London - Jeremy Clarkson’s future at the BBC looked increasingly bleak on Sunday night as a series of Top Gear Live tour dates were axed.
The four roadshows scheduled for Norway next weekend were scrapped, on the eve of an internal report into Clarkson’s fate.
Speculation that the BBC was desperate to find a way of keeping Clarkson - and the lucrative Top Gear brand - had been supported by the fact that the Norway tour was not cancelled despite the frontman’s recent suspension.
But on Sunday night a spokesman for the live shows, due to be attended by almost 20 000 people, announced the 27 and 28 March dates were being “postponed”.
“Top Gear Live regrets to inform ticket holders for next week’s shows in Stavanger that we will be postponing all four performances,” he said, adding that new dates would be announced at a later time.
Organisers confirmed that this weekend’s shows had been scrapped, but insisted they were not privy to the outcome of the inquiry into Clarkson.
‘INDEPENDENT DECISION’
A source said: “This is an independent decision we have to make. It is no indication of what is to come. One of Top Gear Live’s main presenters remains on suspension by the BBC and the expected timeline on the conclusion of that investigation does not give us enough confidence that we can deliver the show expected by fans and ticket holders.’
Clarkson was suspended by the BBC two weeks ago, following allegations of a ‘fracas’ with producer Oisin Tymon over hot food. His fate now hangs on an internal report by Ken MacQuarrie, head of BBC Scotland, which is expected to be handed over on Monday.
A source said: “The BBC wants to keep Clarkson if it can find a respectable way to do it.”
A senior executive added: “The BBC will do everything it can to keep him if it was just a bit of a dust up, but if he is found to have punched him, then I think it’s gone too far.”
Insiders suggested Clarkson and Tymon had given “quite different” versions of events. Sources close to Mr Tymon say he was punched and left with a split lip, while Clarkson has admitted some “handbags and pushing” but is understood to have denied anything worse.
PUBLIC SUPPORT
There is also said to be a growing realisation within the corporation that it was a mistake to take Top Gear - worth £50 million (R895 million) a year to BBC coffers - off the air while the investigation was under way.
“The programme could and should have carried on during Clarkson’s suspension,” said an insider. “Jeremy wants to stay with the programme and one possible way of him doing that would be if he could face up to his own shortcomings.
“He has a great deal of public support... But he does need to rest and sort himself out.”
The stakes were raised further on Sunday as the 54-year-old reportedly promised to sue the BBC if he was sacked from Top Gear, amid suggestions that the corporation was filming a pilot for a new motoring show called The Getaway Car, which will see contestants travel abroad to take part in driving challenges.
A source said: “If Clarkson is fired it won’t be the end of it. Lawyers will be involved.”
Writing in the Sunday Times, Clarkson also laughed off a foul-mouthed rant at BBC bosses filmed at a charity auction last week, claiming he only used the language “in jest” to raise money for good causes.
A petition to have Clarkson re-instated on Top Gear has gathered about a million signatures and was delivered to the BBC in London on Friday. A decision about his future is expected this week, after the corporation’s director-general has considered the findings of MacQuarrie’s investigation. - Daily Mail
It's still unclear whether South Africa’s Top Gear Festival, scheduled for 13 and 14 June at the Dome in Johannesburg, will be affected.