London, England - The BBC is facing a Top Gear mutiny as Jeremy Clarkson’s co-hosts are expected to walk out of the series in a show of solidarity.
James May said on Wednesday he and Richard Hammond came as ‘a package’ with Clarkson, and that he would have to think carefully before signing up to do another series.
“I think we’re very much, the three of us as a package, it works for very complicated reasons that a lot of people don’t fully understand, so that will require a lot of careful thought.
“As much as I think he is a k**b, I quite like working with Jeremy.”
Hammond did not rule himself out of a Top Gear return but said he was ‘gutted’ that they had had ‘such a sad end to an era’. He added: “We’re all three of us idiots in our different ways but it’s been an incredible ride together.”
The BBC has said Top Gear will return in 2016, but admitted that it will be a ‘big challenge’ to find Clarkson’s replacement.
Hammond and May are both ambitious, and it is likely that they would have been tempted to take a bigger role at Top Gear under better circumstances. However, television sources said the job of replacing Clarkson is now “a poisoned chalice”.
SOLO CAREERS
The two will have to weigh up their value as a trio - and their loyalty to Clarkson - against the prospects of their solo careers outside Top Gear. May presents James May’s Man Lab and James May’s Toy Stories on BBC2, and has hosted a number of BBC series with wine critic Oz Clarke, including Oz and May’s Big Wine Adventure.
Hammond has a successful career as a children’s television host, fronting the National Geographic series Science of Stupid. He also hosted BBC1’s physical game show Total Wipeout and the CBBC series Blast Lab before they were axed.
If they do quit together, Clarkson, Hamond and May would not have much difficulty in finding a new job as a trio elsewhere.
ITV is in desperate need of new shows to revive its flagging ratings - especially ones that will appeal to men, to help it replace Champion’s League football.
Sky is also a strong contender to swoop in on the trio. Sources at the broadcaster claim it is not interested in Clarkson because of the racist remarks he has allegedly made. However, they could find themselves overruled, given Rupert Murdoch’s support for the Top Gear presenter.
Murdoch, whose media empire includes 39 percent of Sky, said on Tuesday evening that the BBC was “stupid” for firing Clarkson, whom he praised as a “funny man with great expertise and huge following”.
FREE REIN
Netflix - which has a £3.4 billion (R76 billion) programming budget - is also tipped to woo Clarkson.
The online subscription video service does not depend on advertising income, so would allow him free rein to make controversial remarks about cars, without the risk of offending customers.
BBC Radio 2 host Chris Evans had been the leading contender to replace Clarkson on Top Gear. Yesterday, however, he ruled himself out of the running.
He told listeners to his Radio 2 show “not only is it not true, it’s absolute nonsense”, and that it was “never going to happen”. He added: “From what I’ve seen on Twitter and social media, there’s a 50/50 split approximately as to whether me being involved in the show is a good idea.
“I’m in the no camp. So regardless of whether it would be a hit, I’m voting a no for myself on that show, so that’s never going to happen.”
Another, perhaps bigger problem for the BBC is what will happen to Top Gear. The BBC still owns the name and format, but sources admit international broadcasters are likely to go cold on it without Clarkson, slashing the brand’s value.
Top Gear is sold to about 200 countries around the world - more than any other programme - helping it to bring in more than £50 million (R880 million) a year. The Top Gear Live arena show and Top Gear magazine also make millions.
ASSAULT PROBE OVER HOTEL FRACAS
Meanwhile, Clarkson is being investigated by police and could face questioning for assault after he left his Top Gear producer needing emergency medical care, it emerged on Wednesday night.
An internal investigation by the BBC, the findings of which were made public on Wednesday, concluded that Clarkson, 54, launched an “unprovoked verbal and physical attack” on producer Oisin Tymon after a long day of filming.
Tymon, 36, did not retaliate during the physical assault, which lasted about 30 seconds and left him with a split lip. North Yorkshire Police have requested a copy of the BBC’s report on the attack and have said they will take action “where necessary”.
They refused to rule out questioning Clarkson, or to say whether Tymon had made a formal complaint.
“We are liaising with the BBC regarding the alleged incident in North Yorkshire involving Jeremy Clarkson. We have asked the BBC for the report which details the findings of their internal investigation into the matter. That information will be assessed,” the police said.
On Wednesday BBC director general Lord Hall paid tribute to Clarkson’s 25-year career at the BBC but said he would not renew his seven-figure contract, which will expire at the end of March, because “a line has been crossed”.
“There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.”
Lord Hall said that the show would return in 2016, but admitted that it will be “a big challenge’ to replace the presenter.
“But I cannot condone what has happened,” he said. “A member of staff - who is a completely innocent party - took himself to accident and emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature.’
Tymon, who has been in hiding since the incident, said he was grateful to the Corporation for its “thorough” investigation into the “regrettable” incident.
“I’ve worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love. Over that time Jeremy and I had a positive and successful working relationship, making some landmark projects together. He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way.”
Clarkson did not comment, other than by updating his Twitter profile to say he “used to be” the presenter of Top Gear.
Daily Mail