequence”.
It later emerged that the film was part of Chris Evans one-off edition of TFI Friday, in which his friend Jeremy Clarkson will appear.
Chris Evans has ruled himself out of the Top Gear job on a number of occasions.
There has also been speculation that the show could return with a different guest host every week.
It was reported last week Richard Hammond and James May had been offered £1 million ($1.5 million) deals to stay with the BBC, although they themselves have seemed to distance themselves from returning.
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have been appearing together in a series of live shows, which were originally meant to be under the Top Gear banner, but have since been rebranded Clarkson, Hammond and May Live and stripped of all BBC branding.
According to new reports, BBC has already chosen a new team of presenters for its motoring show Top Gear after sacking Jeremy Clarkson on March 25.
The new team would be made up of former model Jodie Kidd, actor Philip Glenister and TV star Guy Martin.
According to telegraph.co.uk, BBC has already found a “dream team” for the new version of the show Top Gear after ending its collaboration with former show’s presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.
Former model Jodie Kidd would be the first woman to present Top Gear.
Jodie Kidd currently presents Channel 5’s The Classic Car Show.
Andy Wilman has decided to quit Top Gear in the wake of Jeremy Clarkson’s departure, the BBC has confirmed.
Jeremy Clarkson, 55, was dropped from the show on March 25 following a “fracas” with a producer.
Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman, who was an old school friend of Jeremy Clarkson, helped reinvent the show and oversaw its growth into a globally successful program.
Co-presenter Richard Hammond has also confirmed his intention to walk away.
Richard Hammond, whose contract expired last month, wrote on Twitter: “To be clear, amidst all this talk of us <<quitting>> or not: There’s nothing for me to <<quit>>.
“Not about to quit my mates anyway.”
Andy Wilman had previously denied he was leaving Top Gear, after a leaked email was interpreted as a farewell note to colleagues.
Yesterday, James May said he would not return to Top Gear without Jeremy Clarkson.
James May has said he will not return to Top Gear without Jeremy Clarkson, who was dropped from the BBC on March 25.
The Top Gear co-host told the Guardian: “Me and Hammond with a surrogate Jeremy is a non-starter. It has to be the three of us.”
James May added that Top Gear without Jeremy Clarkson would be a “tough call” and “a bit of a daft idea”.
Jeremy Clarkson, 55 was removed from Top Gear after fracas with producer Oisin Tymon.
“I don’t think you could carry on with two people and put someone in as the new Jeremy because they are not going to be the new Jeremy,” James May said.
“That would be short-sighted and I don’t think it would work. Virtually impossible.”
James May changed his Twitter account to say “former Top Gear presenter” on March 25, the day it was announced Jeremy Clarkson’s contract with BBC would not be renewed.
His contract, and that of his co-presenter Richard Hammond, expired last month.
It raises the possibility of an entirely new presenting line-up for Top Gear.
Channel controller Kim Shillinglaw has been given the job of finding a replacement for Jeremy Clarkson, with former X Factor host Dermot O’Lear and Jodie Kidd rumored to be in the running.
However, James May has said there “might be an opportunity for three of us to get back together on the BBC to do Top Gear or a car show of some sort”.
“The BBC haven’t completely closed the door on Jeremy’s return,” he told the Guardian.
“They’ve not banned him or fired him, only just not renewed his contract for the moment. It’s a subtle difference, but an important one.”
Earlier this week, Kim Shillinglaw also stressed there was no ban on Jeremy Clarkson returning to the BBC, despite director general Tony Hall’s decision to fire him last month, saying “a line has been crossed”.
Jeremy Clarkson will return to the BBC”, Kim Shillinglaw, the head of BBC 2 and BBC 4, has said.
Kim Shillinglaw, who has the task of finding Jeremy Clarkson’s replacement after he was dropped from Top Gear, said he had not been banned by the BBC.
“It’s serious and unfortunate what happened but there is no ban on Jeremy being on the BBC,” Kim Shillinglaw said.
“It’s a big deal what happened and Jeremy, as any human being would, needs some time.”
Jeremy Clarkson, 55, was removed from Top Gear on March 25 after assaulting producer Oisin Tymon.
Kim Shillinglaw said it was an “open book” on who might replace Jeremy Clarkson, following rumors it could be a woman.
She said: “We’ll definitely look at some women but it’s not a driving priority.”
Kim Shillinglaw also confirmed Jeremy Clarkson’s final Top Gear scenes would be screened later this year
“No way would I want the available material not to be seen by viewers,” she said.
However, there is not enough footage to piece together the three remaining episodes of Top Gear, which was pulled off air in the aftermath of the altercation with Oisin Tymon on March 4.
Sue Perkins, the host of BBC One’s The Great British Bake Off, was named the bookmakers’ favorite to replace Jeremy Clarkson two weeks ago.
She was the front-runner for the job, followed by Dermot O’Leary and Jodie Kidd.
The news prompted a barrage of abusive tweets for Sue Perkins, whose Twitter timeline was filled with “blokes wishing me dead”, including threats from someone who “suggested they’d like to see me burn to death”.
Sue Perkins later quit Twitter, leading Jeremy Clarkson’s co-presenter James May to suggest those who sent the abusive tweets should “do the world a much bigger favor by killing yourself”.
In his first comment since he was dropped from Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson has said he will miss hosting the BBC show.
Jeremy Clarkson, who was dropped from Top Gear on March 25 after an “unprovoked physical attack” on producer Oisin Tymon, was writing in his first column for the Sun since the incident.
“Heartfelt thanks to all those who have written to say how much they will miss me on Top Gear,” the presenter wrote.
“It’s not as much, however, as I’ll miss being there.”
Jeremy Clarkson, 53, did not add anything more about the incident.
Jeremy Clarkson’s weekly Sun column had not appeared in the interim but the paper had assured readers that he was on holiday and “had not been sacked”.
Jeremy Clarkson has decided to pull out of BBC’s Have I Got News For You.
The former Top Gear host had been due to appear on April 24 in his first BBC appearance since being dropped from the motoring show, following an attack on a producer.
Jeremy Clarkson, 54, has hosted Have I Got News For You on numerous occasions.
Jimmy Mulville, managing director of show producers Hat Trick Productions, said he expected Jeremy Clarkson to be available for a show later in the year.
He said: “On reflection, Jeremy Clarkson has decided not to host Have I Got News For You. We fully expect him to resume his hosting duties later in the year.”
Jeremy Clarkson was suspended by the BBC on March 10 following what was described at the time as a “fracas” with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon in a hotel in North Yorkshire.
Following an internal investigation, on March 25 the broadcaster announced Jeremy Clarkson’s contract on Top Gear would not be renewed.
The BBC has announced Top Gear will continue without Jeremy Clarkson, however it is unclear whether co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond will remain.
The new series of Have I Got News For You begins on April 10 with Daniel Radcliffe as the guest host.
Jeremy Clarkson will make his first appearance on the BBC since losing Top Gear job as the guest host of Have I Got News for You on April 24.
A spokesman for the broadcaster said: “Jeremy’s contract has not been renewed on Top Gear but he isn’t banned from appearing on the BBC.”
Jeremy Clarkson, 54, has hosted the satirical news quiz on numerous occasions.
During one appearance in 2008, Jeremy Clarkson threw a pen at regular panelist Ian Hislop that left the latter with a cut on his face.
Jeremy Clarkson was suspended by the BBC on March 10 following a “fracas” with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon in a hotel in North Yorkshire.
Oisin Tymon, 37, suffered swelling and a split lip in the assault on March 4 and visited a hospital for his injuries.
Following an internal investigation, the broadcaster announced on March 25 Jeremy Clarkson’s contract on Top Gear would not be renewed.
According to broadcaster, Top Gear will continue without Jeremy Clarkson, however it is unclear whether co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond will remain.
Jeremy Clarkson will appear on rebranded Top Gear Live shows with his fellow presenters Richard Hammond and James May.
A deal has been done to fulfill a series of live shows that were planned before Jeremy Clarkson was dropped from the show for hitting Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon.
The shows will be stripped of all BBC branding and content and will be called Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.
The first live show will take place in Belfast on May 22.
BBC said it had agreed the tour could continue “so as to not disappoint fans”.
A spokesman called it “a sensible approach in the circumstances”.
Thousands of people around the world had already bought tickets.
A spokesman for Brand Events, who are co-producing the shows, said they wanted to thank “ticket holders for their continued patience”.
“The fans are the most important people to Jeremy, Richard and James so we’re delighted to be able to say <<we’re still coming>>. We’re sure it’ll be something you won’t want to miss.”
Top Gear Live shows will take place in venues around the world including Australia, Norway, South Africa and the UK.
Live shows that were due to take place in Stavanger, Norway earlier this month have been re-scheduled to June 20 and 21.
A Top Gear Festival planned for Sydney in April will instead become an indoor arena show staged in both Melbourne on July 18-19 and Sydney on July 25 -26.
Andy Wilman, the executive producer of BBC’s motoring show Top Gear, has announced he is not quitting the show after Jeremy Clarkson’s departure.
A leaked email from Andy Wilman to Top Gear staff had seemed to suggest he was resigning, but he said it was a private “note of thanks” marking the an end of an era.
Andy Wilman, an old school friend of Jeremy Clarkson, helped re-launch Top Gear in 2002.
Jeremy Clarkson, 54, was dropped by the broadcaster earlier this month following a “fracas” with show producer Oisin Tymon.
Andy Wilman has issued a statement about the email, saying: “The email I wrote yesterday was not a resignation statement, and nor was it meant for public consumption.
“It was a private note of thanks to 113 people who have worked on the show over the years, but clearly one of those 113 is a bit of a tit, because they shared it with a website.
“I don’t get this modern obsession with sharing, linking, forwarding, retweeting; whatever happened to a private moment?
“And if I were to resign, I wouldn’t do it publicly, I’d do it old school by handing in my, er, notice, to someone upstairs in HR.
“I work behind the camera and I wouldn’t presume for one moment to think people are interested in what I do. Now, everyone back to work.”
Photo Top Gear
In the leaked email Andy Wilman started with: “Well, at least we left ’em wanting more.
“And that alone, when you think about it, is quite an achievement for a show that started 13 years ago.”
As well as thanking staff, he assured them that the show will continue.
“For those of you who still rely on it for work, don’t worry, because the BBC will make sure the show continues.
“Our stint as guardians of Top Gear was a good one, but we were only part of the show’s history, not the whole of it. Those two words are bigger than us.”
BBC director general Tony Hall announced on March 25 that the broadcaster would not be renewing Jeremy Clarkson’s contract.
Jeremy Clarkson was suspended on March 10, following what was called a “fracas” Oisin Tymon.
The row, which took place in a Yorkshire hotel, was said to have occurred because no hot food was provided following a day’s filming.
There is no news yet as to whether Top Gear presenters James May and Richard Hammond will return to the show.
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