Clarkson fired, faces arrest
Police say they will take action against Top Gear host "where necessary."
Hot Topic
Hawke’s Bay
Controversial Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has been fired from the BBC after an investigation from the public broadcaster found he had punched a producer in the face.
The BBC said in a statement yesterday that Mr Clarkson’s attack on producer Oisin Tymon left the latter with swelling, a bleeding lip, being subjected to extreme verbal abuse, and ultimately being taken to A&E.
“It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract,” BBC director-general Tony Hall said in a video statement.
“For me a line has been crossed.”
In a statement, North Yorkshire Police said that it had asked the BBC for its report on the findings of the incident and would take action against Mr Clarkson “where necessary.”
Top Gear co-host James May told media outside his home that the decision was “a tragedy” and that he, Mr Clarkson and Richard Hammond are “a package that works for very complicated reasons that a lot of people don’t fully understand.”
Meanwhile, Richard Hammond tweeted that it was a “sad end to an era.”
Gutted at such a sad end to an era. We're all three of us idiots in our different ways but it's been an incredible ride together.
— Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) March 25, 2015
BBC’s Lord Hall said the BBC will look to renew Top Gear for 2016 but it will be “a big challenge.”
However, British media speculation is rife that other large networks such as ITV, Sky and Netflix will enter into a bidding war for a motoring show with Clarkson and co.
Messrs Hammond and May’s contracts finish at the end of this month.
Top Gear is one of the BBC’s biggest cash cows, showing in more than 200 countries and earning at least £50 million annually.
MediaWorks owns the rights to the show in New Zealand but it has refused to comment and referred NBR ONLINE to the BBC.
Campbell Gibson
Thu, 26 Mar 2015
Thu, 26 Mar 2015
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Clarkson fired, faces arrest
46387