BBC Fires Top Gear Host Jeremy Clarkson

BBC's Director General Tony Hall is understood to have come to the conclusion that he has “little alternative” but to end Clarkson’s BBC career, 16 days after he was suspended following a “fracas” with producer Oisin Tymon.

A BBC investigation led by BBC Scotland boss Ken MacQuarrie is thought to have found that Clarkson engaged Oisin Tymon in a 30-second physical assault after a 20-minute verbal outburst.

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 BBC 2 programme regularly watched by more than 5 million viewers.

FINAL WARNING

But a source close to the inquiry said: “There can’t be one rule for talent and one rule for ordinary human beings.”

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, a source said Hall had “little alternative” but to let Clarkson go.

Clarkson’s contract with the BBC was due to expire at the end 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.

By Irene Mbacha